for Commerical Poultry Flocks in Ontario
Table of Contents
Infectious diseases, such as Avian Influenza (AI), pose a constant
threat to commercial poultry production worldwide, and the Canadian
poultry industry is no exception. Outbreaks of Highly Pathogenic
Avian Influenza (HPAI) in British Columbia and Infectious Laryngotracheitis
(ILT) in Ontario in 2004, plus the detection of several low pathogenic
AI strains in waterfowl across Canada in 2005, demonstrate that
the risk of infection with serious diseases, although low, is
constantly present. The poultry industry in Ontario must, therefore,
constantly protect itself against threats such as AI and ILT.
Implementing a sound "biosecurity" program that is both practical
and based on scientific principles is an inexpensive, yet highly
effective tool against such contagious and costly diseases.
Sources of Infection
Diseases can be introduced to a commercial poultry flock by many
different routes. The most common sources are:
wild birds, rodents and domestic animals (e.g. cats and
contaminated people (e.g. hands, clothing, footwear, hair)
contaminated poultry equipment (e.g. hauling crates, catching
equipment, feeders and waterers)
contaminated water source
- contaminated vehicles and other farm equipment (e.g. manure
trucks and spreaders, tractors, feed trucks)
infected neighbouring flocks (commercial or backyard) and
live bird markets.
The common thread among the different routes of introduction
is exposing poultry to infected birds, either directly or through
exposure to contaminated people or equipment. The aim of biosecurity
is to create barriers between your birds and the many sources
Major Components of a Good Biosecurity Program
An effective biosecurity program is based on two main concepts:
exclusion (keeping the disease out of the flock) and containment
(if it has been introduced, preventing its spread within the premises
or to other uninfected flocks). Because the risks are different
for each poultry operation, consult your veterinarian to customize
the biosecurity program to your specific situation. However, there
are certain key components, addressing both exclusion and containment,
which should be included in any biosecurity program. These are
isolation, traffic control, and cleaning and disinfection (C&D).
1. Isolation: Preventing exposure of your poultry
to viruses and other disease agents is the first step. The following
recommendations are barriers designed to keep your birds isolated
from sources of disease introduction.
Install a sign at the farm gate and at the entrance of each
poultry house to instruct unauthorized people not to enter the
premises/houses. Lock all doors to the poultry houses at all
times in order to restrict access.
Minimize contact with other poultry, including neighbouring
backyard flocks. Do not share any farm equipment, if possible.
Do not allow any farm employees, including manager/owner, to
keep backyard or pet birds, nor attend live bird shows or markets.
- Apply a strict rodent and insect control program and monitor
its efficacy regularly. Keep vegetation and debris cleared around
poultry houses, as these will attract rodents.
Avoid situating poultry houses near ponds. These will attract
wild birds and waterfowl that can carry diseases.
- Ensure all poultry houses are wild bird proof. Screen all inlets
and fans and plug or repair any gaps and holes in the structure.
Monitor buildings regularly and repair immediately. Immediately
clean feed and water spills in the farm environment, especially
outside poultry houses.
- Do not allow dogs and cats inside poultry houses at any time.
Collect routine mortalities several times a day and dispose
of appropriately. It is important to prevent access to dead
birds by wild birds and other animals. In consultation with
your veterinarian, establish a proper carcass disposal protocol.
If rendering is the method of choice, keep daily mortalities
in a designated freezer/cooler. On the scheduled pick-up date,
transport dead birds in a covered rodent/ predator proof container
to the roadside or another designated site that is far from
the barns. Clean and disinfect all used equipment (such as barrels)
at the end of carcass pick up.
2. Traffic and visitor control: Since it is not possible
to completely isolate the flock and the farm, it is essential
to follow proper protocols for movement onto and within the operation.
Park all vehicles in a designated area far from poultry
houses and away from farm vehicle traffic areas.
Allow only certain authorized and necessary personnel to
enter poultry houses. It is important that visitors wear clean
coveralls (disposable is preferred), mask, hair protection (cap)
and disposable footwear (if boots are used, have designated
boots for each barn and thoroughly clean and disinfect after
each visit). Use disposable gloves and wash hands with appropriate
hand soap or sanitizer before and after each visit. Regular
necessary visitors such as meter readers, fuel and feed delivery
drivers and service personnel, must also use all necessary clothing
and footwear as mentioned.
Use separate dedicated clothing and footwear for each poultry
Keep a record of all visits in a designated logbook. Record
names of the individuals, the nature of their business and their
If using a footbath, follow label instructions for the disinfectant
to ensure appropriate concentration and refill as necessary.
A dirty footbath increases the risk of infection.
- A shower-in, shower-out policy for all visitors and employees
is the most efficient approach. (This may be more practical for
breeder and primary breeder flocks.)
- Catchers must use separate clothing, footwear, mask and hair
gear for each farm. Clean and disinfect catching equipment after
each loading and before entering the next farm. This is extremely
important if only part of the flock is shipped to the processing
plant (thinning out or partial pick up).
It is preferred to have an all-in, all-out system (single
age flock at any given time). If this is not possible, always
visit from youngest to oldest and from healthy to sick flocks.
Always keep clothing and footwear used by the farm manager
and employees on the farm separate from those worn off farm.
Do not allow managers and employees to visit other poultry farms.
3. Cleaning and Disinfection (C&D): While
isolation and hygiene practices are very effective, it is inevitable
that some contamination of the farm environment will occur. Good
biosecurity also prevents diseases from leaving your property.
These recommendations will limit the spread of the contamination
within the premises, and to other premises.
Avoid borrowing or lending farm equipment. If equipment
is shared, clean and disinfect before and after use. Complete
removal of any organic material before disinfection is very
Proper sanitation of drinking water is a must. There are
different methods of water sanitation. If applying chlorine,
monitor the level of active chlorine and water pH for effective
chlorination. Clean and disinfect water lines completely between
flocks to avoid build up of biofilm and slime that can harbour
germs and inactivate some disinfectants. Consult with your veterinarian
to implement an effective water sanitation program. If using
pond water, proper sanitation of the water is extremely important
as waterfowl and wild bird excretions can contaminate it.
- It is preferred to wash and disinfect (complete C&D) poultry
houses between flocks. It is important to apply disinfection only
after barns are completely cleaned from litter/debris, pressure
washed with warm water and detergent and allowed to dry. Consult
with your veterinarian for a complete detailed C&D program,
as the appropriate steps must be performed in the correct order
for optimal results. If there is a history of an infectious disease
in the previous flock, it is strongly recommended to perform a
complete C&D between flocks regardless of the time of the
If possible, manage your manure on-farm, preferably by composting.
This is particularly important for manure from a diseased flock.
Keep the temporary on-farm storage site well away from any barn.
Ideally, have the manure in one pile and cover to protect from
wild birds and water (while following all other provincial regulations).
If manure is hauled at the end of each flock, manure trucks
should be damped and tarped before leaving the farm.
Biosecurity is Everyone's Responsibility
Keeping serious diseases out of Ontario or out of the commercial
poultry industry is a shared responsibility, from government,
to industry associations down to the individual producer. Nevertheless,
the farm is the last line of defence and it is at the farm level
where outbreaks are most effectively controlled or prevented.
As a producer, it is extremely important to:
Be aware of general clinical signs of disease in birds.
Early detection, by recognizing the signs of infectious diseases
and taking the appropriate action ASAP, can greatly limit the
impact of a disease outbreak and allow for a faster return to
normal operation. Signs that may indicate a significant disease
outbreak include (but are not limited to):
Seek veterinary assistance if your poultry flock looks sick
or abnormal. Your veterinarian will submit the appropriate diagnostic
samples to the Animal Health Laboratory for a proper diagnosis.
Establish and maintain an acceptable biosecurity program
at your farm in consultation with your veterinarian. Review
and revise the biosecurity program continuously.
When a poultry disease is suspected in the area, be prepared,
in consultation with your veterinarian, to heighten the level
of biosecurity (enhanced biosecurity).
The practicality of a biosecurity program depends on the cost,
relative risk and common sense. However, it is the most cost-effective
available tool, considering the potentially devastating consequences
of a significant disease outbreak.
Diseases such as Avian Influenza can be introduced to commercial
poultry premises by many different routes, including people, equipment,
wild birds, rodents, litter, carcasses, feathers, and possibly
by wind or aerosol spread. By implementing and diligently maintaining
a sound biosecurity program, the producer can put in place the
multiple barriers necessary to minimize the risk of introducing
diseases to the flock or spreading them to other flocks.
For more information:
Toll Free: 1-877-424-1300