NAN-AE-3
Biosecurity
By Chidinma Agu
Lagos, March 23, 2017 (NAN) Dr Noble Igbokwe, a veterinary doctor working with Diversay Solutions Ltd., a firm providing veterinary services to poultry farmers, has advised poultry farmers to adopt biosecurity to address poultry diseases.
Igbokwe, who gave the advice in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Thursday, said that biosecurity was a potent way of preventing the spread of diseases in poultry farms.
NAN reports biosecurity involves a set of preventive measures designed to reduce the risk of transmission of infectious diseases in crops, livestock and poultry, among others.
Igbokwe said that the adoption of biosecurity in poultry farms would prevent diseases from ravaging the farms and killing the birds.
“The cost of sanitising a disease-ravaged poultry farm is always huge, apart from the loss of the birds.
“There are many disease agents in the farm that is why all the biosecurity standards should be followed and maintained from inception.
“If a farmer spends between N3 and N5 per bird for biosecurity; it is not much, compared to the losses that would be incurred when diseases ravage the farm,’’ he said.
Igbokwe said that diseases in poultry or other avian species could easily spread via diseased birds or birds carrying diseases, farm animals, pets, wild birds, wildlife, insects, contaminated farm equipment and vehicles.
“The diseases could also be spread through the clothing and shoes of visitors and employees moving from flock to flock, contaminated feed, water, bedding and litter,’’ he said.
He said that poultry birds could also contract diseases through contact with carcasses of dead birds or neighbourhood flocks and airborne particles or dust blown by the wind.
Igbokwe said that the position of bird cages in a poultry farm and the materials used in constructing them as well as the disinfectants used to sanitise the farm should be considered in efforts to achieve biosecurity of the farm.
He said that special clothing and shoes should be provided for farm employees and visitors, while the highest level of hygiene should be maintained on the farm.
He, however, underscored the need to ensure that wild animals, including rats, snakes and wild birds, did have access to the farm.
Igbokwe said that in the event of an outbreak of disease, the entire farm ought to be disinfected and quarantined for three months before reintroducing birds to the farm.
He said that the quarantine of the farm was necessary in order to kill all the disease agents on the farm.
Igbokwe said that biosecurity should be practised by persons who managed commercial poultry farms, backyard flocks or hobby poultry farms and well as those who provided services to poultry farms. (NAN)
ACA/IKU/OOK
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Edited by Tayo Ikujuni and Dayo Komolafe