With respect to avian influenza (AI) the statistics still maintain that the summertime is the lowest risk period for disease outbreaks. Indeed, this summer is looking particularly low risk as the last outbreaks were in mid-April and since then there has only been a handful of infected dead wild birds collected.
Despite the apparent low risk, farmers should not see this summer as a time to switch off or relax their biosecurity. Moreover, this period should be utilised as a valuable opportunity to review and if necessary, strengthen both physical and behavioural biosecurity before disease pressure inevitably rises again in the autumn.
For Dr Paul Talling and Amy Davies, Livetec’s Biosecurity Advisors, the message is clear: Review, renovate and/or renew now. The same steps taken in the autumn will likely bring much greater risks.
“Biosecurity is an investment,” says Paul. “Now is the time to be investing and it’s not necessarily about money. It’s only about investing time and making sure things are working as they should.”
Plenty of daylight hours, generally drier weather and good conditions underfoot will make it easier to carry out maintenance and address physical issues that could become significant problems later in the year. The lower disease risk also means it is a safer time to bring in contractors or extra staff without exposing your birds to the risk of increased visitor numbers and extra on-site movements.
As described summer is a good time to determine whether your current biosecurity measures are still effective? Ask these questions:
- Are there opportunities for wild birds and rodents to get into your buildings?
- Can any dirty water from outside get in?
- Can all staff and visitors enter the buildings bio-securely?
- Do we know what to do if bird flu hits?
These are not simply compliance checks. They are opportunities to significantly reduce risk before it becomes a threat.
As stated, many of the most effective improvements require little more than time and attention. Cutting back vegetation and generally tidying up around poultry houses, clearing gutters and drains, repairing damaged surfaces and fixing potholes all help create a safer, more controlled environment.
Vermin activity should be taken seriously. “This (summer) should be a low-risk time of year for vermin,” says Paul. “If you’ve got vermin issues now, you’ve got a problem. Sort them out.”
Additionally, reducing harbourage, clearing vegetation, promptly clearing up any spilt feed from around the buildings, and reproofing where necessary, will all help prevent vermin problems getting worse or developing before the higher risk months arrive.
Water ingress can be easier to see in the summer when short, heavy showers can expose entry points. Typically, doorways and the joints between the floor slabs and walls can often be found wanting.
“If there’s evidence of water where it shouldn’t be during the summer, you’ve probably found an issue that needs fixing,” says Paul.
Pedestrian entries into buildings should be clean and dry at this time of year. If there is evidence of dirt, muck and feathers between biosecurity barriers this should be investigated and the question asked. Why? If debris can move over or through these barriers so can a virus.
As well as maintaining the physical environment it is very important to refresh a workforces’ understanding of behavioural biosecurity, i.e. their role in making biosecurity work. Pleasant weather can provide valuable opportunities to bring teams together, review and discuss procedures and reinforce the everyday behaviours that protect the flock.
“We often think of training as sitting in a classroom or staring at a screen,” says Amy. “But it doesn’t have to be. We often conduct “training” by simply walking around a farm and encouraging staff and managers to comment on their own biosecurity.”
Amy adds “My role is often just to start the conversation. Ensuing open discussions invariably highlight issues that may have been missed. This methodology gives staff a say in how these issues are rectified and this can help everyone to buy into their own biosecurity culture.
Amy concludes “Experience has shown us that the strongest biosecurity plans are never created during an outbreak. They are always built beforehand, when there is time to assess, design, implement, assess and improve.
Strong biosecurity is built on well prepared and tested protocols, but it also relies on having a clear plan when distinct challenges arise. Livetec’s Contingency Plans help poultry businesses develop practical, robust plans to strengthen resilience and protect their people, birds and business before an outbreak occurs.