Student Competition : Behavior , Extension , Environment , and Management

Biosecurity programs have long been known to be effective at preventing disease outbreaks in the poultry production system. However, these programs are only effective if they are properly adopted and adequately followed. Evaluation of the biosecurity practices on individual farms is needed to determine if such practices are followed and to what extent. Broiler growers for an integrator in Alabama were selected for review of their biosecurity program. This was accomplished by sending out a survey to 120 individual farms to evaluate their biosecurity practices. An example of some of the questions asked of the growers included those regarding their insect and/or rodent control programs, farm visitor practices, house or farm entry logs, age of housing and equipment, house management practices, house set-up procedure, the use of foot baths, shoe covers and hand washing. Thirty-two responses to the survey were received (27%). Analysis of the surveys indicated that over 90% of farms had a rodent control program, 100% used foot baths, and 78% had an insect control program, and 78% limited farm visitors. However, less than 10% of farms had a farm entry/exit log, house entry log, or had visitors change clothing before facility entrance. Soap and water or hand sanitizer was reported by 16% of the respondents to be available at each house. The results of this survey indicate that while many farms have good biosecurity practices, improvement and standardization of such practices is needed to provide adequate protection to their poultry farm as well as their neighbor’s farm.