Integrated disease management key to flock health

Having internal biosecurity protocols will help to prevent disease from spreading within each shed.

When it comes to reducing pathogens from entering the sheds, it can be as simple as making sure that:

Foot dips are:

All boots are free from muck and mud when dipped.

To prevent disease from being carried from one shed to another, it is recommended to have shed specific:

It is also important to closely monitor the flock to help spot early warning signs of emerging issues and to prompt proactive treatment.

Having a good health record-keeping system in place will allow you to notice subtle changes in the flock’s performance. These changes, such as increased mortality, could indicate disease, and therefore allow you to take action sooner and prevent further outbreaks. 

Limiting the number of people who come to the site, and implementing a strict visitor protocol, including a visitor log, is a crucial part of protecting the whole farm environment from pathogens.

Livestock and feed lorries should be disinfected on entry to the yard to prevent disease from being spread between sites, with care taken to treat the wheels and undercarriage.

Managing rodents in poultry sheds

Rodent control is another important aspect of biosecurity, as poultry sheds are an ideal home for rats and mice.
While UK rats rarely carry Salmonella, they can harbour and intensify any infection on-farm and can spread pathogens between neighbouring units. 

Top tips for preventing rats from entering buildings: 

When putting rodent bait down, it is important to follow the instructions on the label to ensure that you are dosing correctly and adhering to the CRRU (Campaign for Responsible Rodenticide Use) code of rodent control best practice.

Defra also provides information on the prevention and control of rodent infestation on poultry farms.

The final piece of the disease control triangle is a thorough vaccination protocol.

In-water vaccinations are common practice in poultry production, as they are an ideal way to vaccinate large numbers of birds with minimum stress. However, it is important to administer the vaccine correctly.

Priming the lines correctly, dosing accurately, and making sure the water quality is high enough not to interfere with the working of the vaccines are all important factors.

It is also important to ensure the birds receive the correct vaccine dose and that it is administered at the right timings to achieve adequate protection.

Top tips for effective vaccination