Poultry
The following information is about commercial farm biosecurity. Find out about backyard poultry.
Poultry movement
Moving poultry to South Australia from interstate.
Poultry biosecurity
Effective farm biosecurity is essential for all successful poultry production systems. It is the best defence to protect poultry flocks from disease and from spreading disease to other flocks. Take these steps:
- Restrict contact between poultry and wild birds.
- Make free-range environments less attractive to wild birds, for example:
- place feeders and water sources inside sheds rather than in the open
- use fencing or netting
- minimise the presence of vegetation that attract wild birds.
- Make sure fresh feed and water is provided daily:
- keep feed and water spaces clear of faeces and other organic matter
- check that drinking water is treated, especially if it is straight from a natural water source such as a river or dam
- test treated drinking water regularly to make sure treatment is effective.
- Keep poultry sheds, yards, aviaries, and equipment clean with a detergent and change nesting materials regularly.
- Prevent poultry species from mixing – keep chickens, ducks and turkeys separate.
- Quarantine new poultry for at least 2 to 4 weeks, until you are sure they are disease-free.
- Limit visitors to your poultry. Check if essential visitors have recently visited other premises where poultry are kept or have poultry at home.
- Always wash your hands before and after handling birds and eggs.
- Change into clean clothing and footwear before entering poultry houses or enclosures to stop the potential transfer of disease-causing agents from outside.
- Contact your consulting veterinarian about managing your flock's health, such as by using vaccinations.
More information
- Chickens (includes relevant national farm biosecurity manuals) – Farm Biosecurity
- Better on farm biosecurity (includes tips and templates for biosecurity planning) – Animal Health Australia
- Farmer resources – Australian Eggs
Poultry health and diseases
The 2 most serious diseases that must be kept out of poultry flocks are Newcastle disease and avian influenza. Although these devastating diseases are not present in commercial poultry in South Australia, the poultry industry is at risk from their introduction.
Find out about:
- Avian influenza
- Newcastle disease
- Salmonella enteritidis (SE)
- Infectious laryngotracheitis (ILT)
- Pigeon paramyxovirus
- Vaccinations and antibiotics for poultry
- Caring for livestock during a heatwave
Egg grading and processing operations
Egg grading floors and processing operations pose increased biosecurity risks for commercial poultry operations.
Facilities at highest risk are those connected to several sheds by conveyor belts, internal vehicles and workers, or receiving eggs from other farms for grading and processing. These situations connect birds across sheds and farms and create a high-risk disease status.
During grading, many processes can lead to cross-contamination of eggs. Following good biosecurity measures will help protect your commercial poultry operation from disease threats.
Reviewing and adapting your biosecurity plan regularly is essential to address new challenges and improve overall farm biosecurity.
Seek assistance from a biosecurity professional, such as your consulting veterinarian, to develop and review your plan.
Recommendations
Education and training
- Educate staff on biosecurity protocols and the importance of hygiene.
- Regularly conduct training to cover new biosecurity measures.
- Ensure staff are aware of and have access to the site's biosecurity plan – see the National Farm Biosecurity Technical Manual for Egg Production (the Manual) available from Farm Biosecurity: Eggs.
Facility operational standards
- Designate separate zones for bird housing and egg grading to prevent cross-contamination.
- Movements must always be from clean to dirty sites and never the reverse.
- Restrict access to the grading and bird facility – only essential personnel should enter.
- Use footbaths and hand sanitisers at all entry points.
Follow good hygiene for personnel
- Use clean, dedicated clothing and footwear for workers in the grading area.
- Use disposable gloves and masks where necessary.
- See 'Farm staff training' on Husbandry and biosecurity.
Equipment and vehicle cleaning and disinfection
- Clean and disinfect any portable egg handling equipment used for grading and processing before it is returned to the shed – including fillers, trolleys and pallets.
- Re-using cardboard egg flats is a particularly high-risk practice in transferring poultry diseases between properties and must be avoided.
- Regularly clean and disinfect vehicles.
- Use dedicated equipment for the grading facility and bird housing areas.
Record keeping
- Accurate records of all bird, egg and equipment movements which can be rapidly accessed must be maintained to facilitate tracing in case of an animal health or food safety concern.
Food safety
Poultry owners producing eggs and poultry meat for consumption must have:
Egg producers and operations that include egg grading (classified as processors) need to be familiar with their food safety requirements:
- Primary Produce (Food Safety Schemes) (Egg) Regulations 2012
- Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code – Standard 3.1.1 – Interpretation and Application
- Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code – Standard 4.2.5 – Primary Production and Processing Standard for Eggs and Egg Product.
See more information about egg food safety.
Contact
If you require further information, please contact your local veterinarian, or contact us.