Abstract

EVALUATION OF INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL BIOSECURITY MEASURES IN LAYER FARMS IN KHARTOUM STATE, SUDAN

Mortada M. O. Elhassan, Sanaa A. Enan, Eman Mustafa Hamad, Adil M. A. Salman, Elniema A. Mustafa*

ABSTRACT

The present study was conducted to evaluate quantitively the internal and external biosecurity measures in layer farms in Khartoum State, Sudan. Twenty-seven commercial layer farms were selected. Data were collected by on-farm visits using a checklist of 72 questions. Internal and external biosecurity were set as major categories, with a total of thirteen sub categories, each of which was given a score from 0.00 to 1.00. The average scores of external, internal and overall biosecurity were then calculated. The result revealed that the score of internal biosecurity in layer farms (0.76 ±0.09) was numerically higher (p>0.05) as compared to external biosecurity (0.55 ±0.09). The highest score in the external biosecurity was observed in purchase of one-day -old chicks (0.87 ±0.14), whereas the highest score in internal biosecurity was recorded in disease management (0.80 ±0.13). The overall (internal and external) biosecurity showed acceptable level in about 15% of the farms. Poor internal biosecurity measures were merely observed in around 15% of the farms, whereas almost all the farms showed low score of external biosecurity practices. Strong positive correlation (0.76) was detected between the removal of manure and dead animals, and entrance of visitors and personnel. The removal of manure and dead animals has also shown positive correlation (0.44) with cleaning and disinfection. In conclusion, the present study revealed low level of external biosecurity, and consequently poor overall biosecurity practices in layer farms. More efforts are needed to raise the efficiency of restrictions related to farm visitors and personnel, as well as the disposal of manure and dead birds.

Keywords: Biosecurity, Layer farm, Manure removal, Dead birds, Cleaning and disinfection.