Evaluation of biosecurity measures on broiler farms in Khartoum, Sudan

Abstract

This study was designed to evaluate the present biosecurity measures in broiler farms in Khartoum and to compare between the biosecurity practices followed in closed system and open system farms. The primary information that included numbers of broiler poultry in each farms, locations in the state and type of farms were obtained from Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources, Khartoum. Multi-stage cluster sampling method was used; collection of information was done at different levels (sites, farms and persons). A total of 45 broiler farms (13 closed and 32 open systems) were chosen from Khartoum, Khartoum North and Omdurman. Data were collected by using structured questionnaire. The respondents were farm owners, farm managers, veterinarians and workers. The results showed that the closed system had a higher level of biosecurity than the open system. 100% of the closed system practiced all in all out system when compared with 81.3% of the open system farms. The open system farms had less secure boundaries; 28.1% of the farms did not have fence when compared with 100% of the closed system farms. Only 2.2% of the farms had washing by disinfectants at the gates. The distance among the pens in each farm which was more than 100 m was 33.3%. Among the 45 farms, 87.5% disinfected the equipment before each production cycle. It was found that 88.9% of the farms collected dead chickens once daily. The results, also, showed that 57% of the farms did not use disinfectants in their foot dips of each pen and 84.4% had no warning signs for entrance of unauthorized people. Among these farms, 17.8% had control plan for vermin, 68.9% of the farms isolated the sick birds, and 26.7% were found to keep different species of birds other than poultry and 15.5% used to treat drinking water for poultry. It is concluded that the majority of the farms in were far from application of biosecurity measures.

Evaluation of the Level of Biosecurity Measures Adopted in Broiler Farms Based on Manure Bacterial Load Examination in Khartoum State, Sudan

“…During this study, it is found that half of the total farms examined were at a distance between 0.5-1km and complained from frequent passage of neighboring farms vehicles via near public road. The same finding was reported by Mahmoud et al [17] who found that the distance to the nearest farm was more than 500 m in 75.5% of the respondents of the surveyed farms. According to [18], there was no set distance that will uniformly eliminate the risk of disease transfer.…”

“…However, low restriction to protective wearing beside hands washing and disinfecting after removing dead birds were observed or contact with waste. The same findings were also noted by [17] who found that 68.9% of farmers separated sick birds from health birds and 95.5% of respondents used burring for disposable of dead birds and just two farms (4.4%) left dead birds thrown. In contrast, [21] conducted a study evaluating the disposal of manure and dead birds in poultry farms in Khartoum State, Sudan and they found that 77.03% of farms under study disposed their manure and dead birds improperly.…”

“…In consistent with [19], no equipment, weeds, or waste should be piled up against the outer stable walls and feed should be stored in a vermin-free place to discourage rodents from nesting in the vicinity of the stables. The same findings were also stated by [17]. They concluded that, in Khartoum State, the close system was more secure than other rearing system indicating that management regarding biosecurity is highly implemented, also larger facilities are often assumed to implement more advanced biosecurity measures.…”

Assessment of the Level of Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) Prerequisites Adopted in Poultry Meat Production and Processing in Khartoum State, Sudan

“…Across the world, including Sudan, new methods and technologies for transforming poultry production from traditional farming into modern industry attaining higher production are being widely adopted [4]. The total poultry meat production per year in Sudan reached 90 million tons [5]. With the increase of consumer awareness of the nutritive value of poultry products, increase in production and the decline in prices relative to the higher prices of other types of animal proteins, the demand for healthy poultry products is increasing rapidly [6].…”

“…were isolated from the samples examined. Another study also revealed high microbial level of pathogenic bacteria on poultry carcasses which reflected poor hygienic management concluding that it is far away from international standards [5], [19].…”