Chickens on traditional free range poultry farm
Poultry farming business in Kenya is thriving thanks to entrepreneurship spirit of the growing youthful population and the free economy policy of the government. Most of the successful farmers in the commercial sector have established good and stable markets for both meat and eggs and are getting better quality chicks from numerous suppliers and distributors. At the national level, according to industry estimates, farmers are producing 52 million commercial chicks every year to supply the much-needed animal protein.
While strong demand presents opportunities for market growth, factors such as diseases and production losses, continue to hamper the industry. Here are seven simple strategies poultry farmers can embrace to overcome these challenges.
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All breeding companies that are commercially involved in production and sale of day-old chicks must be identified and registered with the relevant regulator. This is important to make it easier for these facilities to be regularly monitored according to the Animal Diseases Act Cap 364. Diseases like Mycoplasma and Salmonella can easily be detected during such inspection. This will ensure we only use disease-free parent flocks to produce progeny that is sold to farmers countrywide. The regulator will also ensure that these producers have high standard of hygiene and biosecurity on the breeder farms and the hatcheries and that all the flocks are properly and rightfully vaccinated.
Flock vaccination
Flocks must be vaccinated based on the disease challenges of the local area and on the available vaccines. It is also important to remember that vaccinations alone cannot protect your flocks against overwhelming diseases and poor management and biosecurity practices. Every bird must receive the intended dose of vaccines.
Poultry house visits
To prevent transmission of disease-causing organisms by humans, restrict flock visitation to bare minimum and prevent access to all farming facilities by unauthorised personnel. If they must visit the farm, they must change into clean farm uniforms and boots. All visitors must be registered at the farm gate. They must wash and sanitise hands when entering and leaving the units and clean and disinfect all equipment before bringing it in to the units. It is always a good practice to visit young flocks first.
Feed and water equipment cleaning and disinfection
Both water and feed equipment must be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected before supplying the flock units. Drinking water needs to be sanitised before bird placement, and this should be maintained throughout the life of the birds. The most used sanitiser is chlorine at 3-5 ppm to maintain residual protection. It is sold as bleach powder of 65 per cent strength.
Farmyard disinfection
Site cleaning must remove all potential flock and human pathogens and minimise the presence of bacteria, viruses, moulds, parasites and insects. A good disinfectant must be cost-effective and have wide spectrum of activity against the most stubborn bacteria, spores and fungi. They should be active in the presence of organic matter and must be non-corrosive. Most aldehyde-based agents meet this bill.
Industry surroundings
Do not leave equipment, building materials or litter lying around. Clean up any feed spills as soon as they occur to avoid infestation by rodents, pests and mites. Store litter materials in bags or inside storage building or bins. Make sure the poultry units are bird proof by sealing completely to ward off wild birds and other vermin. Maintain an effective rodent control programme.
Farms in proximity
In setting or establishing an appropriate site for a farm operation, it is normal to consider the type (pure line, grandparent, parent or commercial), the number of birds per flock and per site and individual value of the stock. Locate your farm away from other poultry sites with operational links to farms, hatcheries, feed mills and slaughtering plants. Presence of other farm animals on site is a threat to your flock as it exposes them to infections. This may extend to other farm animals in the immediate area.
[Dr Watson Messo Odwako watsonmesso@yahoo.com]
