Ontario’s poultry industry institutes heightened biosecurity measures

Chicken Farmers of Ontario’s Feather Board Command Centre issues a biosecurity advisory after two cases of High Pathogenic Avian Flu found in provincial flocks.

By Andrew Joseph, Farms.com; Image via www.pixabay.com

After two instances of High Pathogenic Avian Flu (HPAV) were found in two Ontario poultry flocks, the Feather Board Command Centre (FBCC) has issued a heightened biosecurity advisory to all Ontario farmers.

The FBCC was created to be the central figure in Ontario's centralized risk management strategy of the chicken, egg, turkey and hatchery sectors in the province.

The advisory is issued to all poultry farmers, small flock growers and poultry industry personnel throughout the province, effective March 26, 2022.

The two cases of HPAV have been found in the Waterloo/Wellington area, and in the Thamesford area.

The FBCC biosecurity protocols MUST be implemented (basic and heightened measures) on-farm:

• Keep poultry away from areas frequented by wild birds.
• Maintain strict control over access to poultry houses and your premises.
• Make sure equipment is cleaned and disinfected before taking it into poultry houses.
• Do not keep bird feeders or create duck ponds close to poultry barns.
• Maintain the highest sanitation standards.
• Change footwear when entering the Restricted Area and prevent wearing contaminated clothing and equipment in production areas.
• Control access to your farm site by communicating the situation to all essential visitors, including service providers, input suppliers and feed providers.
• Keep mortalities in secure, covered containers until they are moved to the disposal area or transported off-farm.
• Place waste entering the public collection system in a sealed, waterproof bag with the exterior disinfected.
• Place a hose and spray nozzle at entry point to Controlled Access Zone (CAZ); wash and disinfect vehicles at entry and at exit, paying special attention to wheels and wheelwells.
• If possible, keep all waste on-farm until the situation is resolved.
• IMPORTANT: Limit access to your farm to ESSENTIAL visitors only. Please note that each individual Feather Board (CFO - Chicken Farmers of Ontario, EFO - Egg Farmers of Ontario, OBHECC - Ontario Broiler Hatching Egg & Chick Commission, TFO - Turkey Farmers Of Ontario) will be reaching out to their members regarding on-farm audits and inspections. Wherever possible, on-farm audits and inspections will be limited to essential visits only.

Required Heightened Biosecurity for Industry Service Personnel:

• Travel onto farms should be limited to essential services only.
• Roads that are contaminated with organic material should be avoided.
• Washing vehicles between farms is ideal. At a minimum, all deliveries or loading in or near a Biosecurity Advisory Area should be last on the route.
• Drive slowly when near barns to minimize dust.
• Avoid parking by exhaust fans and air inlets unless required.
• Avoid parking downwind from the barns, if possible.
• Trucks should have steps, wheel wells and tires cleaned and disinfected before leaving the premises or before proceeding with, any other delivery/loading.
• If not using disposable biosecurity apparel provided by the farmer, wear clean clothes and clean and disinfected boots at each farm.
• Use disinfectants, such as: Virkon, Accel, VIROCID, Bisentry, Biosolve Plus, Biofoam, etc., abiding by contact time and concentrations as per the label.
• Be sure to clean any equipment used on-farm that could become contaminated.
• Sign the visitor logbook (and ensure it is vigourously maintained).
• Keep your own records identifying where you have been and when.

Should birds show any signs of illness, farmers are to call their veterinarian immediately. It is also recommended that you contact the 24-hour Feather Board Command Centre (FBCC) support line, 1-877-SOS-BYRD.