Disease prevention is much less stressful and costly than disease control and recovery. Biosecurity measures are a critical component of disease prevention. Use this list to rate your disease prevention practices and preparedness. Check the box for all questions to which you can answer “yes”. A score of 80 or better is outstanding, 70 to 79 excellent, 60 to 69 good, 50 to 59 just fair, and 49 or less indicates a definite need for improvement.
| A. Score 5 points for each “yes” answer. | |
|---|---|
| My farm is isolated from other poultry facilities. | |
| My poultry houses are set back at least 200 feet from public roads. | |
| Access deterrents are in place such as warning signs at entrances, perimeter fencing or gated driveways. | |
| My buildings are secured with locks. | |
| My employees do not own poultry. | |
| No other avian species are kept on my property. | |
| I have a pest management program to control mice, rats and other pests. | |
| B. Score 4 points for each “yes” answer. | |
|---|---|
| My birds are observed every day for abnormal symptoms and overall flock health. | |
| I routinely analyze my poultry production, feed consumption, and mortality records for signs of problems. | |
| Dead birds are picked up daily from the houses for appropriate disposal. | |
| My farm has secure dead bird disposal, with no access to birds or animals. | |
| Vehicles or people cannot enter my farm or poultry houses without my permission or knowledge. | |
| Visitors must park vehicles in a designated area and sign a logbook. | |
| C. Score 3 points for each “yes” answer. | |
|---|---|
| My poultry housing is animal and wild-bird proof. | |
| All tools and equipment are cleaned and disinfected before coming on my farm. | |
| Production houses are thoroughly cleaned and disinfected between flocks. | |
| Production house entryways are routinely cleaned and disinfected. | |
| Disinfectant footbaths are at each entryway of every facility and are routinely cleaned and recharged. | |
| Debris and vegetation are cleaned up and kept clear of the production facilities. | |
| Feed spills are cleaned up quickly when they occur. | |
| For necessary visitors, I provide clean coveralls and boots. | |
| My employees do not travel to other poultry premises not under my control. | |
| D. Score 2 points for each “yes” answer. | |
|---|---|
| All utility and service vehicles entering my farm are properly sanitized before entry and the drivers do not enter the poultry houses. | |
| Farm employees work only in assigned areas; they do not go to other areas of the farm. | |
| Dead birds are not carried from house to house. | |
| Poultry waste from other farms is never spread on the fields adjacent to my farm. | |
| I have instructed my employees and service personnel about poultry disease and on-farm prevention measures. | |
| E. Score 1 point for each “yes” answer. | |
|---|---|
| Household pets are kept away from the poultry buildings. | |
| I have implemented a fly control program for my farm. | |
| I follow all company-implemented disease prevention measures on my farm. | |
| I regularly attend educational programs to keep abreast of new developments in disease control. | |
_________ Total (Perfect score = 100)
Adapted from: Poultry Disease Prevention, Animal Nutrition and Health, 1974.
