AUSTRALIAN POULTRY FORUM™

Do you guys have BioSecurity Guidelines in Australia?

Nice site by the way
TOT

Avian Health and BioSecurity Guidelines. http://www.amerpoultryassn.com/

The American Poultry Association is very interested in making sure that birds present at any APA sponsored event are always treated in a humane manner and that state/provincial regulations governing the testing of birds are followed. Toward that end, the APA offers the following health and sanitation guidelines that the Association recommends for any show sponsoring an APA meet:

TOT

TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUREREGULATORY SERVICES - ANIMAL HEALTHSUMMARY: LIVESTOCK HEALTH REQUIREMENTS FOR Houston County Fair AND ExhibitionsIGENERAL:A. All stalls, pens, chutes, etc. located on the grounds of fairs and exhibitions shall bethoroughly cleaned and disinfected with a disinfectant approved by USDA, APHIS between eachscheduled fair or exhibition.B. All livestock (except poultry) which enter fairs and exhibitions shall be accompanied byan official veterinary health certificate with individual permanent identification orsufficient description to identify each animal. Certificates for this purpose shall be validfor ninety (90) days from date of issue. (Tennessee livestock only – out-of-statecertificates are valid for thirty (30) days from the date of issue)C. No animal showing clinical signs of infectious or communicable disease shall beallowed to enter or remain on premises of fairs or exhibitions. It shall be theresponsibility of the manager of each event to assure prompt removal of such animals.D. Warts and ringworm are considered contagious and infectious diseases and arepermissible exclusions only if considered inactive by the issuing veterinarian andnoted as such on the Certificate of Veterinary Inspection.E. Scabies, contagious ecthyma (soremouth), footrot, cutaneous fungal and bacterialinfections (i.e. club lamb disease, caseous lymphadenitis) are considered contagiousand infectious diseases, and are permissible exclusions only if considered inactive bythe issuing veterinarian and noted as such on the Certificate of VeterinaryInspection.IILIVESTOCK AND POULTRY ORIGINATING WITHIN THE STATE OF TENNESSEE[Certificates of Veterinary Inspection Valid for a Period of Ninety (90) Days]A. SWINE AND CATTLE:All swine and cattle which enter fairs and exhibitions shall be accompanied by an officialveterinary health certificate with individual permanent identification or sufficient descriptionto identify each animal.B. POULTRY:(1) Sponsors of poultry shows or exhibitions shall notify the Tennessee Department ofAgriculture at least thirty (30) days prior to show or exhibition.(2) All poultry assembled at shows or exhibitions shall be accompanied by evidence of anegative test for Pullorum-Typhoid within ninety (90) days or originate directly from a flockwhich has been certified as Pullorum-Typhoid Clean under the Tennessee PoultryImprovement Plan.(3) Poultry found not to be in apparent good health shall be removed immediately fromany show or exhibition.

TOT

Do you find less health problems over there due to these regulations.

Yeh we do, but some still dont follow it close enought to stop communicable disease

TOT

Common Sense Biosecurity Practices for Livestock Producers At 1,200 pounds, cattle look tough…but these animals, just like horses, sheep, goats, poultry and other livestock can be “taken down” by just a few unseen bacteria, viruses or parasites, whether they’re introduced intentionally or accidentally. By making some simple changes, however, producers can ensure that their animals are afforded an extra measure of health protection! Biosecurity practices don’t have to be cumbersome, confusing or expensive. In fact, a small tub, a gallon of bleach or disinfectant, and a brush will go a long way toward protecting livestock from “outside” disease. Premises needs to be a “safe” area and biosecurity practices are the barriers producers can use to keep disease out! The following is from the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) and would be applicable to Tennessee producers. 1. Give “germs” the boot! You wouldn’t think of eating off the floor at the local coffee shop, livestock market…feed store or grocery. But, if you walk around these places in your work boots, then head home and work with your animals, you may be tracking “germs” on the soles of your shoes to your pasture, animal bedding or any livestock feed you step in. Don’t take unwanted “guests” to your animals. Either keep a pair of boots or shoes to wear only on your own premise, or clean and disinfect your footwear before heading out to check on livestock. Commercial disinfectants are readily available, or you can mix three parts bleach to two parts water in a small, flat tub. A quick scrub of your boots with a long-handled brush will remove manure, mud or debris, and the bleach or disinfectant will kill viruses, germs and parasites.
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Company coming? Ask your visitors and employees to clean their boots, too. If you entertain prospective international buyers, you might even consider providing them with rubber boots that are never removed from your premise. Where have your hands been? Handling animals at the livestock market? In Great Britain, foot-and-mouth virus was spread at the livestock auction by buyers inspecting the mouths of hundreds of sheep. 2. Don’t haul home disease Car, truck or trailer tires can harbor “germs,” too. At the livestock market, you’ve probably driven through manure, mud or muck. Taking a few minutes to spray disinfectant over your tires can kill the “germs” you’ve picked up in the parking lots, on dirt roads or in a friend’s pasture. If you’ve been hauling livestock in your trailer, a quick trip through the car wash is advisable before returning home. 3. Bucket brigades & tool trades Borrowing equipment or tools from a neighbor? Carrying buckets, shovels or wheelbarrows to use at the local fair or exhibit? You can bet you’ve picked up “germs” at the event. Don’t bring these items home until you’ve washed off the “crud” and sprayed the equipment with disinfectant. Clean and disinfect borrowed items before returning them! 4. Trash & Garbage: “Bag it!” Control refuse on your premise. Don’t haul home trash or garbage from your office, store or another site, unless it’s bagged in plastic and sealed. Never bring home meat scraps to feed livestock. Besides being illegal to feed pigs meat scraps, it’s also a dangerous practice, as viruses and bacteria can be alive in undercooked meat scraps.
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5. Tourist OR terrorist? Be aware of who is on your property! Strangers lurking near your fence line, could be innocent tourists admiring the scenery and your stock...or they could have sinister intentions. Ask questions --or call the local law enforcement officials. These days, it pays to be alert -- and justifiably suspicious! Friends, family or business associates coming to visit? If they’ve traveled internationally within the previous week, discourage them from handling your livestock. At the very least, make certain their footwear is disinfected. Some viruses can stay alive for several days on clothing and footwear. If you’ve traveled internationally, wash your clothes, shower and clean your boots before going out to check on livestock or poultry. Better yet, avoid getting near your animals for at least 48 hours after traveling internationally, to ensure you don’t pass any viruses that may be ‘harbored’ in your nasal passages. 6. Padlock your perimeter. Lock your gates! Keep feed sacks and veterinary supplies in a secure location. Don’t tempt someone to tamper with feed, supplements or medicines. 7. Taking animals to a show or fair?Don’t take chances with feed supplies and equipment at the show grounds. With the increased threat of agricultural terrorism, security is extremely important, particularly where unknown persons have access to livestock or poultry. 8. Give ‘germs’ space! Keep newly introduced animals isolated for at least two weeks. Newly acquired animals should be isolated for at least two weeks, to ensure you don’t introduce disease to your main herd or flock. Although it’s not required, unless you
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import animals from out of state, you might consider having your private practitioner inspect animals prior to, or shortly after, making a purchase. As an added precaution, consider keeping show animals segregated for two weeks after they’ve been to a fair or exhibit. If someone has introduced a disease at an event, you’ll be protecting your main herd or flock. 8. Report signs of disease immediately! Don’t wait to report unusual signs of disease to your private practitioner. Early reporting is crucial to the health and safety of YOUR herd or flock and to the entire livestock and poultry industry! Why be Concerned? * A foreign animal disease outbreak could stop Tennessee’s interstate and international livestock and poultry trade “dead in its tracks.” * Early reporting is the most important step in eradicating a disease outbreak! Don’t be afraid of crying “wolf!” * Don’t take shortcuts! Livestock health regulations were developed to protect herds and flocks!Signs of disease that should be reported immediately: 1. Sudden, unexplained death loss in the herd or flock 2. Severe illness affecting a high percentage of animals
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3. Blisters around an animal’s mouth, nose, teats or hooves. 4. Unusual ticks or maggots. 5. Staggering, falling or central nervous system disorders that prevent animals from rising or walking normally. Source: Everett, Carla, 2003, “Biosecurity...Plain and Simple.” Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC), 11/22/03. Edited for use in Tennessee by Dr. J. Neel, Animal Science, UT Agricultural Extension Service

TOT

Safeguarding Agriculture
The Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA) routinely looks for bird flu types in our domestic poultry, and has for several years tested blood samples for the disease. In 2005, TDA tested more than 26,000 samples – all negative for bird flu – in its Kord Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory in Nashville. In addition, Tennessee’s large commercial poultry industry has an active disease surveillance program and further contributes by additional testing of flocks in approved private laboratories. There is also a system of reporting diseases to state and federal animal health officials so that quick action can be taken to limit the spread and eradicate bird flu in the event of an outbreak among domestic birds.

Since 1924, there have been three incidences of highly pathogenic bird flu in the United States in domestic poultry. There were no human illnesses reported in connection with these outbreaks, the most recent outbreak in 2004 was confined to one flock and quickly eradicated.

TDA is expanding its bird flu monitoring efforts among non-commercial producers to include voluntary testing. Department animal health technicians provide information and outreach materials on sound biosecurity – practices that provide protection from a variety of potential diseases through physical barriers and good management – to breeders and exhibitors of exotic and specialty birds at fairs and other events.

Poultry production in the United States is much different than in many developing countries where the Asian H5N1 strain has been found and where people often live in close contact with their birds.

In Tennessee and throughout the United States, poultry farmers and the companies with whom they work are keenly aware of the need for biosecurity. Such practices include raising birds in an enclosed environment with climate controls to limit exposure to wild bird populations, not allowing other poultry on the farm, limiting access by visitors, disinfecting workers and equipment and wearing protective clothing.

Response and Eradication
In the event that the Asian H5N1 bird flu or any other similar strain is detected in a domestic chicken flock in Tennessee, the response will be swift and decisive. Responses will be coordinated between USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Agency and the Tennessee Department of Agriculture. As with any highly contagious disease, time is critical in limiting the spread and severity of an infection. Infected flocks will be humanely destroyed and disposed of in an environmentally sensitive manner. None of the birds will enter the food supply. Quarantines will be established to restrict movement of birds and equipment that might spread the disease. Monitoring and testing of other flocks in the affected area will be conducted to ensure complete eradication.

USDA uses the Incident Command System to coordinate local, state and federal responses to disease outbreaks. This provides not only a system of direction and control for responding to a disease outbreak but also coordinates timely dissemination of information and emergency instruction to the public and media. The Tennessee Department of Agriculture will implement the state’s Animal Emergency Response Plan, developed with the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency to deploy and coordinate state resources for public health and safety, law enforcement, transportation and environmental protection.

TOT

Now that's top information, most of it may not apply here (oz) but still, top info mate, you have done your homework.

Yes, very thorough matey
Cheers Drew