Poster launched to highlight biosecurity best practice for poultry farmers

The NFU is highlighting a poster it has created in conjunction with the Food Standards Agency that gives poultry farmers a clear, comprehensive overview of good biosecurity on poultry farms.

It forms part of efforts to control levels of campylobacter entering slaughterhouses, and subsequently being present on supermarket chicken.

While even the best biosecurity will not always prevent the colonisation of a flock with the bug, it is understood to be the best measure that farmers can take to suppress contamination.

See also: Read our coverage of the recent ACT on campylobacter conference

The infographic, which is available to download (PDF) or order direct from the NFU, lists each stage of entering and exiting a farm, and the best-practice steps to take.

It splits a poultry shed into four segments and highlights what farmworkers should be doing when entering and exiting sheds.

For example, it highlights that hands should be sanitised before leaving the ante-room of a shed and walking birds.

Another step is ensuring no debris from within the shed is on boots when leaving.

The poster also details washing procedures for vehicles and highlights that tools and equipment should be regularly cleaned.

‘Proven to reduce levels’

An NFU spokesman said: “The whole of the poultry industry is working hard to reduce levels of contamination throughout the supply chain and good levels of biosecurity on farm are proven to help reduce levels of contamination in flocks.”

You can download the poster (PDF), or NFU members can contact the group secretary of their local Mutual branch or ring NFU CallFirst on 0370 845 8458

A trial, yet to be fully published by Moy Park, has suggested the highest levels of campylobacter can be cut by a third when the best biosecurity levels are met.