Pest control: an essential part of biosecurity

Pest control on poultry farms is about far more than protecting feed stocks, preventing building damage and minimising general mess. Rodents, wild birds and insects can all carry harmful pathogens, creating routes for diseases to enter and spread around a farm. Depending on the pest and where it is active, these routes can include the direct contamination of the poultry's feed and water, as well as indirect contamination of litter, equipment and other surfaces. This contamination can cause human illness as well as bird health issues.

Dr Paul Talling, Biosecurity Advisor at Livetec, says: “Different pests create different risks in different areas of the farm, so understanding which one you are dealing with and where that activity is occurring is an important part of effective control. We have first-hand experience of dealing with the consequences of disease incursions and we know that pest activity is often implicated as a causative agent in disease outbreaks. Indeed, we’ve collected dead vermin from within infected poultry sheds which have been shown to be carrying the Avian Influenza (AI) virus. This demonstrates why pest control needs to be considered a preventative biosecurity measure, rather than something that is only addressed once an infestation becomes obvious.”

Early identification is critical. Signs such as fresh droppings, fur or feathers, burrows or nests, gnaw marks, smear marks, footprints, tracks or damaged woodwork or wiring can indicate recent activity that needs to be investigated. Wild bird activity around feed stores, water sources or poultry housing can also present a significant contamination risk. The role of flies, beetles and mites should not be underestimated either, as their numbers can increase rapidly and can contribute to the spread and/or, perhaps more importantly, the carryover of disease from one flock to another.

Effective pest management should be proactive and continuous. combining meticulous cleaning and disinfection with effective proofing, good housekeeping and appropriate monitoring, trapping and, where necessary, responsible pesticide use. Feed stores, ancillary housing and waste areas should be kept tidy to reduce attractants, while high-risk areas, such as muck stores, should be monitored regularly.

Training and job competency are important parts of effective pest control. Where pest management is carried out solely by farm staff, those responsible need to keep up to date with modern control strategies, new technologies and legislation and follow the relevant requirements for monitoring, trapping, pesticide use. Farms should maintain accurate records of pest activity and the actions taken

For poultry producers, the key message is that pest control is a preventative biosecurity measure, not simply a response to an infestation. A comprehensive and proactive pest control strategy will protect flock health and maintain productivity whilst significantly contributing to overall farm biosecurity.