Farm management is the essential component of putting the standards into practice. If all aspects of management are handled to their optimum, then farm biosecurity will be a success. All the technology put into place then managed incorrectly, however, will be equivalent to not having biosecurity measures in place. Farm management is a collection of programs, procedures, and rules that are put into place to activate an overall biosecurity program.

Previous sections of this report have outlined the primary and secondary biosecurity practices that should be addressed on your farm. However, even smaller management practices can have a significant impact on the overall biosecurity of your operation. This section outlines a number of other possible improvements to your management practices.

The following are other recommended secondary biosecurity practices that would also enhance biosecurity on non-supply managed poultry operations:

Tools And Equipment

• Your farm should maintain its own sets of tools and equipment for repairs as much as possible. All small tools and equipment should be cleaned and disinfected before being brought onto the farm.
• All tools and equipment should also be cleaned and disinfected before they leave your farm, regardless of their destination. It is also recommended that all tools and equipment be cleaned and disinfected when moving between farm buildings.

Water Sanitation

• Water quality should be checked on a routine basis. Water analysis reports should be kept with the farm records.
• Wells should be properly constructed and maintained.  Even if the wells themselves are properly maintained, the water lines may be a source for transfer of pathogens. For that reason, they should be properly and regularly sanitized.
• In-line water filters in the water lines are an effective barrier to the spread of pathogens. To remain effective the filters should be changed regularly.

Employee Protocols

• Pathogens can be potentially transmitted from people to poultry, both directly or indirectly through people wearing clothing or boots contaminated with manure from sick animals from another flock.
• This poses a particularly high risk when combined with the absence of a formal biosecurity plan or protocol being in place for your farm or the other farm(s) on which your personnel may be working. For that reason, written biosecurity protocols should be in place and adhered to by your employees.
• Your written biosecurity protocol should require that following contact with other poultry flocks when disease concerns are present, all employees have a minimum 24-hour “”away time”” before re-entering your farm.
• The consequences of coming in contact with off-farm poultry and the importance of adhering to your biosecurity protocols should be explained to all employees.
• Your written biosecurity protocol should specifically address procedures following any repair work that your employees may have undertaken on other farms. Ensure that your employees adhere to this element of your biosecurity protocol.
• Consider having your employment agreement (particularly for new employees) outline the importance of and requirements for adhering to your biosecurity protocols.

Training

• Consider providing biosecurity training for your employees and updating their training as required. If possible and appropriate, recommend they attend industry meetings or educational seminars to supplement on-farm training.
• The owner/producer should also take every opportunity to attend industry meetings and educational seminars to keep updated on new developments in disease control.