| dc.description.abstract | The FAO avian Influenza project conducted a rapid assessment of biosecurity status
using a few selected districts in Kenya. The importance of the study was based on the
fact that biosecurity is the cheapest and one of the most effective means of controlling
entry or escape of a disease along the poultry value chain. The aim of this study was to
assess the current biosecurity status, risky practices that may facilitate entry or spread
of HPAI into the country and the major constraints in implementation of biosecurity
practices and policies at farm/market level. Opportunities for improvement of
biosecurity were identified which will be used to develop practical biosecurity
guidelines appropriate to specific production, marketing and processing scenario for
safe poultry production, marketing and processing. During the study awareness
creation was also done through distribution of materials on early detection, prevention
and control of Avian Influenza. The study was carried out in four districts (Makueni,
Kilifi, Busia, Bomet) and the periurban areas around Nairobi (Ngong, Ruiru, Uthiru,
Wangige) representing all the different production and marketing systems from the
high risk areas in the country. Study methodology involved household interview using
structured questionnaires as well as focused group discussions of the key informants.
The respondents included farmers, different traders at the markets and slaughterhouse
operators. In addition to farm, markets, slaughterhouses, at least four hatcheries were
also visited. A total of 410 households and 130 traders were interviewed. The study
revealed that the four poultry production sectors are well represented in the country,
but variations in terms of implementation of biosecurity practices conspicuously exist
within each sector (except Sector 1 which is represented by one company).Biosecurity
levels were found to be weakening as one goes down the sectors with sector 4 being
completely insecure and very important in disease spread due to movement of birds
both across and within regions for either trade or social purposes. In the event of
disease outbreak in sector 4 restriction of bird movement should be well enforced in
order to limit disease spread. Sector 3 is very vulnerable to disease incursion because of
its dependency on sector 1 and 2 for inputs as well as the economic realities of the
small holder mixed farming systems in which most of them are found. The following
practices were identified as representing high biosecurity risk:
Sector 1 and 2: Litter disposal at the end of the cycle
Sector 3:
• Home slaughter of broilers, hence sale of un - inspected meat
• Within farm use or sale of raw poultry litter as fertilizer or dairy cattle
feed
• Poor carcass and slaughter wastes disposal
• Some farms keep free ranging birds of different species alongside
confined birds
• Minimal use of protective clothing by poultry attendants
• Feeding of raw offal to pigs and dogs
3
Sector 4:
• Poultry sheltered in the same house with people
• Poor vaccination of HPAI differentials such as NCD (in terms of coverage and
consistency)
• Transportation of live birds without equipment and human protection
• Multi species and multi age rearing with free interaction between domestic and
wild birds
• People slaughtering or selling sick birds
Lacks of awareness among different players, social, cultural, economic and institutional
factors were cited as major factors responsible for the current biosecurity status.
Farmers' training, enhanced stakeholder involvement, increased public awareness
development of recording and documentation systems to enhance bird traceability,
institutional capacity building and policy reviews are important measures that can
greatly improve biosecurity in the poultry industry as well as make the sector more
profitable. | |
