Biosecurity is a set of preventative measures put in place to reduce the risk of introducing harmful bacteria, viruses or pathogens (external biosecurity); and minimise the spread of already present disease causing agents throughout the farm (internal biosecurity).
Biosecurity is essential to protect your business from harmful diseases. The Poultry Biosecurity Checklist (PDF) will aid in helping you keep your birds and livelihood protected.
In an effort to protect poultry and captive birds from the risk of avian influenza, a compulsory housing order came into effect on Monday, 17 February, 2025.
Flies can pose a health threat for both humans and poultry. They can carry diseases such as Salmonella, Campylobacter and E.coli. All of which can negatively impact on the flock of birds and those working on farm.
As part of the Rural Development Plan 2014-2020, DAFM, in conjunction with the EU, are funding a Targeted Advisory Service on Animal Health (TASAH) for farmers, delivered by trained veterinary practitioners. (AHI, 2023) This service has been extended for a number of years.
One measure which is implemented on poultry units is the control of staff and visitors to and between poultry farms. It is widely understood that pathogens can be transferred via humans, i.e. humans can carry disease causing agents on their body (hair/skin/under fingernails), clothes and/or shoes. Therefore, it is crucial that the number of people interacting/entering the poultry unit is kept to a minimum.
Only essential visitors should be permitted access.
The aim of this video is to condense all the advice on how to achieve good biosecurity on broiler farms. The video lists the minimum number of activities that a broiler farmer would have to undertake to have the greatest impact on improving biosecurity.
Biosecurity Webinars 2021
Biosecurity assessments for broiler and layers units: Irish results
Host Rebecca Tierney, Teagasc Poultry Advisor, was joined by Carla Gomes, Animal Health Ireland (AHI), on a recent Let’s Talk Poultry webinar which took place on Wednesday, 25th August to discuss biosecurity assessments for broiler and layers units: Irish results, followed by a Q&A session
Host Rebecca Tierney, Teagasc Poultry Advisor, was joined by Conor Sheehy of St David’s Poultry Team. Conor discussed the the importance of biosecurity when working with poultry and how to put it into practice.
Webinar hosts, Rebecca Tierney, Teagasc Poultry Advisor, and Niall Brennan, Alltech Ireland Poultry Coordinator, facilitated this webinar with presentations from James Greaves, Broiler & Broiler Breeder Consultant, and Joe O’Flaherty, Veterinary Public Health, Pig & Poultry Health, DAFM.
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