Biosecurity Assessment of Layer Farms in Sierra Leone using Biocheck. UGent Scoring Tool

Abstract:

Evaluation of the biosecurity of layer farms is essential for successfully controlling and preventing poultry diseases. The objective of this study is to evaluate the biosecurity of layer farms in Sierra Leone using the Biocheck. UGent scoring system. This online biosecurity evaluation tool assesses the farm's biosecurity compliance. The data was collected from 38 layer farms in four provinces and one area in the country. The data were encoded online to provide ratings for each farm's biosecurity. The online algorithm decoded and provided individual farm biosecurity scores across all categories and subcategories. The study found that the overall average biosecurity of the layer farms was (67%). The average external and internal biosecurity scores for layer farms are (64%) and (70%), respectively. The North West province has the highest score of total average biosecurity at (73%), followed by the Southern province at (71%). The subcategories with the highest external biosecurity scores were farm location (92%), material supply (91%), purchase of laying hens (84%), infrastructure and biological vector (69%), and purchase of day-old chicks (66%), while the category with the lowest external biosecurity score were visitors and farmworkers, removal of manure and carcasses, feed and water, and depopulation and transportation of hens. The internal biosecurity subcategories washing and disinfection (87%) and egg management (63%) obtained the highest average score, while disease management and material and measure between compartments received a lower score. To manage and prevent poultry diseases on layer farms, the biosecurity subcategories that received the lowest scores should be improved. The nation's relevant institutions should monitor and enforce biosecurity compliance in layer farms.