by Given Hamanungu, Tiger Technical Advisor

Diseases have consistently been a major restrictive factor to profitable production. How does disease enter your flock in the first place? Well, disease prevention focuses primarily on committed planning and sound management practices that keep infectious diseases out and stop non-infectious diseases before they start.

With this attitude in mind, you place emphasis on planning and expenditures or disease prevention rather than on short-term savings and stop-gap treatments. Failure to concentrate on planned disease prevention often leads to disease outbreaks and, as a result, personal frustration and sometimes devastating financial losses.

A successful disease control programme should incorporate three principal goals, namely:

• Reduce exposure to disease organisms by good hygiene and stress management.
• Increase the birds’ resistance to disease by applying recommended vaccination/immunisation procedures.
• Treat disease outbreaks with specific medications that are effective against the disease being treated.

Effective bio-security on a chicken farm will make the difference between failure and success.

Disease results when exposure combined with virulence of an organism is greater than the resistance of the host (bird). These diseases can be brought into the poultry house by vectors such as wild birds, rodents, parasites, and even the poultry man.

Most diseases can be eradicated from the poultry flock by applying the basic principles of hygiene coupled with a good vaccination programme and proper application procedures.

Disinfecting the poultry house (including cages) helps reduce the exposure time and number of organisms.

Vaccinating your flock aids in improving the natural resistance or immunity of the birds. Medications and drugs assist in fighting disease organisms after they have plagued the birds’ natural defences.

It is fundamentally a mental attitude that recognises the omnipresent risk of disease and the fact that disease prevention does not cost; it pays, and many times over. A flock receiving good health security management is a delight, and a source of both pride and profit.

For exquisite and professional advice and service in the chicken industry, contact Rowena Blanco at +260-96-7991-847 or +260-96-7790-404 or e-mail rowena@tigerfeeds.com.zm. You may also visit their user-friendly website at www.tigerfeeds.com.

Bloated veterinarian expenses are something to avoid at all costs. The only counter measure for that is vaccinations and implementing basic rules to keep your chickens healthy.

Rodents are just as bad for chickens as they are for humans. Keep them far away from your disease sensitive poultry.