Disease Monitoring Program For Export Broiler Farms

Details of the disease-monitoring program for export broiler farms undertaken by private veterinarian:

(A)    General Inspection

The veterinarian undertakes a general inspection of the farm at least once or twice a week to inspect the condition of the farm, animal husbandary management, bio-security protocols, poultry houses/infrastructures and clinical signs of any disease among the birds

(B) Postmortem
The veterinarian carries out regular postmortem on culled and dead birds to determine the pathology and cause of death.
(C) Samples for laboratory diagnosis
If however the cause of death cannot be determined, the veterinarian will proceed to obtain organs samples to be sent to private or  DVS laboratory
(D) Anti-microbial  Sensitivity Tests

Where applicable, anti microbial sensitivity tests are carried out at the laboratory to determine the most sensitive and suitable antibiotic to be used in cases of bacterial disease.  This is to eliminate the need for broad spectrum antibiotics, to stop the unnecessary usage of ineffective antibiotics, to cut medication costs, to reduce cultivation of bacterial resistance towards antibiotics and to ensure the usage of anti-microbial is prudent and minimal.

(E) Vaccination Program
Comprehensive and effective vaccination program to prevent outbreak of diseases such as:
a. Newcastle Disease
b. Infections Bursal Disease
c. Infectious Bronchitis
d. Pasteurella multicida (Broiler duck)

The vaccination schedule and strain type of vaccine used has to be relevant to current findings or isolation of ND/IBD/IB outbreaks in local areas.

(F) Serology
To collect serum samples from birds to be sent for antibody titre at private laboratory.  The serum samples are collected at appropriate schedule to gauge the efficacy of vaccination program and the adequancy of the antibody titre of each flock
(G) Monitoring of Salmonella enteritidis, Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus and Campylobacter
Every alternate batch/cycle will be monitored.  Details of the program are as follows:

VANCOMYCIN-RESISTANT ENTEROCOCCUS
Sampling Procedures

1.

Age
-    2-4 weeks

2.

Sample
-   Cloaca swabs
   30 swabs per flock.  Note : 6 swabs in 3 ml broth BHI

3.

Transport sample in ice-pack

4.

Submit to private laboratories designated by DVS
SALMONELLA ENTERITIDIS
Sampling Procedures

1.

Age
-   DOC
-   2 - 4 weeks

2.

Day-old-chicks
a.   Chick Box Liners

      Sample 5% of chick box liner
      Sample 1 gm pf soiled paper liner from each chick box
      10 gm of soiled paper liner in 60ml BPW

b.   Dead-on-arrival chicks

      Sample 5 DOC
      Pooled organs (small intestine, large intestine, yolk, liver and cecal tonsil)
      Submit pooled organ in 60ml BPW or in ice pack

c.   Live DOC

      Sample 5 live weak DOC
      Sampling as above (b)

3.

2-4 weeks
-     Cloaca swabs

      60 swabs per flock
      Note: 30 swabs in 60 ml BPW
      Transport sample in ice-pack

-     Feed

      25 gm in 60 ml BPW

-     Dead and culled birds

      Maximum of 60 birds per flock
      5 birds post mortem and pooled organs (small intestine, large intestine,
      yolk, liver and cecal tonsil)
      Submit pooled organ in 60 ml BPW or ice-pack

4.

      Submit samples to private laboratories designated by DVS
CAMPYLOBACTER MONITORING
Sampling Procedures

1.

Age
-      2-4 weeks

2.

2 - 4 weeks

-      Cloaca swabs with feaces
      
       30 swabs per flock

       Note : a.     15 swabs in 60 ml. Campylobacter broth
                 b.    Samples must be submitted to laboratory within 4 hours
                c.    Transport samples in ice-pack

3.

Submit samples to private laboratories designated by DVS
(H) Disease monitoring program report
The farm veterinarian is responsible to record all findings and activities related to the disease monitoring program for every batch/cycle of production

In farms that have quality system in their management, the diseases program must also be included as part of the quality system.

The veterinarian is responsible for proper reporting and shall be responsible  to present the report to the DVS or AVA officers.

Note:

(a) Implementation of the Campylobacter monitoring has yet to be stramline due to the need to establish the private laboratory capabilities, specimen handling and cost incurred for each test.

(b) The disease program is subjected to changes or improvements whenever required