Search

The existing diversity within poultry systems affects the potential risk of infectious disease introduction and spread. Population data on the level of biosecurity and between-farm contacts is scarce, despite its importance for identifying possible routes of disease transmission. A study was carried out in Belgium to investigate and differentiate professional and hobby poultry sites based on their biosecurity levels and farm movements. Questionnaire data from a total of 37 professional poultry farms, 19 hatcheries and 286 hobby poultry sites were analyzed using a combination of a linear scoring system, a Categorical principal component analysis (CATPCA) and a Two-Step cluster analysis (TSCA). In general, the level of biosecurity was lower in hobby poultry flocks, mainly due to the poor confinement against the outdoor environment and the poor infrastructural hygiene. Most Belgian professional poultry farms and hatcheries had an acceptable level of adoption of standard biosecurity practices, however less attention was given to the way transportation vehicles and employers were brought onto farms and professional visitors welcomed. Considerable variation in the movements and in the structure of the networks arising from these movements was found. Movement frequencies were higher at professional farms compared to hobby farms. Results showed that multiple category farming systems had the highest total movement frequencies. Monthly frequencies of professional visits often exceeded those of poultry and egg movements. Professional and hobby poultry sites were also connected, but movements of poultry and eggs were found only to occur from professional to hobby sites. However, hobby poultry keepers were personally purchasing the poultry and eggs on the professional poultry sites. Six groups of poultry sites were differentiated, which are interpreted as very low to very high risk groups, based on the potential of infectious disease introduction and spread., (Copyright © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Uptake studies have shown that chickens foraging on soils contaminated with environmental pollutants accumulate these compounds into their eggs. Home-produced eggs thereby show higher contamination levels than commercially produced eggs. It was the aim of this study to identify the major source of two environmental pollutants in home-produced eggs, i.e. dioxins and lead, to formulate preventive measures to reduce the contamination levels of such eggs, and to assess the feasibility of the formulated measures in terms of the perception and behavior of private egg producers towards such measures. The major source of dioxins and lead in eggs, i.e. the soil, was identified by transfer calculations of the pollutants from the feed and soil towards eggs. Preventive measures to reduce soil intake or geophagy and hence egg contamination levels, were formulated and their feasibility evaluated through interviews with private chicken owners. The results show that a paved surface inside the henhouse, an indoor feeding place and providing a sufficient surface area per chicken were considered the most appropriate in terms of feasibility and willingness to apply the measures by the private chicken owners. To enhance the effect of the measures, a combination of measures supported and promoted at policy level is considered as a good strategy to reduce contamination levels in home-produced eggs.

Studying the links between environmental pollution and the levels of contamination in food is an important challenge to ensure human health. Matched samples of eggs from free-range hens and vegetables were analysed to investigate the bioaccumulation of PCDD/Fs, PCBs, metals and rare earth elements. Only two egg samples resulted above the limit fixed for PCDD/Fs and the action level set for DL-PCBs. The highest concentrations were found in the eggs from an area situated in a big city affected by strong urbanisation. Although eggs and vegetables were subjected to the same environmental pollution, the PCDD/F and PCB bioaccumulation that occurred in the eggs was much higher than those in vegetables (p < 0.01). In vegetables, the highest PCDD/F and PCB concentrations were found in lettuce and potatoes grown on contaminated soil. Higher bioaccumulation of Fe and Zn occurred in eggs compared to vegetables; La, Pr, Nd, Sm and Eu were found only in lettuce samples. The results of this study may provide important data useful in the risk assessment of human exposure through diet in accidents involving dangerous chemicals. Furthermore, the estimated weekly intakes calculated for PCDD/Fs and PCBs highlighted that, although vegetables accumulate very low concentrations of these contaminants, they contribute more than eggs to human exposure., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

India's livestock sector has been facing significant losses due to episodes of disease outbreaks since time immemorial. Hence, biosecurity measures are very important to maintain and improve animal health along with prevention of disease outbreak. Keeping these facts into consideration, the study was proposed with an objective to assess the existing biosecurity practices adopted by the commercial dairy, pig and poultry farms. The current study was undertaken in the state of Uttar Pradesh as it is the leading state in milk and meat production. A total of 120 farmers were selected randomly including 40 each practicing commercial dairy, pig and poultry farming. An ex-post facto research methodology was used with face-to-face interview and observation to collect data. The biosecurity practices were assessed under seven dimensions such as, location and design of farm, restricted access, isolation and quarantine, cleaning and disinfection, management of feed and water, disposal of carcass, manure and waste, and health management. Results elicited that about 50% of the farmers had medium level of adoption who adopted 18-34 practices out of 51 practices. The average overall adoption score was 34.17 out of 51 (67%) which makes an overall adoption gap of 33%. Maximum adoption gap was seen in case of restricted access (43%) whereas minimum gap in adoption was seen in case of management of feed and water (27%). Pig and poultry farmers showed significantly higher biosecurity measures than dairy farmers (p < 0.05). The more significant contributors to the adoption of biosecurity measures were the level of knowledge of the farmers (p < 0.01). Other factors such as education, income, herd/flock size, Information and Communication Technology utilization, number of trainings also had a significant contribution (p < 0.05) in actual implementation of biosecurity. Hence, better understanding of these measures among the farmers must be ensured by hands on training along with proper demonstration of various procedures involved in maintaining farm biosecurity is need of the hour., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

Recently, in Italy, consumers are choosing hen eggs from farming systems with higher ethical value, due to their perception of a related higher quality and safety. The purposes of this study were to evaluate the existence of differences in elemental content in Italian eggs from organic, barn, and caged hen farming methods and to determine the related potential consumer exposure risk to inorganic contaminants due to the consumption of eggs. One hundred seventy-six egg samples were collected and analyzed using Q-ICP-MS to investigate the content of 14 elements (Pb, As, Hg, Cd, Tl, Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu, Se, Co, Ni, V, and Cr) and 13 rare earth elements (La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, and Yb). The scenarios of exposure to rare earth and other elements from eggs were estimated for three age groups of consumers. The daily intake values were always lower than the respective safety reference values. In conclusion, Italian hen eggs contain low levels of rare earth and other elements, and therefore, their consumption does not represent a risk of exposure. Finally, no significant differences in contaminants between conventional and organic farming methods were found., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Biosecurity is crucial for infectious disease prevention, more importantly in the absence of vaccination. The need for improving the implementation of biosecurity practices was highlighted in French duck farms following the 2016-2017 H5N8 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) epidemic. Farmers have multiple reasons for not implementing biosecurity practices: external (time, money) and internal (socio-psychological). The purpose of this study was to determine how sets of socio-psychological factors (i.e. knowledge on biosecurity and avian influenza transmission, attitudes, personality traits, social background) affect the adoption of on-farm biosecurity practices. Biosecurity practices and socio-psychological determinants were assessed during 127 duck farm visits, in South West France, using both questionnaires and on-farm observations. Factorial analysis of mixed data (FAMD) and hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA) identified three groups of farmers with different socio-psychological profiles: the first group was characterized by minimal knowledge, negative attitudes towards biosecurity, little social pressure and a low level of conscientiousness. The second group was characterized by more extensive experience in poultry production, higher stress and social pressure. The third group was characterized by less experience in poultry production, better knowledge and positive attitudes towards biosecurity, increased self-confidence and orientation towards action. The first group had a significantly lower adoption of biosecurity measures than the two other groups. A better understanding of the factors involved in farmers' decision-making could improve the efficiency of interventions aiming at improving and maintaining the level of on-farm biosecurity in the duck industry., (© 2020 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.)