In September, the Todd County Extension Office cooperated with the Kentucky Department of Agriculture (KDA) and USDA APHIS to host a biosecurity training program for local organic egg producers.  These farmers have small commercial flocks of layers, mostly in the 8,000 to 20,000 bird range.  These birds often spend a significant part of their time outdoors on pasture which increases their potential exposure to diseases such as Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI).  

     APHIS and KDA personnel have found that many of these smaller producers are less aware of poultry disease issues and biosecurity protocols than the larger commercial meat and egg farmers.  Many smaller producers do not have a biosecurity emergency plan in place.  The purpose of this training was to make these producers more aware of potential disease issues and to help reduce the odds of those diseases adversely affecting their operations.

     The training program covered several topics of importance to poultry and egg producers.  APHIS veterinarians described Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza and how to recognize it in a poultry flock.  They also described what happens when HPAI is found in a bird population—the quarantine protocols and termination of affected birds, etc.  They also described some other important poultry diseases.

     Best management practices for biosecurity were also demonstrated, with a focus on the Danish system of total separation of clothing and equipment used inside and outside of the birds’ environment.  

     Twenty-eight people attended the training including two industry representatives and the executive director of the Kentucky Poultry Federation.  The remaining attendees were family members or employees that worked on ten organic egg farms.