Dr Fambies van Biljon, veterinarian at Sovereign Foods, talks to Glenneis Kriel about the crucial need to establish a well-run biosecurity programme at a poultry production facility.
Why is biosecurity so important? Why can’t birds simply be medicated when they fall ill?
The problem with poultry production is that many avian diseases, such as avian influenza and Newcastle disease, have no cure. So the best strategy is to prevent these diseases from entering your farm in the first place through a good biosecurity and sanitation programme.
The worldwide movement against the use of antibiotics due to rising fears over antimicrobial resistance is also putting pressure on farmers to use more preventative control measures. Even here in South Africa, cases of E. coli resistance have been reported for certain antimicrobials. Antibiotics should be used only as a last resort, and then as prescribed by the veterinarian who identified the disease.
What about vaccines?
These are widely used for most poultry diseases, but currently vaccines for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) are not registered for use in South Africa due to fear of negative consequences for international trade. In addition, there are concerns that vaccination would mask a future outbreak. It would be difficult in any case to vaccinate against HPAI as vaccines are strain-specific: no single vaccine covers all cases of HPAI. Local producers prefer to destroy chicken populations that have become infected.
HPAI vaccines are, however, widely used in countries where the disease has become endemic, such as China and Egypt. In addition, vaccines are not foolproof, as birds can still contract a disease after vaccination. There are several reasons for this: the vaccine might have been stored or administered incorrectly; the dosage might have been wrong; the medication might have been past its use-by date; or the birds might have had weakened immune systems, or been stressed or already infected when the vaccine was administered.
Denne historien er fra June 15, 2018-utgaven av Farmer's Weekly.
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Denne historien er fra June 15, 2018-utgaven av Farmer's Weekly.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Syngenta Seedcare celebrates a decade of innovation
Syngenta's ambition is to enable their customers' investments to grow in healthy soil from treated seeds to young plants through innovation and collaboration, writes Magda du Toit.
Agri workers shine at Western Cape awards
Lindie-Alet van Staden, a garden and olive orchard manager at L’Ormarins Wine Estate in Franschhoek, was crowned as the Western Cape Prestige Agri-Worker of 2024 at a gala event recently held near Paarl.
Small and large farmers recognised at grain awards
The annual Grain SA/Syngenta awards ceremony bears testimony to the quality of farmers in the grain industry.
Growing partnerships: Fedgroup's flexible and innovative approach
Janine Ryan spoke to Warren Winchester, general manager of impact investing at Fedgroup, about why the company became involved in agriculture, and what it offers farmers and their immediate communities.
Why fish farms fail, and how to avoid becoming a statistic
The popularity of launching fish farms is not matched by their success. Leslie Ter Morshuizen, owner of Aquaculture Solutions, explores the factors that cause most of these businesses to go under.
Where history and modernity meet in a luxurious setting
Brian Berkman kept his eyes peeled for ghosts in the oldest continuously run hotel in South Africa, but all he found was a fabulous two-night stay.
THE HITCHING POST
I'm a stylish elderly lady with a radiant glow and a good sense of humour that keeps me young at heart.
Cutworms: check the weeds on your fields!
Zunel van Eeden explains why understanding the ecological interplay between cutworms and weeds is crucial for effective pest management. Producers should disrupt the life cycle of cutworms to minimise crop damage.
Does high-density grazing mimic grazing patterns of game?
In their paper on high-density grazing in Southern Africa, professors Angelinus Franke and Elmarie Kotzé from the Department of Soil, Crop and Climate Sciences at the University of the Free State say high-density grazing systems may not accurately reflect natural ecosystems. Roelof Bezuidenhout reports.
Global grain outlook: 2024/25 marketing season
In its latest summer crops report, the Crop Estimates Committee says South African farmers intend to plant 4,47 million hectares of summer grains and oilseeds in the 2024/25 season, up 1% from the previous season. As South Africa exports maize and soya bean, Annelie Coleman reports on the latest trends in the international grain and oilseed markets, amid fluctuations in weather conditions and ongoing armed conflicts.
