Biosecurity Within Poultry Farms in the Ashanti Region of Ghana

A study was conducted to evaluate the awareness and application of biosecurity among poultry farmers in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. Sanitation measures, traffic control and isolation practices were investigated with well-structured questionnaires made up of open and close ended questions distributed to the managers of 10 large-scale farms (over 10,000 birds), 10 medium-scale farms (5000–10,000) and 10 small-scale farms (50–5000) using purposive sampling technique. Areas covered in the survey included Asokore Mampong Municipal, Atwima Nwabiagya Municipal, Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly and Ejisu Municipal. Even though not all the farmers were educated to higher levels, they all had an idea or were aware of the biosecurity concept. Eighty percent of the farmers had moderate to excellent levels of awareness of the biosecurity concept but a few (20%) of them had a lesser degree of knowledge on biosecurity. Washing of feeders and waterers was done on a daily basis by all the farmers (100%). Almost all (90%) the farmers did not have farm gate wheel dips at the entrance of their farms. With regards to stocking densities, there was less congestion in the poultry pens on all the farms. Very few (20%) of the farmers did not possess any personal protective equipment (PPE). All the respondents (100%) regularly inspected and culled sick birds into isolated pens for treatment by a veterinarian. Medications were administered either via the drinking water (80%) or through injections (20%). All the respondents (100%) checked and removed dead birds from the pens daily. Most (96.7%) of the farmers discarded their dead birds by burying them. Majority (76.7%) of the farmers did not allow customers into their poultry pens but a few broiler farmers did allow them. In conclusion, the data obtained from this survey proved that all the respondents were aware of the biosecurity concept and most of the farmers had moderate to high knowledge on biosecurity. Isolation was practiced fully as a biosecurity measure, however, sanitation and traffic control were partially practiced by the farmers as biosecurity measures due to lack of appreciation for these measures and lack of resources. This presents a danger to the overall health of birds in the region and eventually to the consumers of the end products from these birds.