A REVIEW OF POULTRY INDUSTRY AND BIOSECURITY STATUS IN KENYA.pdf

The FAO avian Influenza project conducted a rapid assessment of biosecurity statususing a few selected districts in Kenya. The importance of the study was based on thefact that biosecurity is the cheapest and one of the most effective means of controllingentry or escape of a disease along the poultry value chain. The aim of this study was toassess the current biosecurity status, risky practices that may facilitate entry or spreadof HPAI into the country and the major constraints in implementation of biosecuritypractices and policies at farm/market level. Opportunities for improvement ofbiosecurity were identified which will be used to develop practical biosecurityguidelines appropriate to specific production, marketing and processing scenario forsafe poultry production, marketing and processing. During the study awarenesscreation was also done through distribution of materials on early detection, preventionand control of Avian Influenza. The study was carried out in four districts (Makueni,Kilifi, Busia, Bomet) and the periurban areas around Nairobi (Ngong, Ruiru, Uthiru,Wangige) representing all the different production and marketing systems from thehigh risk areas in the country. Study methodology involved household interview usingstructured questionnaires as well as focused group discussions of the key informants.The respondents included farmers, different traders at the markets and slaughterhouseoperators. In addition to farm, markets, slaughterhouses, at least four hatcheries werealso visited. A total of 410 households and 130 traders were interviewed. The studyrevealed that the four poultry production sectors are well represented in the country,but variations in terms of implementation of biosecurity practices conspicuously existwithin each sector (except Sector 1 which is represented by one company).Biosecuritylevels were found to be weakening as one goes down the sectors with sector 4 beingcompletely insecure and very important in disease spread due to movement of birdsboth across and within regions for either trade or social purposes. In the event ofdisease outbreak in sector 4 restriction of bird movement should be well enforced inorder to limit disease spread. Sector 3 is very vulnerable to disease incursion because ofits dependency on sector 1 and 2 for inputs as well as the economic realities of thesmall holder mixed farming systems in which most of them are found. The followingpractices were identified as representing high biosecurity risk:Sector 1 and 2: Litter disposal at the end of the cycleSector 3:• Home slaughter of broilers, hence sale of un - inspected meat• Within farm use or sale of raw poultry litter as fertilizer or dairy cattlefeed• Poor carcass and slaughter wastes disposal• Some farms keep free ranging birds of different species alongsideconfined birds• Minimal use of protective clothing by poultry attendants• Feeding of raw offal to pigs and dogs3 Sector 4:• Poultry sheltered in the same house with people• Poor vaccination of HPAI differentials such as NCD (in terms of coverage andconsistency)• Transportation of live birds without equipment and human protection• Multi species and multi age rearing with free interaction between domestic andwild birds• People slaughtering or selling sick birdsLacks of awareness among different players, social, cultural, economic and institutionalfactors were cited as major factors responsible for the current biosecurity status.Farmers' training, enhanced stakeholder involvement, increased public awarenessdevelopment of recording and documentation systems to enhance bird traceability,institutional capacity building and policy reviews are important measures that cangreatly improve biosecurity in the poultry industry as well as make the sector moreprofitable.