Broiler and layer farmers urged to practice sanitary measures |04 December 2004

The appeal was made by the director general for animal health and development, Bernard Moulinie, while addressing a number of farmers who attended a poultry disease workshop this week after new cases of the Gumboro disease was recorded in March this year.

Speaking at the opening of the Thursday November 2 workshop held at the Farmers Training Centre (FTC), Anse La Mouche, Mr Moulinie said that with the increasing number of movement of people and goods via airlines or shipping, as well as the occurrence of migratory birds, everybody involved in the poultry and other livestock production must be always be on their guard as there is always the possibility of new diseases entering the country.

Stating that many farmers were affected in 1991 when Gumboro disease first occurred here, Mr Moulinie said as a consequence it was found necessary to change the system of broiler production that was being practiced at that time to reduce the occurrence of the disease on the farms.

Mr Moulinie said that precautionary approaches to production must always be maintained and farmers have to be consistent in managing their poultry as experts have described Gumboro as a viral disease which is cyclic in nature.

He noted that the disease does not cause any threat for human consumption but it kills poultry as it affects their immune system.

During the one-day workshop broiler and layer farmers had the opportunity to learn more about the disease as well as basic aspects which would prevent its occurrence such as poultry house requirements, ventilation system in the pen and vaccination.