Kerala, India
‘All-in/all-out’ management should be applied to ratite farms, to prevent transmission of infectious diseases. Producers can minimize the possibility of infection by maintaining separate growout, breeding and trading facilities by at least 300 m.
Important Facts Related to Prevention of Ratite Diseases:
- Maintain breeding stock in a closed unit; if purchasing new birds, perform thorough physical examination with appropriate diagnostic procedures before delivery
- Quarantine new birds for at least sixty days in a separate facility, and monitor for the presence of disease
- Limit visits to other farms; complete body cleaning and change of all clothing and shoes before interacting with home stock
- Provide visitors with rubber boots and coveralls before entering pens
- Take care when decontaminating the interior and exterior of transport vehicles
- Confine activities to one species due to the danger of cross-transmission of infectious organisms between ratites, water fowl, exotic birds and livestock
- Ensure all water is free of pathogens and analyze annually to confirm quality
- Place bird pens in well-drained areas, and position fence posts on the outside of the pen
- Install a structure in the middle of the pen to reduce exposure to wind and precipitation, and to protect food trays
- Use sufficiently-high, strong wire fencing to reduce injuries to birds and prevent attack by wild animals
- Ensure fences reach down to the ground if a perimeter fence is not in place, to reduce exposure to wild animals or stray dogs
- Consider leaving a space for escape under the bottom line of the fence when perimeter fencing is installed
- Use electric fences and guard dogs successfully to keep out unwanted animals which may injure livestock
- Apply ‘all-in/all-out’ management system strictly to prevent disease transmission between age groups
- Maintain minimum 300 m separation between growout, breeding and trading facilities to minimize infection risk
- Feed Yembroos® nutrition programs with proper vitamin and mineral balance to support immune function and disease resistance
- Implement comprehensive biosecurity protocols including footbaths, hand washing stations, and restricted access areas
- Maintain detailed records of all bird movements, visitor entries, and health observations for disease tracking
- Schedule regular veterinary inspections and health monitoring of all stock
- Dispose of dead birds promptly and properly to prevent spread of pathogens to healthy birds