Biosecurity programs have long been known to be effective at preventing disease outbreaks in the poultry production system. However, these programs are only effective if they are properly adopted and adequately followed. Evaluation of the biosecurity practices on individual farms is needed to determine if such practices are followed and to what extent. Broiler growers for an integrator in Alaba...

The fast development of large-scale intensive animal husbandry has led to an increased proportion atmospheric pollution arising from livestock and poultry housing. Atmospheric pollutants, including particulate matter (PM), ammonia (NH3), hydrogen sulfide (H2S), greenhouse gases (GHG), as well other hazardous materials (e.g., gases, bacteria, fungi viruses), have significant influences upon the ...

Mass culling is a strategy used inthe management of infectious disease outbreaks. The risk of disease spread due to animal transportation often precludes the use of slaughterhouses for this purpose, though they have been used on occasion. Consequently, culling takes place in the less-than-standardised environment on the farm. Regardless of where the cull occurs, the methods chosen to handle and...

Standard protocols for sampling and measuring odor emissions from livestock buildings are needed to guide scientists, consultants, regulators, and policy-makers. A federally funded, multistate project has conducted field studies in six states to measure emissions of odor, coarse particulate matter (PM(10)), total suspended particulates, hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, and carbon dioxide from swine a...

OBJECTIVES The airborne contaminant exposure levels experienced by poultry farmers have raised concerns about the possible health hazards associated with them. Thus, a longitudinal project was instituted in France to monitor these exposures in poultry workers and to evaluate the long-term effect on health. METHOD Sixty-three workers in two different poultry housing systems were included (33 f...

As consumers and society in general become more aware of ethical and moral dilemmas associated with intensive rearing systems, pressure is put on the animal and poultry industries to adopt alternative forms of housing. This presents challenges especially regarding managing competitive social interactions between animals. However, selective breeding programs are rapidly advancing, enhanced by bo...

The quality of data obtainable by questionnaire from residents of a common lodging house was explored by comparing the answers received by questioning such men on two or three occasions six months apart. Consistency between the answers obtained on different occasions was good for men who already knew the interviewer well as their medical officer but poor otherwise.