The Rural Voice, 2006-08, Page 18Now another measure is being
taken with the HACCP-based
Canadian Hatching Egg Quality
(CHEQ) program, a major element in
the national poultry industry's "gate
to plate" food safety strategy. It links
into the food safety initiatives
developed by feed mills, hatcheries,
chicken farmers and poultry
processors. CHEQ focuses on
hatching egg production, but it also
covers the production of pullets,
market eggs and fowl.
With CHEQ (which the Diehls
recently qualified for) one of
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14 THE RURAL VOICE
biggest differences says Dave, is
regarding vaccines and chemicals,
how they are purchased and stored.
In the Chicken Farmers of Ontario
new quota polity, procedures are
outlined for strict record keeping. It
states that every producer shall
"establish and maintain a file for
each crop of chickens being produced
and marketed at registered premises
that contains a record of all activities
occurring each barn in relation to the
following aspects of chicken
production."
Listed are: controlling access to the
farm, access to space, feed and water,
cleaning and disinfection, bedding
materials, day-old chicks, other input
materials, the grow -out period,
handling chickens during the grow -
out period and loading protocol.
"This has come about for the
industry," said Dave. "From the
consumer on down we do this to
protect our own interests."
One of the biggest components of
biosecurity is controlling access to
the farm. The first step is the posting
of signs that warn entrance is
prohibited to unauthorized
individuals. Access points to the
barns must be locked.
"We have people report to the
house first," said Dave. "It's getting
to the point you basically have
everyone stay out unless there's a
reason for them to be there."
Visitors to farms are divided into
three categories, low risk, moderate
risk and high risk. The first are
typically urbanites who have had no
contact with livestock and pose little
risk of spreading disease to livestock.
Recommended precautions are that
they wear clean clothing and
footwear, and clean and disinfect
their boots before entering the barn,
or wear disposable footwear. They
should be accompanied and not be
allowed to enter the pens or have
contact with the animals.
People such as salespeople, feed
distributors, farm equipment
mechanics and inspectors are
considered moderate risk as they do
travel from farm to farm but typically
have no direct contact with livestock.
They should follow the same
precautions as the low-risk visitor
with the addition of wearing
coveralls when in contact with feed,
water, soil samples, manure or farm
equipment. Sampling equipment
should be cleaned after each use and
following their departure the boots
should be cleaned and disinfected
and the soiled coveralls removed.
Mike Dauphin of Dauphin Feed
and Supply said his drivers have been
told not to go into any barns unless
the farmer has strictly stated it's
necessary. "We abide with the
protocols in place at each operation
and they can differ from place to
place."
He also noted that following the
rules does slow down the drivers, but
adds that it's not significant.
"The trend is definitely moving
more towards bio -security and we
abide by what each producers tells
us."
High risk visitors — veterinarians,
inseminators, processing crews,
livestock haulers and neighbours ---
obviously have more
recommendations to follow. In
addition to those previously
mentioned, they should arrive with
clean outerwear, boots and
equipment. Vehicle interiors should
be cleaned and equipped with easily
removable rubber floor mats.
Livestock trailers should be cleaned
prior to arrival on the farm.
Livestock instruments and
equipment should be cleaned and
sterilized before use. However,
chemical disinfectants would not be
used on syringes or needles used to
deliver live vaccines. Disposable
needles and syringes should be used
wherever possible and disposable
sleeves and gloves should be worn
when there is direct contact with
body fluids, tissues or excrement.
Disinfection of equipment and
footwear should be done upon
leaving the farm.
"It's definitely slowed traffic
down," said Dave, adding that they
used to have international visitors
come to see how farms were run in
Canada. "That doesn't happen much
anymore."
Producers must also have a
documented pest control program in
place for the premises and pets are
not allowed into the barns.
Work areas must be neat and tidy.
Gaps under the eaves and damaged
screens must be repaired promptly.
Weeds and grass are cut within the
controlled access zone on a regular