Accra, April 25, GNA - Poultry farmers were on Friday advised to adopt and implement solid bio-security strategies to enable them to survive in the poultry business and remain profitable.

"In any commercial poultry operation, flock health must be excellent in order to achieve maximum profitability. Achieving an excellent health status depends largely upon the bio-security level implemented throughout the operation and effectiveness of immune system of the chicken", Dr Kwasi Bowi Darkwa, President, Ghana Veterinary Medical Association (GVMA) said on Friday.

Bio-security is the effective use of hygienic procedures aimed at preventing the adverse effect of diseases among poultry and livestock Speaking at a lecture as part of activities to mark World Veterinary Day in Accra, Dr Darkwa said throughout the world there had been tremendous growth in the poultry industry with significant increase in the incidence of serious disease outbreaks.

This happened because many farmers were still not aware of the very simple concept of bio-security, which is the ultimate approach to survival in the poultry business, he noted.

He said emerging zoonotic diseases (diseases which can be transferred from animal to man) have also increased due to changing of the environment through global warming, establishment of human settlement in formerly uninhabited areas and the intensification of animal production and acceleration of trade in live animals, animal products and foodstuffs.

He indicated that the sooner farmers became committed to tight security barriers the sooner the threats of emerging or re-emerging disease outbreaks would be reduced.

Ms Anna Nyamekye, Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture, in-charge of Livestock said the Ministry viewed bio-security as a very important element in the development of the poultry industry and was prepared to tie its issues on farms and other places of transaction to poultry and poultry products with future compensation for any outbreak of poultry disease.

She said bio-security measures were used to prevent the spread of avian influenza when it hit the country in April 2007. Ms Nyamekeye said the Ministry would also adopt the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) classification of poultry production into four sectors dependent on the level of bio-security practiced coupled with its integration and commercial perspective to help manage poultry diseases in future.

Dr. Francis Apramtum, Principal Veterinary Officer, Veterinary Service Division and Dr. George Opoku-Pare, Head of the Accra Veterinary Laboratory all stressed the need for farmers to secure their poultry by observing bio-security measures.

They also called for legislation that would mandate the practice of bio-security in farms as well as the establishment of poultry slaughtering plants in the southern, forest and guinea savanna zones where poultry birds could be safely slaughtered before being taken to the market to be sold.

Dr. Richard Suu-Ire, Executive Member, Commonwealth Veterinary Association said the wildlife sector that contributed over seven billion dollars annually to the African economy was also a major factor in the outbreak of emerging zoonoses.

He said between 1940 and 2004, of the 335 emerging zoonoses registered, 71 per cent were of wildlife origin, thus the need to educate tourists and train professionals to help control emerging diseases.

"Emerging zoonoses are global threat and there is the need to take necessary precautions to prevent the occurrence or minimized their effect.

He said it had the potential of affecting global health, food supply and biodiversity conservation", Dr Suu-Ire said. He also warned pet owners to make sure they knew the origin and to have more information on a particular pet, especially, parrots before they were kept as pets.