Evaluating Biosecurity Implementation in Commercial Broiler Poultry Production in Gujarat

Bhoomika Joshi¹Rana Khushbu¹Golaviya Akash²Subhash Jakhesara¹Prakash Koringa^1*Ayona Silva-Fletcher³Fiona Tomley³Haidaruliman Paleja¹

• ¹Kamdhenu University College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry Anand, Anand, India
• ²College of veterinary science and Husbandry, Kamdhenu University, Himmatnagar,, India
• ³Royal Veterinary College, London, United Kingdom

Poultry farming has become an essential livelihood and nutrition source in India, especially with the rise of commercial broiler operations. As these farms grow in scale and number, maintaining strong biosecurity becomes increasingly critical—not just for flock health and farm productivity, but also for reducing antibiotic use and controlling disease outbreaks. However, in many developing regions, there remains limited understanding of how well these biosecurity practices are implemented on the ground. This study assessed biosecurity measures across 39 commercial broiler farms in Gujarat, India. A structured questionnaire was used to gather information on farmer demographics, farm characteristics, and current biosecurity practices. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, charts, and multivariate approaches to understand trends and challenges. While most farms fell into the medium-scale category (5,000–10,000 birds), there was considerable diversity in farm size and management practices. The majority of farmers were educated and depended entirely on poultry farming for their livelihood. Encouragingly, basic practices like vaccination, manure disposal, and bird isolation were widely recognized. However, areas like rodent control (reported by only 56% of farmers), carcass disposal (97% relied on burial), vehicle sanitation (absent in 53.85% of farms), and awareness of antimicrobial resistance (low among 79.49% of respondents) were identified as weak points. A significant number of farmers (over 60%) had never received any formal training on biosecurity, and nearly 80% were unaware of AMR, despite the routine use of antibiotics on farms. Common barriers included lack of skilled labor, limited financial resources, and poor access to veterinary support. The findings highlight the need for targeted interventions such as training programs, improved access to veterinary services, and affordable tools to support biosecurity. Strengthening these areas could not only protect poultry health and farmer incomes but also contribute to broader public health goals through reduced antibiotic dependence and better disease control.