POULTRY SEMINAR – SESSION 2

On Thursday 26th October the Veterinary and Livestock Division held the second Poultry seminar. This exercise hosted by Dr. Chere Kellman, a Veterinary officer and assisted by Miss Alexandria Dowdye, a Veterinary employee was poorly attended.

There are over one hundred and twenty poultry farmers registered on the island but only a few have been attending these sessions. The Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) through its Veterinary and Livestock Division began hosting a series of seminars for the poultry farmers in order for them to be aware of the recommended and the requirements for them to operate in the poultry industry commercially.

The first seminar focused on the Farm layout and addressed matters pertaining to the following:

· Pen Orientation

· Drainage

· Roofing

· Construction materials

· Manure Storage

· Garbage Disposal

· Feed Storage

· Egg Storage

· Equipment Storage

· Bait Station

· Farm Office

· Parking

· Bathroom facility

While the second session covered the following matters pertaining to Biosafety:

· Shed Infrastructure

· Personnel and Activities

· Poultry and Production

· Egg Collection

The goals of these seminars are:

· To develop and carry out Good Agricultural Practices (GAP)

· To curtail standards to be applicable to the local farmers

· To consider hindering factors in the implementation of these standards and create solutions

· To evaluate farmers’ feedback and compliance with standards

MOA wishes to encourage ALL poultry farmers to attend the upcoming seminars, the information shared is invaluable and would aid in the compliance that would be expected for clean, healthy farms, poultry and eggs.