Strengths, challenges, and variations - insights into biosecurity practices in Swedish poultry production following HPAI outbreaks

Abstract

This study investigated quantitatively and qualitatively the implementation of biosecurity in commercial poultry production in Sweden during 2020 and 2021 when outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) occurred. The study included case and non-case farms located in areas subjected to HPAI restriction zones with broiler parent breeders, layer pullets, laying hens, broilers, and meat turkeys with at least 2,000 birds. General biosecurity routines were investigated focusing on the wild bird-poultry interface. Data collection was based on face-to-face interviews and on-farm observations on 15 farms with HPAI outbreaks and 33 matched non-case farms using a questionnaire and the biosecurity scoring tool Biocheck.UGent (https://biocheckgent.com) to assess general biosecurity practices. Data were analyzed to identify differences related to poultry categories, geographical region, farm size and HPAI disease status. Additionally, qualitative data were examined using thematic analysis to explore barriers to biosecurity implementation.

The findings indicated that while biosecurity levels were generally high, there was significant variation among farms with category-specific strengths and challenges. Common weaknesses observed included inadequate infrastructure such as anteroom layout, limited training of farmworkers, suboptimal hand hygiene, and difficulties in maintaining good hygiene during the storage and introduction of roughage, such as hay and straw, into barns. Moreover, farmyards often lacked designated clean and dirty areas.

The qualitative analysis identified several factors affecting the implementation of biosecurity, and key qualitative themes were conflicting priorities, compliance based on perceived risk, and feelings of powerlessness. A need for specific knowledge on effective biosecurity measures against HPAI was expressed as well as lack of knowledge among farmworkers. The farm infrastructure could both facilitate and hamper effective biosecurity depending on its design. A risk-based approach meant adapting biosecurity based on the perceived risk of outbreaks and risk connected to different introduction routes. The conflicts of interest raised were often in relation to animal welfare and environmental considerations.

The main conclusions were that there is high heterogeneity in biosecurity among Swedish poultry farms, with implementation affected by multiple factors.