A benchmark study of husbandry, transport, lairage and sla improve skin quality of ratites; Volume 2 Emus

Transcription

1 A benchmark study of husbandry, transport, lairage and sla improve skin quality of ratites; Volume 2 Emus A report for the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporat by Dr. Philip C. Glatz October, 2000 RIRDC Publication No RIRDC Project No SAR-22A

2 INTRODUCTION In October 1999 RIRDC, New Animal Products Program provided funds for a project to develop benchmarks to improve skin quality o documentation for use in the Ostrich and Emu industry. The documents will be useful in skin QA programs to support industry s comm benchmark covers the farming, transport, lairage, slaughter, curing, tanning and skin marketing sectors of the industry. In Australia nearly half the farm gate value of ostriches is in the skins. However, 58% of bird skins being processed are being downgr on farm, during transport, in the lairage, during processing and tanning. In the Emu Industry 95% of skins are being downgraded with 3 Development by the Ratite Industry of documentation that recommends best practices will raise the standards in Industry and improve Documentation to reduce skin damage covers best practice methods in all areas of the production chain to maintain skin quality of ratit producing ratite skins will give confidence to skin buyers that they are purchasing a quality product. The project was coordinated by Phil Glatz (Senior Research Scientist, South Australian Research and Development Institute) with supp Industries Officer, Primary Industry and Resources SA), Belinda Rodda (Technical Officer, South Australian Research and Developme Galloway (IC Media) and Ian Dinning (Lecturer, Media, University of South Australia). A Ratite Industry Committee comprising John Atkins (skin marketing), Trevor Jones (tanning), Wayne Hamood (ostrich farming), Rob farming), Bert Rayner (skin marketing), Ross Haebich (emu and ostrich transport) and Kevin Barry (ostrich transport) worked with the Other people in Industry were involved in reviewing the audit documentation. These included Dr. Doug Black, Dr. John Dingle, Chris Thompson, John Snowden and Peter O Malley. The approach used in this skin quality benchmarking was modelled on a current RIRDC project on broiler welfare audits coordinated b acknowledged. The project used the seven principles of the HACCP-based quality assurance systems approach to: i) identify potential risks that contr risks iii) establish appropriate targets for the risk area iv) establish a monitoring system v) establish contingencies to be used in associa vi) establish a verification program and vii) develop documentation that accurately depicts risk, critical limits and corrective action. The documentation is supported by a short CD Rom demonstrating events that lead to poor skin condition in emus and ostriches and problem. The documentation provided for ratites examines the breeder, hatchery, rearing, growing, transport, lairage, slaughter, curing, tanning a skin damage may be limited to a few key areas of the production chain. However, it was considered that all factors that might effect the produced/bird and quality of hide be examined. Emphasis has been given to ensuring that there are high levels of bio-security and trace production chain. Each section of the document should be considered as stand-alone document. This has resulted in some repetition.

3 The documentation is set out as follows for each sector using the HACCP protocol: Audit questions and implications relating to the breeder, hatchery, rearing, growing, transport, lairage, curing and tanning sectors Record keeping check lists. List of targets to be achieved Audit Score Sheets for monitoring, evaluation and verification. Critical issues are indicated with shading Fact sheets that provide more detail on the questions and the implications. CD Rom script highlighting the key issues in each sector. It is considered that the documents will fulfil the aim of demonstrating the standards required to achieve high quality skins. Implementing the Audit in the Ratite Industries Audits can be either informal or formal. An informal audit could be conducted by the grower or a skin marketer and can be used to ide auditor usually conducts a formal audit. These could be persons appointed by peak bodies such as the Australian Ostrich Association o Before an audit a farmer, transporter, abattoir or tanner would be informed in advance of audit so that their documentation can be made current records, diaries and recording sheets as well as visually inspecting birds, facilities and skins as well as taking measurements. The auditor will go through each of the audit questions and decide whether it is relevant to their enterprise. In filling in the audit score critical issues and one point to non-critical issues if there is compliance. Depending on the approach taken by the auditor non-complian enterprises failing the audit. In most cases however, a score will be provided to the enterprise and area of the enterprise, which needs to improvement is the overall score achieved on each subsequent audit will an indicator of the improvement in practices aimed to achieve It is expected that each person working in the production chain will read the documentation so that there is an understanding of the que quality, records and evidence needed and targets to be reached. It is recommended that each sector conduct their own trial audit, keep a identify problems and fix them.

4 Contents Section 1- Emu Breeder... Water Supply Feed System and Diet Environment and Bio-security.. Selection and Housing Routine Husbandry Procedures Behaviour (Aggression and Frustration) Egg Management. Farm Staff Record Keeping Check-list Bio-security Farm Standards Bio-security Personnel Standards.. Bio-security Operational Standards.. Bio-security Serious Disease Outbreak Procedures... Traceability Breeder Targets Breeder Audit Score Sheet Breeder Bio-security Audit Score Sheet.. Section 2 - Emu Hatchery Facilities and Hygiene Egg Management Chick Management Transport of Day-old Chicks. Hatchery Staff Record Keeping Check-list Bio-security Hatchery Standards Bio-security Personnel Standards... Bio-security Operational Standards... Bio-security Serious Disease Outbreak Procedures... Traceability Hatchery Targets

5 Contents continued.. Hatchery Audit Score Sheet Hatchery Bio-security Audit Score Sheet Section 3 Emu Brooding Water Supply Shed Conditions Chick Arrival and Placement Routine Practices Bird Behaviour (aggression and frustration) Routine Husbandry Procedures Daily Procedures Farm Staff Record Keeping Check-list Bio-security Farm Standards... Bio-security Personnel Standards.... Bio-security Operational Standards.... Bio-security Serious Disease Outbreak Procedures.... Traceability Brooding Targets. Brooding Audit Score Sheet. Brooding Bio-security Audit Score Sheet Section 4 Emu Rearing (6-16 weeks)... Water Supply Rearing Conditions Bird Placement Routine Practices Bird Behaviour (Aggression and Frustration) Routine Husbandry Procedures Daily Procedures Equipment and Housing

6 Contents continued.. Farm Staff Record Keeping Check-list Bio-security Farm Standards.. Bio-security Personnel Standards.... Bio-security Operational Standards.... Bio-security Serious Disease Outbreak Procedures... Traceability Rearing Targets... Rearing Audit Score Sheet.... Rearing Bio-security Audit Score Sheet Section 5 Emu Finishing (16 weeks 14 months) Water Supply Finishing Conditions. Finisher Placement. Routine Practices Bird Behaviour (Aggression and Frustration) Routine Husbandry Procedures Daily Procedures Equipment and Housing Farm Staff Record Keeping Check-list Bio-security Farm Standards.. Bio-security Personnel Standards.... Bio-security Operational Standards.... Bio-security Serious Disease Outbreak Procedures... Traceability Finisher Targets... Finisher Audit Score Sheet Finisher Bio-security Audit Score Sheet

7 Contents continued.. Section 6 On-Farm Emu Yarding. Yarding. Staff.. Record Keeping Check-list Bio-security Farm Standards Bio-security Personnel Standards.... Bio-security Operational Standards.... Bio-security Serious Disease Outbreak Procedures... Traceability Yarding Targets... Yarding Audit Score Sheet Yarding Bio-security Audit Score Sheet Section 7 Emu Transport Transport... Staff... Record Keeping Checklist. Bio-security - Truck Standards Bio-security - Personnel Standard Bio-security - Operational Standards Bio-security - Serious Disease Outbreak Procedures Traceability... Transport Targets Transport Audit Score Sheet Transport Bio-security Audit Score Sheet Section 8 Unloading Emus.. Unloading Staff Record Keeping Checklist Bio-security - Standards..

8 Audit Contents continued.. Bio-security - Personnel Standard Bio-security - Operational Standards Bio-security - Serious Disease Outbreak Procedures Traceability Unloading EmusTargets Unloading Emus Audit Score Sheet Unloading Emus Bio-security Audit Score Sheet Section 9 Emu Lairage Lairage Staff Record Keeping Checklist.... Bio-security Standards..... Bio-security - Personnel Standard Bio-security - Operational Standards Bio-security - Serious Disease Outbreak Procedures Traceability.. Emu Lairage Targets. Emu Lairage Audit Score Sheet Emu Lairage Bio-security Audit Score Sheet Section 10 Emu Slaughter Movement of Birds to Knocking Box Slaughter.... Staff Record Keeping Checklist... Emu Slaughter Targets... Emu Slaughter Audit Score Sheet Section 11 Emu Feather Plucking and Skinning Emu Feather Plucking and Skinning Skinning Procedure.

9 Contents continued.. Staff Record Keeping Checklist.... Emu Feather Plucking and Skinning Targets... Emu Feather Plucking and Skinning Audit Score Sheet Section 12 Handling Emu Green Skins Brining and Pickling Skins... Fat Removal Draining... Storing Cooling Transporting Traceability.. Staff Record Keeping Checklist... Handling Emu Green Skins Targets.. Handling Emu Green Skins Audit Score Sheet... Section 13 Skin Selection.. Traceability.. Green Skin Selection... Skin Selection Targets.. Skin Selection Audit Score Sheet.. Section 14 Tanning.. Tanning.. Tanned Skin Grading.. Marketing... Traceability.. Staff... Record Keeping Checklist.. Tanning Targets.. Tanning Audit Score Sheet..

10 Fact Sheet Contents 1. Emu Fertile Egg Management. 1.1 Egg collection Egg transport Egg packaging Egg cleaning Egg storing Fumigation Testing for defects.. 2. Emu Incubation 2.1 Breeding season Natural incubation Artificial incubation Hatchery Hygiene Room conditions Medicine Maintenance Temperature Humidity Air circulation Pre-warming Egg setting. 2.7 Egg turning 2.8 Egg candling. 2.9 Malpositions 2.10 Egg weight loss Hatching process Hatching help Pipping Hatching problems Leg deformities.

11 Fact Sheet Contents continued 2.16 Holding area Biosecurity Traceability Record Keeping.. 3. Emu Chicks 3.1 Chick selection Sexing Chicks Declawing Rodent control Biosecurity. 4. Emu Rearing Nutrition Feed efficiency Paddocks Bird handling and weighing Water. 4.6 Rodent and pest control. 5. Emu Breeders 5.1 Breeder selection and genetics Agression and mating Nutrition Nest. 6. Emu Handling 6.1 Young chicks Older chicks 6.3 Adult birds Aggressive birds...

12 Fact Sheet Contents continued 7. Emu Transport 7.1 Yarding Loading Drivers. 7.4 Code of Practice Emu Health 9. Emu Lairage Offloading Lairage pens Lairage humidity Lairage Handling Emu Processing 10.1 Stunning Skinning Emu Skin Curing Skin Storage 11.2 Skin preservation Skin quality 12. Emu Tanning Chemicals. 13. Emu Skin Grading 13.1 Hide grades 13.2 Leather production. 14. Staff and Training...

13 CD Rom Script Contents Introduction... Summary.. Breeder.. Hatchery.. Rearing and Growing Behaviours... Transport Processing...

14 Section 1 Emu Breeder Water supply Feed system and diet Environment and bio-security Selection and housing Routine husbandry procedures Behaviour (aggression and frustration) Egg management Farm staff Record keeping check-list Bio-security Farm Standards Bio-security Personnel Standards Bio-security Operational Standards Bio-security Serious Disease Outbreak Procedures Traceability Breeder Targets Audit Score Sheet Biosecurity Score Sheet

15 BREEDERS Water Supply (critical questions are shaded) growth, skin area and reproduct reduces food intake, growth, skin growth, skin area and reproduct growth, skin area and reproduct food intake, growth, skin area an intake reduces food intake, grow Was water available to birds at all drinkers? Reduced water intake reduces fo and reproductive performance Was water availability to all drinkers checked daily? Reduced water intake reduces fo and reproductive performance Was water pressure checked daily? Reduced water intake reduces fo and reproductive performance If using surface water was it sanitized before reaching the birds? Reduced water intake reduces fo and reproductive performance If using bore water, was it tested for ph and salts annually? Poor quality water, reduced wate Was water supply tested for microbial contamination at least annually? Contaminated water, bird health performance Was water supply fit to drink? Poor quality water, reduced wate Were water tanks and water lines sanitized? Poor quality water, reduced wate Were tanks and water lines flushed out regularly? Dirty water, poor quality water, r Were water filters checked/changed? Clogged filters, reduces water av performance Do you have a back-up water supply? Bird mortality if water not avail Do you keep water cool in summer? Hot water reduces water intake, f area of hides and reproductive p

16 BREEDERS Feed System and Diet (critical questions are shaded) area and reproductive performan Are the feeders the correct types for breeders? Inappropriate feeders reduces fee reproductive performance Could all birds feed at the same time? Birds lower in peck order, reduc area Was all residual mouldy feed removed regularly? Mouldy feed reduces feed intake performance Were diets fed that provided sufficient minerals and vitamins to reduce hatching problems, stunted chicks and potential skin problems? Mineral and vitamin deficiency, hide area and reproductive perfo Were the birds held in breeding paddocks of hectares containing suitable forage of improved pastures? High stocking density and poor intake, growth, hide area and rep Did you use a pasture improvement program? Good pasture improves growth, Were calcium levels in diet 1.6% - 2.5%? Low calcium reduces food intake performance Did you anticipate the increased requirements for Ca and P, amino Improves reproductive performance acids, vitamins and energy of layers before first egg? During the maintenance period did you feed a diet with 9.17 ME Reduces feeding costs MJ/kg, 11.8% % protein, 0.5% - 0.7% lysine, 1.25% Calcium and 0.49% available Phosphorus? Were females provided a free choice supplement of coarse shell grit in Improves reproductive performa a separate container? Did you have separate sex feeding? Improves reproductive performa Do you have a strategy for separate sex feeding to avoid overweight males, excess Ca and suppression of Zinc and sperm production? Do you keep males in adjacent paddocks on maintenance diets? Separate sex feeding avoids over suppression of Zinc and sperm p Reduces aggression, improves re males and females

17 BREEDERS Environment & Bio-security (critical questions are shaded) Has a flock health program been implemented? Maintains health and reproducti Do you have written emergency procedures? Do you follow a rodent (rat and mouse) control program? Do you have biosecurity procedures for visitors and staff to maintain quarantine? Was shelter provided to the birds? Was the egg laying arears kept clean and sanitized? Was the bedding dry in the shelter? Were there wet areas around the drinkers? Was there adequate shade for all the birds? Were the breeding paddock fences at least 1.5m in height? Were the paddocks well drained? Was a 1.8m passage provided between fences to prevent males fighting? Do you follow recommendations on ratio of males to females? Reduces potential for flock mor Reduces feed wastage Reduces potential for disease out Reduces sunburn, keeps birds co conditions Reduces potential for external pa transfer Reduces odour problems Increases water wastage Reduce sun burn on skins Reduces potential for breeders es Improves forage growth, reduces Reduces aggression Improves reproductive performa

18 BREEDERS Selection and Housing (critical questions are shaded) performance, growth and return Were breeders selection based on their longer body conformation to Improves return on skins maximize skin size? Are accurate records kept on primary traits that affect the suitability of breeder birds? Improves reproductive performa progeny Is inbreeding avoided? Improves reproductive performa Are genetically deficient birds not used for breeding? Improves reproductive performa Did you avoid using aggressive birds in your breeding program? Improves reproductive performa Was fertility testing practiced in males? Improves reproductive performa Did you use imported bloodlines to make use of hybrid vigor? Improves reproductive performa Were males and females kept in separate pens two months before Improves reproductive performa mating to stimulate birds to come on heat? Do you use the pen system for breeders? Enables easy recognition of ine Do you use the camp system for breeders? Farm capital costs reduced, impr Was the male paired with 1 or 2 females? Optimal pairing improves repro and return on skins Were pairs exchanged if birds did not mate? Improves reproductive performa Do you allow males into female pen a few hours every second day to Improves reproductive performa mate after females have eaten their daily ration? Were birds with filoplumes culled Improves returns on skins

19 BREEDERS Routine Husbandry Procedures (critical questions are shaded) Were birds checked at least once daily? Frequent checking allows proble Did bird behaviour appear normal and did the birds look healthy? Was the availability of water to all drinkers checked daily? Was feed available at all times? Did you feed daily? Was a veterinarian adviser called to advise onhealth problems? Have you followed any advice that was given? Have unthrifty birds been culled? Were dead birds removed as soon as possible? Were bird s euthanased using accepted practices? Were dead birds disposed of according to recommendations? Were mortalities within targets? If mortalities were greater than target specifications were reasons determined? Were birds vaccinated according to vaccination schedule? Did you routinely check the need for and if necessary treat for internal parasites? Was stocking density within target limits? Was body weight determined by the girth method? Was breeder weight within target limits? Was egg production according to targets? Were eggs collected from nests daily? Do you have strategies to reduce male/male and male/female aggression? Did you notice any blood stained eggs? Do you follow recommendations on the ratio of males to females? Bird problems can be addressed Improves water intake, food inta reproductive performance Improves food intake, growth, s performance Improves food intake, growth, sk performance Prompt attendance to bird health skin area and reproductive perfo Resolves bird problems sooner Improves total performance of f Removes potential for disease tr Improves bird welfare Removes potential for disease tr Action can be taken to improve Provides knowledge for resolvin Reduces disease problems Reduces potential skin defects in slaughtered Improves food intake, growth, sk performance Body weight important indicator adequacy of diet Body weight important indicator adequacy of diet Egg production important indica Improves hatchability of eggsan Improves reproductive performa Indicator of egg laying problems Improves reproductive performa

20 BREEDERS Behaviour (Aggression and Frustration) (critical questions are shaded) reduction in reproductive perform performance and skin damage c aggression reducing reproductiv Was there any evidence of kicking? Indicator of aggression and defe Was there any evidence of pacing? Indicator of frustration leading t Was there any evidence of persistent pecking at the environment Indicator of boredom and can lea (stereotype pecking)? Did you notice any outside disturbance causing flock to panic and run Outside disturbances need to be to other side of paddock? Was there any evidence of running down the fence lines? Potential for skin damage on bre Was there any evidence of feather pecking? Indicator of boredom, stereotype BREEDERS Egg Management (critical questions are shaded) Question Were eggs collected daily from nests? Were dirty eggs separated immediately? Were eggs disinfected according to company protocols? Were eggs cooled to o C within 4 hours of laying? Were eggs stored at o C? Were eggs stored at % relative humidity? Were transport arrangements considered appropriate to maintain temperature and humidity? Were eggs collected as soon as possible after being laid and marked with their origin? When transporting eggs were they individually wrapped in tissues or soft cloth and placed with air cell up? When eggs were transported were they maintained at 18 o C? Do you avoid cleaning eggs with cloth or sanding paper? Were eggs sanitized and cleaned with detergent sanitizers and rinsed immediately? Was washing water free of bacteria? Yes No N/A Implic Improves hatchability Reduces contamination of clean Improves hatchability Improves hatchability Improves hatchability Improves hatchability Improves hatchability Improves hatchability and trace Decreases breakages Improves hatchability Improves egg hygiene Improves egg hygiene Prevents bacterial infection emb

21 - BREEDERS Egg Management Continued (critical questions are shaded) Question Was the sanitizer and rinsing water above egg temperature? Were the washing solution 250-ppm quaternary ammonium, 10-PPM EDTA and sodium carbonate added to raise ph to 8? Were eggs washed in water temperatures o C, being at least 3-10 o C greater than egg temperature? Were eggs left to air dry? Were standard fumigation procedures used before setting? Were eggs stored for a maximum of 7 days in an upright position at o C at 75-80% relative humidity? Were eggs with defects not set ie. (chalky texture, matt finish, hairline cracks, stale and contaminated, floating air cells, blood and meat spots and double yolks)? Were eggs at least 600g used for setting? Were eggs turned four times daily while being stored? Did the operators have clean hands before making contact with eggs? Were eggs preheated to 25 o C for a minimum period of 12h before setting? Were the eggs subject to antibiotic dipping? Yes No N/A Implic Prevents bacterial infection emb Prevents bacterial infection emb Prevents bacterial infection emb Prevents bacterial infection emb Prevents bacterial infection emb Improves hatchability Improves overall hatchability % Improves hatchability Improves hatchability Reduces bacterial contamination Ensures all eggs hatch over clos Improves hatchability and reduc eggs BREEDER Farm Staff (critical questions are shaded) Were emergencies responded to immediately? Reduces impact on breeder perfo Do staff have strategies to protect themselves from aggressive males? Improve staff confidence and pe Were staff absences covered? Minimises staff problems and im If you employ staff: All staff aware of job requireme - Do you have a staff induction procedure? - Have new staff been properly inducted? Improves staff performance - Do you have written instructions (protocols) for staff? Improves staff performance - Have staff been provided with the protocols? Improves staff performance - Have your staff been trained? Improves staff performance and - Do you encourage staff to participate in training courses? Improves staff performance and

22 BREEDERS Record Keeping Check-List (critical questions are shaded) Monitoring of male reproductive assessment of current performan maintained in breeding flock Do you maintain records of: - individual cock age, fertility, egg hatchability, filoplume score, behaviour and body weight? - individual female age, body weight, egg production, egg weight, egg quality, behaviour and filoplume score Monitoring of male reproductive assessment of current performan maintained in breeding flock - daily farm records on performance, temperature, egg collection, Assists in day to day manageme storage and chick weights - pedigree records on all breeding birds Assists in breeding program eva - diet specification and feeding protocols Assists in evaluation of dietary p - flock health program, nest hygiene maintained Maintains flock health and egg - farm log of rodent control, sanitation program, maintaining and Assists in day to day manageme checking water quality, daily husbandry - staff training Assist in further developing farm BREEDERS Bio-security Farm Standards (critical questions are shaded) Does your farm have a perimeter fence? Fence defines the biosecure area Do you have a lockable front gate to farm and biosecurity signage? Do you have a concrete high-pressure wash area on the farm? Do you have a parking area for visitor s vehicles? Do you have a change area for visitors away from the birds near carpark? Are visitors provided a change of clothing and clean boots or overboots? Do you have a footbath at entrance tobird areas? Do you dispose of dead birds by burning, in pits or by mulching Do you maintain rodent bait stations on farm? Do you use treated mains water? Visitors prevented from entering Ensures that vehicles and equipm Prevent vehicles from entering t Prevents spread of disease to bird Prevents spread of disease to bird Prevents spread of disease via fo Correct disposal minimises pote Prevents spread of disease Prevents spread of disease

23 BREEDERS- Bio-security Farm Standards Continued (critical questions are shaded) Do you chlorinate bore, river or dam water if mains not available? Prevents spread of disease Do you have a bin to dispose of overboots? Do you have dogs and cats on farm site? Do you keep other avian species on the farm Do you have other domestic stock on your farm? Prevents spread of disease to oth Can spread disease around the fa Can spread disease around the fa Disease can be spread BREEDERS Bio-security Personnel Standards (critical questions are shaded) Do you, employees or staff residing on farm have contact with other Can spread disease poultry or processing plant? Do repair and maintenance people comply with above? Can spread disease Do you get staff, repair, maintenance and delivery people to sign a Prevent spread of disease from o quarantine declaration? Are trucks washed before and after leaving farm? Prevent spread of disease from o Did you complete a self assessment biosecurity audit? Provides an awareness of curren areas requiring improvement Do you have a visitor s diary? Enables tracing of potential bios Do you restrict access to farm by neighbours, friends and sales Prevent spread of disease from o representatives who have had exposure to poultry Do you have a two-boot system? Prevents spread of disease from

24 BREEDERS Bio-security Operational Standards (critical questions are shaded) Do you check rodent bait stations weekly and maintain a log? Prevents spread of disease from Do visitors park vehicles outside farm in car park? Prevents spread of disease from Do visitors come from clean areas; i.e. home, younger or healthy farm? Do all visitors sign visitors quarantine declaration? In an emergency did visitors from a dirty farm shower and change clothing? Did visitors wear protective clothing? Did delivery drivers wear overboots and dispose them on site? Were tools taken onto farm clean and free of dust and organic matter? Were stock vehicles washed and disinfected? Was loading of birds from youngest to oldest or all young birds or all old birds? Was all dam or bore water chlorinated to 1-2 PPM? Was holding time for chlorinated water 2 hours? Did you carry out frequent chlorine testing and log results? Did you or your staff avoid wearing farm clothing off farm? Did you or your staff avoid wearing street clothing on site? Did you and your staff have separate shed boots and paddock boots? Is all bird weighing carried out by own farm weighing frames and scales? Are feed spills cleaned up as they occur? Is grass around farm site kept cut? Are all bird sheds washed and disinfected? Is all litter removed from farm before new batch of birds introduced? Are all sheds and paddocks locked when personnel not on farm? Were dead bird composters kept away from sheds and fences? Prevents spread of disease from Makes visitors aware of biosecur Prevents spread of disease from Prevents spread of disease from Prevents spread of disease from Prevents spread of disease from Prevents spread of disease from Prevents spread of disease from and from farm to farm Prevents spread of disease from Produces more effective kill of d Ensures effective kill of disease Prevents spread of disease Prevents spread of disease from Prevents spread of disease from Using an outsiders farm scales c to farm Feed spills attract other birds an disease Long grass attracts rodents and kills Prevents spread of disease to new Prevents spread of disease to new Prevent entry of persons who co organisms Prevents spread of disease

25 BREEDERS Bio-security Serious Disease Outbreak Procedures (critical questions are shaded) Do you keep all sheds and paddocks locked? Prevent entry of persons who cou properties. Do you prevent any visitors and service personnel from entering the farm? Prevent entry of persons who co properties For any emergency visitors do you request head to toe shower before and after visit? Prevent entry of persons who co properties Do you ensure all vehicles, which need to enter farm, are washed and Prevents transfer of disease from disinfected at wash pad before entering and leaving farm? Do you ensure all vehicles, which entered farm, are washed inside and Prevents transfer of disease from treated with aerosol including washable mats and vinyl? Do you ensure vehicles entering farm are washed and disinfected at Prevents transfer of disease from wash pad? Did you leave all birds and litter on farm until disease status clarified? Prevents transfer of disease from BREEDERS Traceability (critical questions are shaded) Are you able to identify all individual breeders by tags or electronic identification systems? Ensures traceability of breeder p biosecurity Are you able to identify the individual dam and sire responsible for Assists in biosecurity and traces producing each fertile egg? Do you identify all fertile eggs produced? Assists in biosecurity and traces Can you trace the identity of the bird from the breeders to slaughter? Assists in biosecurity and traces Can you trace the identity of each skin back to the farm? Assists in biosecurity and traces Do you keep a readily accessible hard copy of all bird s identity? Assists in bio-security and traces

26 Breeder Targets (List of targets industry should be aiming to achieve) Parameter Genetic background Breeding policy Age of breeders Egg production Egg hatchability Fertility Filoplume Behaviour Body weight Environment Pasture Shelter Diet Records Health Husbandry Hygiene Water quality Staff Egg cleaning Egg quality Egg weight Egg collection Egg transport Egg storage Egg fumigation Farm layout Biosecurity Protocols Skin thickness Age of slaughter Follicle number Predict Age Target No filoplumes, minimal aggression, records of progeny performance, 80% survivability to 3 mon Cull aggressive birds 5-8 years 60 eggs/hen 80% of eggs set 90% of eggs set Zero incidence Cull birds with abnormal behaviour 130 kg progeny with minimal fat Dry sandy environment Dryland lucerne or equivalent Feed and water under shelter, provision for egg laying in shelter Maintenance diet during off season; high quality layer diet during the season Egg production, egg weight, feed intake, body weight, hatchability, survivability, skin quality Veterinary checks as required Daily observation Strict egg hygiene in breeder paddocks Maximum acceptable concentrations for chlorides = 200 mg/l, for nitrates = 45 PPM and for sulp Trained staff who adopt TLC Recommended for all eggs Reject eggs which are thin, cracked, chalky, stale, floating air cells, meat spots, blood spots and d g for setting Daily Minimize bumps, maintain eggs in cool temperature Minimum of one week; maximum of two weeks; turn eggs daily, cool out of direct sunlight All eggs fumigated Keep all age groups separate, maximize distances between each sector Critical to follow biosecurity check Written protocols for all farm activities Maximise to levels recommended by marketers Seek advice from marketers Seek advice from marketers Use subjective methods to confirm batch dates

27 Score 5 points if YES, 0 points if NO for critical questions (shaded) and 1 point if YES and 0 points if NO for BREEDER AUDIT SCORE SHEET (you may fail audit if any critical issues do not meet expectations) Question Yes No Points Question Yes No Points Quest Water available Separate sex feeding Vaccination progr Cool water in summer Fencing suitable Deworming progr Feed available Passage between paddocks Flock health prog Adequate Ca Shelters for birds Minimal bird peck environment Selection against filoplumes Bedding dry Minimal feather p Select against aggression Adequate shade Flock panic minim Records on traits Stocking density correct No birds running lines Eggs collected daily Emergency procedures Egg production n No blood stained eggs Vermin and insect control Methods to reduc aggression Dirty eggs separated Biosecurity procedures Minimal bird kicki Stored eggs turned three Selection for body Minimal bird paci times a day conformation Complete set of production Body weight breeders normal Egg stored correc records Complete set of progeny Inbreeding avoided Safe transport eg performance (eg. weight of chickens) Aggressive birds culled Deficient birds culled Eggs not cleaned Water quality suitable Fertility testing males Eggs sanitised ab temp Water quality checked Use imported lines Eggs left to air dr after cleaning Back up water supply Pairs exchanged if necessary Eggs at least 600 Mouldy feed removed Correct ratio male/female Emergencies resp immediately Back up feed supply Birds checked twice/day Staff trained Birds fed daily Behaviour normal Staff inducted Correct diet for breeders Health problems resolved Written protocols Free choice Ca layers Unthrifty birds culled Total Total Total Date. Points this audit Points last audit

28 Score 5 points if YES, 0 points if NO for critical questions (shaded) and 1 point if YES and 0 points if NO for BREEDER BIOSECURITY AUDIT SCORE SHEET (you may fail audit if any critical issues do not meet expectations) Question Yes No Points Question Yes No Points Quest Farm Standards Personnel standards Visitors sign decla Vehicle Wash area Staff avoid contact with other Clean tools taken bird species & abattoirs Change area Repair and maintenance staff Chlorine testing comply with above Provide change of clothes Vehicles washed before/after No farm clothing entry to farm Footbaths Restricted access to persons having contact with stock No street clothing farm Approved dead bird disposal Two boot system Bird weighing wit Rodent bait stations Staff and any visitors sign Feed spills cleane quarantine declaration Treated mains water Visitors diary Grass kept cut farm before new No other bird species Operational standards All bird litter remo Perimeter fence Visitors from clean areas All sheds and pad locked Bio-security Signage Shower in for visitors from dirty farm Serious Disease (answer these o outbreak) Lockable front gate Protective clothing for visitors All sheds and pad locked Visitor car park Over boots disposed on site No visitors enter Lockable sheds and paddocks Stock vehicles washed Emergency visito toe shower No other bird species Bird loading oldest to youngest Any vehicles ente Chlorinated farm water Chlorinated water Birds and litter sta Bin for over boots Separate shed and paddock Traceability boots No dogs and cats Sheds washed and disinfected Identity for all bre No other stock Dead bird disposal and composters away from live stock Check rodent bait weekly Visitors car park Total Total Total Trace identity of a Trace identity of a Accessible record Date. Points this audit.. Points last audit.

29 Section 2 Emu Hatchery Facilities and hygiene Egg management Chick management Transport of day-old chicks Staff Record keeping check-list Bio-security Hatchery Standards Bio-security Personnel Standards Bio-security Operational Standards Bio-security Serious Disease Outbreak Procedures Traceability Hatchery Targets Hatchery Audit Score Sheet Biosecurity Audit Score Sheet

30 HATCHERY Facilities and Hygiene (critical questions are shaded) Do you have written biosecurity procedures for: - staff & equipment? Minimises transfer of disease an - procedures for sanitizing hatchery equipment and facilities? Minimises transfer of disease an - procedures for staff hygiene practices? Minimises transfer of disease an - procedures for visitors? Minimises transfer of disease an - procedures for pest control? Minimises transfer of disease an - procedures for farm vehicles? Minimises transfer of disease an - procedures for disposal of egg and chick debris? Minimises transfer of disease an Do you have back-up power supply? Were back-up systems tested since the last batch of eggs? Do the control systems meet target specifications for temperature, humidity and ventilation? Are these controlling systems fitted with alarms? Were all areas cleaned and sanitized according to protocols? Was regular microbiological monitoring conducted? Were the alarms checked daily? Were eggs sanitized before transport to the hatchery? Prevents financial loss from faile problems Prevents financial loss from faile problems Maximises hatchability of chick Prevents financial loss from faile problems Minimises transfer of disease an hatchability Establishes source of bacterial co Prevents financial loss from faile problems Reduces embryo deaths, improve embryonic infections

31 HATCHERY Egg Management (critical questions are shaded) Was the temperature and humidity in the hatchers within target limits Maximises hatchability at all times? Was there a routine egg residue diagnosis? Establishes source of bacterial c Were eggs kept in the cool room for less than 10 days? Maximises hatchability Was the cool room kept at o C? Prevents excess water loss, max Was the cool room humidity maintained at 70-75%? Prevents excess water loss, max Were eggs moved into the setters according to recommendations? Maximises hatchability Was the setter within target limits for temperature and humidity? Maximises hatchability Was quality (egg weight, cleanliness, grading) of eggs delivered Reduces contamination, improv acceptable? Were all eggs labeled? Enables tracing of source of infe Were dirty eggs cleaned? Reduces contamination, improv Was effective operation of egg tilting checked at least 4 times? Improves hatchability, reduces e Was the temperature and humidity of the cool rooms, setters and Maximises hatchability hatchers checked at least twice daily? Were non-fertile eggs and eggs with dead embryos removed? Reduces potential for eggs explo embryos Were chickens pipping 24 hours before expected hatch date? Indication that pre-warming pro Were any eggs less than 24 hours old placed in the incubator? Reduces hatchability In smaller incubators, were eggs placed in incubator in horizontal Improves hatchability position for the first 2-3 weeks? In smaller incubators were eggs turned vertically after 2-3 weeks in Improves hatchability horizontal position? Were eggs turned 180 o three times daily in the first 3 days? Improves hatchability Were eggs turned using the horizontal rolling method? Improves hatchability Was there adequate heat distribution, ideal humidity and ventilation Improves hatchability (45L/h for 1000 egg incubator) and CO2 levels below 0.5%? Were eggs moved to warmer areas of the incubator if inadequate Improves hatchability heating? Is 20% of the air exchanged every hour? Improves hatchability

32 HATCHERY Egg Management Continued (critical questions are shaded) Are you capable of maintaining incubation facilities at o C? Reduces power cost of running i Does your humidity exceed 45% in the incubation room? Difficulty in maintaining incub Do you have bio-security guidelines to minimize number of people entering facility? Are floors and walls of incubation facility of the type of construction to allow daily cleaning? Minimises transfer of disease an Minimises transfer of disease an HATCHERY Chick Management (critical questions are shaded) deficiencies, and dietary deficie Were chicks removed from hatchers after a total incubation time of 49 days? Indicator prewarming of eggs, in successful Was the hatchability according to targets for the breed? Potential problems need to be re Was the culling rate of chicks within acceptable limits? High culling rate indicates possi Did chicks appear and sound normal after hatching? Listless chicks might be overhea If chicks were de-clawed was this done according to recommendations? Were vaccinations according to documented protocols? Were chicks maintained at a temperature of o C from hatching to the holding area? Were chicks kept in delivery boxes in the holding area for less than 8 hours? Was the temperature and humidity in the holding area within set limits at all times? Was the space allowance 25cm 2 or more/chick in the delivery boxes? If declawing practised guideline be followed Proper handling and administra for vaccination to be successful Avoids chilling of chickens Chicks perform better if not held Avoid over chilling or heating o Overcrowding can lead to overh containers

33 HATCHERY Transport of Day-old Chicks (critical questions are shaded) Was the duration of transport less than 16 hours? Chickens less stressed if transpo Was temperature monitored during transport? Was the temperature of the truck o C at loading? Was the truck cleaned/sanitized before entering the farm? Were truck wheels cleaned/sanitized between farms? Were truck door seals checked in the last week? Was the transport vehicle environmentally controlled? Avoids overheating or chilling o Avoids chilling of chickens Minimises disease transfer and Minimises disease transfer and Maintains optimum transport tem Maintains optimum transport tem HATCHERY Staff (critical questions are shaded) Was a member of staff on-call 24 hours a day? Enables rapid response to any in Were staff absences covered? Potential problems may not be a Do you have written instructions (protocols) for staff? Were any alarms responded to immediately? Do you have written emergency procedures? Do you have a staff induction procedure? Have staff been provided with the protocols? Has your staff been trained? Do you encourage staff to participate in training courses? Were staff handling emus competent in emu handling and care? Improves efficiency of operation hatchability Reduces hatchability problems Improves staff performance All staff aware of job requireme Improves staff performance Improves staff performance and Improves staff performance and Minimises injuries to chicks

34 HATCHERY Record Keeping Check-list (critical questions are shaded) Do you have records of: - temperature and humidity of storage rooms, setters, hatchers, incubators and chick holding area? Records enable comparison betw problem areas if there are hatch - age of eggs on arrival? Older eggs have poorer hatchabi - age of flock for batch of eggs? Older flocks have poorer hatcha - age of eggs at setting? Storage time influences hatchab - time of first hatching? Indicator of effectiveness of prew - hatchability? Overall indicator of breeder perf - culling rate? Overall indicator of breeder perf - response times to alarm call outs? Indicator of hatchery manageme performance Do you have evidence of: - written procedures for sanitizing hatchery equipment and facilities? Minimises transfer of disease an hatchability hatchability, improves chick via hatchability, improves chick via - written procedures for staff hygiene practices? Minimises transfer of disease an hatchability - written procedures for visitors? Minimises transfer of disease an hatchability - written procedures for pest control? Minimises transfer of disease an hatchability - written procedures for egg and chick delivery vehicles? Minimises transfer of disease an - written procedures for egg and chick management? Minimises transfer of disease an - written procedures for handling and vaccinating chicks? Minimises stress on chicks and techniques - written procedures for responding to alarms? Improves staff performance and - checking operation of egg titling equipment? Improves hatchability - operation and control of back-up systems? Removes threat of poor hatchabi

35 HATCHERY Record Keeping Check-list Continued (critical questions are shaded) Do you have evidence of: - bio-security for visitors and vehicles? Minimises transfer of disease an hatchability - microbiological monitoring program? Indicator of potential threat to em - condition of eggs on arrival? Indicator of a potential problem - warming eggs over a period before setting? Indicator of whether all chicks h - separate setting of dirty eggs? Embryos from dirty eggs can be incubation - moving eggs to hatchers before pipping? Will reduce dead in shell - dead in shell and egg residue diagnosis? Can provide explanation for poo - removing chicks within 12 hours of first hatching Indicator that all chicks hatched - humane method of euthanasia? Indicator that staff are trained - de-clawing according to recommendations? Indicator that staff trained in pro recommendations - vaccinating according to recommendations? Indicator that staff trained in pro recommendations - space allowance in delivery boxes? Indicator that chick husbandry s - sanitizing transport vehicles? Indicator that staff trained in pro recommendations - sanitizing vehicle wheels between farms? Indicator that staff trained in pro recommendations - weekly checking of vehicle door seals? Indicator that staff trained in pro recommendations - duration of transport? Can provide indication of any p getting of to sound start - temperature of chicks during transport? Can provide indication of any p getting of to sound start - condition of chicks on arrival? Can provide indication of any p getting of to sound start

36 Hatchery Biosecurity - Hatchery Standards (critical questions are shaded) Does your hatchery have a perimeter fence? Fence defines the biosecure area Do you have a lockable front gate to hatchery and biosecurity signage? Do you have a concrete high-pressure wash area near the hatchery? Do you have a parking area for visitor s vehicles? Do you have a change area for visitors away from the hatchery near carpark? Are visitors provided a change of clothing and clean boots or overboots? Do you have a footbath at entrance to hatchery? Do you dispose of dead birds by burning in pits or by mulching? Are all the doors to hatchery lockable? Are you able to prevent entry of other birds into hatchery? Do you maintain rodent bait stations in hatchery? Do you use treated mains water? Do you chlorinate bore, river or dam water if mains not available? Do you have a bin to dispose of overboots? Do you have dogs and cats on hatchery site? Do you keep other avian species near the hatchery? Do you have other domestic stock near the hatchery? Visitors prevented from entering Ensures that vehicles and equipm Prevent vehicles from parking to Prevents spread of disease to chi Prevents spread of disease to chi Prevents spread of disease via fo Correct disposal minimises pote Prevents spread of disease by un Prevents spread of disease Prevents spread of disease Prevents spread of disease Prevents spread of disease Prevents spread of disease to oth Can spread disease Can spread disease Can spread disease

37 HATCHERY Bio-security Personnel Standards (critical questions are shaded) Do you, employees or staff residing on farm have contact with other Can spread disease poultry or processing plant? Do repair and maintenance people comply with above? Can spread disease Do you get staff, repair, maintenance and delivery people to sign a Prevent spread of disease from o quarantine declaration? Are vehicles washed before and after leaving site? Prevent spread of disease from o Did you complete a self-assessment biosecurity audit? Provides an awareness of curren areas requiring improvement Do you have a visitor s diary? Enables tracing of potential bios Do you restrict access to hatchery by neighbours, friends and sales Prevent spread of disease from o representatives who have had exposure to poultry Do you have a two-boot system? Prevents spread of disease from HATCHERY Bio-security Operational Standards (critical questions are shaded) Do you check rodent bait stations weekly and maintain a log? Prevents spread of disease to and Do visitors park vehicles outside farm in car park? Do visitors come from clean areas; i.e. home, younger or healthy farm? Do all visitors sign visitors quarantine declaration? In an emergency did visitors from a dirty farm shower and change clothing? Did visitors wear protective clothing? Did delivery drivers wear overboots and dispose them on site? Were tools taken into hatchery clean and free of dust and organic matter? Were vehicles washed and disinfected? Was loading of birds from youngest to oldest or all young birds or all old birds? Was all dam or bore water chlorinated to 1-2 PPM? Was holding time for chlorinated water 2 hours? Prevents spread of disease to and Prevents spread of disease to and Makes visitors aware of biosecur Prevents spread of disease to and Prevents spread of disease from Prevents spread of disease from Prevents spread of disease from Prevents spread of disease from Prevents spread of disease from and from farm to farm Prevents spread of disease from Produces more effective kill of d