Adoption of biosecurity measures by broiler farmers in Bangladesh

Inadequate farm biosecurity measures can lead to frequent disease outbreaks, negatively impacting poultry production. Therefore, it is necessary to implement adequate biosecurity measures in poultry farms. This study investigates how broiler farmers implement biosecurity measures to reduce the risk of poultry diseases such as HPAI (Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza). In addition, this study seeks to identify the factors influencing farmers' decisions to adopt biosecurity measures. Using a stratified random sample procedure, we surveyed 315 broiler farms from seven districts of Bangladesh by deploying a semi-structured survey. The findings revealed that the majority of farmers have implemented some biosecurity measures on their farms, including the use of water from trustworthy sources, bird-proofing, and the provision of hand-washing facilities. However, notable deficiencies exist in internal communication, equipment sanitation, and visitor restrictions. Applying the adoption index to compute the biosecurity score revealed that internal biosecurity measures are better implemented than external ones. Yet, an overall score of 65.6% signifies the prospect of improvements in adopting comprehensive biosecurity practices. Logistic regression analysis demonstrates that farmers’ attitudes towards risk, poultry housing, capacity to rear poultry, access to knowledge, cost of day-old chicken, and market access had a notable impact on implementing biosecurity measures. The results also indicate that efforts should be directed toward implementing education and training initiatives, improving farm infrastructure, and reinforcing governing frameworks. These measures will help enhance the biosecurity conditions of farms and increase the positive impact of the poultry sector on the economy and public health.