Prevention of bird flu cheap: Breeder

Suherdjoko, The Jakarta Post, Kendal, Central Java

While hundreds of poultry farms in Indonesian have been badly affected by the bird flu virus, a farm owned by one Agus Wiryono in Boja district, Kendal regency, near Semarang, has avoided the same fate.

Millions of chickens in Indonesia have been culled because of bird flu and other viruses, but not a single chicken on Agus' farm has been affected by bird flu.

"The secret is very simple. I have rigorous biosecurity measures in place on my farm. Any thing or person who enters the chicken farm must first be sterilized. I impose a very strict biosecurity system," Agus told The Jakarta Post at his farm.

What he means by biosecurity is the practice by which every egg box for the hens to lay their eggs, all the egg containers and anyone entering the farm is sprayed with disinfectant. The spray is water diluted with disinfecting chemicals such as lysol and formalin.

"The chemicals are inexpensive but the results are good. It has been proven for 10 months now," Agus said, which was when he got into the poultry business.

These strict measures are imposed 24 hours a day.

"I'm a veterinarian graduate from Airlangga University in Surabaya. More or less, I know the strengths and the weaknesses of various animal viruses. That's why I apply such strict measures on my farm -- anticipatory hygienic measures so a virus won't have the chance to attack my chickens," he said.

He said that all the different poultry viruses plaguing the country were caused by three factors: dirty, damp and dark surroundings.

It is easy for viruses, including avian influenza, to multiply in such surroundings. Preventive measures must focus on these three factors.

"Poultry droppings, for example, should be washed away with limestone or detergent, which will kill the bacteria in the droppings. Chicken coops must be sprayed with water mixed with lysol or formalin or some other disinfectant that can kill viruses. I spray my chicken coops twice a day," he said.

The type of disinfectant should be changed periodically so the viruses do not become resistant, he said. "Don't let the bacteria become immune to the chemicals."

It is easy and cheap to keep poultry farms virus-free, according to Agus. So why have so many farms fallen victim to bird flu and other viruses?

"That's because they don't pay attention to the factors. Most chicken farms are damp and dark, especially during the rainy season when viruses can rapidly multiply. Most breeders don't think about making the chicken coops and surrounding areas sterile," he said.

None of the chickens on Agus' farm have been vaccinated for bird flu, because he has total faith in his preventive measures.

"This system of mine has actually been taken around by husbandry officials to local poultry farmers. But breeders haven't put the system in place. When the bird flu began to cause havoc, only then did they realize (the importance of this). Many neighboring farmers have now followed my lead," he said.