Livestock Authority visits chicken hatcheries

Aug 24, 2011 News

Authorities have visited a number of chicken hatcheries to ensure that practices are in keeping with regulations.
According to the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA), a regulatory agency of the Agriculture Ministry charged with monitoring the chicken industry among other things, hatcheries are vaccinating their layers and meat-birds (broilers) in keeping with programs.

An official of the Lall Beharry facility speaking with GLDA officials on Monday during an unannounced visit.

However, one hatchery reportedly refused entry to officials and GLDA asserted that action will be taken.
There have been complaints by farmers that certain hatcheries are not vaccinating their chicks in the correct manner, leading to premature deaths shortly after being bought by the farmers.
On Monday, GLDA’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Dindyal Permaul, and two senior veterinary officers made several unannounced inspections of the hatcheries located mainly on the East Bank of Demerara. Those visited included Fung-A-Fat and Didco, in the city; Edun at Craig; Lall Beharry at Friendship and Bounty Farms at Timehri/Soesdyke.
While there was no hatching at the time of the inspections, the body promised to revisit the hatcheries at that time to ensure that there is compliance.
“Staff cooperated fully, provided access and information regarding questions posed on vaccination, sanitization, veterinary pharmaceuticals and general bio-security. One hatchery, the Guyana Stockfeed Limited, denied access to the inspecting team and action will be pursued,” GLDA said.
“Our examination has revealed that the hatcheries are pursuing their vaccination programs regarding layers and broilers. At this time of visit, no chicks were being hatched. Consequently, it was not possible to witness the vaccination of the thousands of chicks. However, information is being shared pertaining to hatch days. On these days, GLDA staff will pursue randomized inspection visits.”
The authority noted that under the Animal Health Law passed in Parliament recently, failure to provide access and information to an authorized officer constitutes an offence.
GLDA noted that inspections have taken on extra importance as it has been supplying its entire domestic needs for chickens and table eggs.
“Any relaxation of existing regulations and laws can only serve to whittle away these gains. Further, our food security becomes compromised and our expressed resolve to be an exporter of livestock products can enter the doldrums.”
The body warned that it is in the interest of all participants in the poultry commodity-value chain to secure the industry so that greater gains can be achieved.
Virtually all chicks are produced from imported eggs brought in either by air or by ships and hatched by a small number of privately-run hatcheries, almost exclusively located in Demerara.
Newly emerged chicks of the broiler or the layer type suffer from a number of diseases, many of which cause death or poor weight gain in the production cycle.

Eggs at a hatchery.

Over the years, the poultry industry has developed a number of ways of controlling these diseases. One such strategy is vaccination. In Guyana’s case, owners and operators of hatcheries are by law compelled to vaccinate against diseases such as Inclusion Body Hepatitis/Hydropericardium Syndrome (HH), Infectious Bursal Disease and Mareks.
HH for many years, when it was first found in Guyana, had a devastating effect on the local poultry sector, decimating growth and increasing mortality by as much as 70% among broiler birds. This prompted the promulgation of the Sale of Chicks Regulations in February 2008.
GLDA, a semi-autonomous body, has responsibility for all livestock matters under its parent legislation.