November 10, 2020

 

Hendrix Genetics emphasises importance of biosecurity

 

 

Strong biosecurity measures play an important part in keeping animals safe and healthy and should act as the first line of defense to achieve the goal, Hendrix Genetics said.

 

The company highlighted the importance of knowing that no single disease prevention program would be effective without proper biosecurity measures.

 

"Preventing disease outbreaks are key to maintaining the health of your animals," Hendrix Genetics said.

 

"Biosecurity procedures should be followed as a precautionary measurement. Animal diseases can have significant economic consequences from restrictions being placed on a specific location, region or even country by its trading partners. Hendrix Genetics is safeguarding biosecure stock of animals to limit disruptions in the value chain."

 

According to the company, biosecurity entails management, farm design, decontamination, rodent, bird and insect control and immunisation.

 

In response to challenges, Hendrix Genetics has implemented procedures that help to prevent pathogenic agents from entering farms and minimise their impact on the health status, welfare and technical results of animals.

 

"When followed correctly, biosecurity measurements prevent incidences from taking place but also aid to control and manage health risk occurrences," the company said.

 

It added: "To ensure business continuity and prevent transmission of disease agents to customers, we maintain a high health status. Utilising global standardised biosecurity protocols to implement compliance, we ensure clean stock is delivered to all of our customers."

 

Hendrix Genetics has ensured animals fulfill the following requirements:

 

- Free of notifiable diseases, according to the OIE list;

 

- Health status must comply with national animal health standards;

 

- Health status must meet the international veterinary import requirements of the countries where Hendrix Genetics has customers or where it delivers its animals;

 

- Health status must meet "agreed to" customers' requirements;

 

- Entry of organic and non-organic material into Hendrix Genetics units/facilities must be limited to an absolute minimum, so protocols to avoid involuntary entry of these materials must be in place.

"Superior genetic potential can only be expressed to the maximum in a healthy and biosecure environment," the company said.

 

"Biosecurity and management practices both play a significant role in achieving and maintaining good health status. If health status requirements are met, the return on time and money invested will be optimised through achievement of the maximum genetic performance of our breeding stock."

 

Hendrix Genetics ensures the security of supply by preserving its global gene pool.

 

Production of any product (pure lines, GPS, PS or commercial) must be split on at least two different locations at the same time. These locations must work independently and the distance between them must prevent the risk for a natural disease spreading from one farm to the other.

 

The distance must also prevent both sites to be included in the same restriction area. For all animal species with markets on different continents, production must be shared on a minimum of two continents to minimise the consequences of panzootic diseases, Hendrix Genetics said.

 

It explained: "For example, if one of our pedigree flocks was contaminated and destroyed due to a very high mortality, regulation (inside a stamping out zone) or contamination reflecting in severe damages to customers without possibility to run a successful eradication plan on a short term, we would still be able to provide high quality genetics to customers across the globe."

 

Securing supply as a backup biosecurity measurement also enables Hendrix Genetics to continue helping feed a growing world population.

 

"Our grandparent laying hen farms and hatcheries in Brazil are leading by example and have been awarded AI-free compartment status, granted by World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) as well as the breeding complexes, grandparent farms and hatcheries in the Netherlands. This status allows us the ability to ship to customers all over the world which helps ensure that we are doing our part in fighting the global food challenge," Hendrix Genetics said.

 

While biosecurity is the best defense to keep all diseases out, there are challenges to implement it especially on a commercial farm with higher densities of animals, according to Hendrix Genetics.

 

"For that reason, Hendrix Genetics is breeding for self-reliant animals. Animals that can handle health challenges or at least recover quicker. Self-reliant animals are easier to manage and deliver return on investment," the company said.

 

That said, practicing good biosecurity is the best way to prevent disease outbreaks.

 

"Through following biosecurity protocols, Hendrix Genetics contributes to better breeding today, for a brighter life tomorrow, strengthening the industry by maintaining strong supply channels with high quality animal genetics," the company said.

 

- Hendrix Genetics