The Feather Board Command Centre has issued a biosecurity advisory for Ontario poultry producers.
The Centre points out the highly pathogenic avian influenza strain which recently infected a turkey operation near Woodstock is believed to originate from wild birds.
With planting season approaching, the FBCC says it's important to realize that tilling and planting equipment will cover every inch of fields that may have been contaminated by wild birds.
The Centre is encouraging poultry producers to keep that equipment away from barns and driveways serving poultry premises.
The advisory also recommends that curtains on the side of the barn facing a field where tilling is occuring should be closed, if possible, to avoid the risk of viral particles blowing into the barn.
The Centre says the majority of the poultry industry is adopting the use of an anteroom in their barns.
The anteroom serves as the primary entrance room and is attached to the production area of a barn.
It's separated into a dirty and clean side, sides divided by a solid barrier.
The Feather Board Command Centre is a joint operation of Chicken Farmers of Ontario, Egg Farmers of Ontario, Ontario Turkey and the Ontario Broiler Hatching Egg and Chick Commission.
