AN ASSESSMENT OF BIOSECURITY PRACTICES AND CONTACT STRUCTURES ONPROFESSIONAL AND HOBBY POULTRY SITES

摘要

This study investigated Belgian commercial and non-commercial poultry sites based on their biosecurity levels and farm movements. Questionnaire data was analyzed using a combination of a linear scoring system, a categorical principal component analysis and a twostep cluster analysis. An extrapolation exercise resulted in an estimate of 230,556 hobby poultry premises in Belgium. Most commercial farms and hatcheries had an acceptable level of standard biosecurity practices, however further enhancementsare still possible. In general, the level of biosecurity was lower in hobby poultry flocks. Considerable variation in the movements and in the structure of the networks arising from these movements was found. Commercial and hobby poultry sites were connected, but movements of poultry (products) were found only to occur from commercial to non-commercial sites. Six clusters of poultry sites were differentiated, which were interpreted as very low to very high risk groups, based on the potential of diseaseintroduction and spread.