Evaluation of Biosecurity Practices in Commercial Poultry Farms in Cross River State

This study evaluates the level of biosecurity practice adoption in commercial poultry farms in Cross River State, located in Nigeria's South South geopolitical zone. Robust biosecurity is the foundational prevention strategy against the introduction and spread of poultry diseases including avian influenza, Newcastle disease, and infectious bronchitis, which collectively account for major production losses in Nigerian commercial poultry. Using a cross-sectional survey design, 60 commercial poultry farms were assessed in three local government areas of Cross River State using a validated biosecurity scoring tool covering farm access control, visitor management, vehicle decontamination, litter management, bird sourcing, and dead bird disposal. Additional structured interviews with farm managers provided contextual information on barriers to biosecurity implementation. A composite biosecurity score was calculated for each farm and farms were categorised as having high, medium, or low biosecurity levels. Findings revealed that 22 percent of farms achieved high biosecurity scores, 48 percent medium scores, and 30 percent low scores. The most deficient areas were vehicle decontamination (compliant in only 18% of farms), dedicated footwear for the poultry house (33%), and written biosecurity protocols (25%). Farm size was positively correlated with biosecurity score, with large commercial farms significantly outperforming medium and small operations. The study recommends government-sponsored biosecurity assessment services, tiered incentive schemes for biosecurity investment, and the development of a Nigeria-specific commercial poultry biosecurity standard. Keywords: biosecurity, poultry farms, Cross River State, disease prevention, commercial poultry.