Indiana Requiring New Record Keeping for all Poultry Owners
While there are no new developments in the avian flu outbreak in SW Indiana, the Indiana Board of Animal Health is strictly enforcing a new record keeping system required for all poultry owners. After the avian flu scare of 2015, the BOAH adopted a new record keeping system for both private and commercial owners of poultry. Spokesman Denise Derrer said, following the 2016 disease outbreak, this new law is being strictly enforced, “Under the new law, all sellers and buyers of poultry in Indiana must maintain records of flock additions and removals for 3 years.” Records must include: names and addresses of buyer and seller, sale date, breed, sex, number of animals, and reason for movement. This state requirement applies to all retail, swap meet, flea market, auction, and private sales, including barters or trades.
The finding of highly pathogenic avian influenza in Southern Indiana reinforces the need for the new record keeping rule,” said Indiana State Veterinarian Bret Marsh, DVM. “In a disease event of this magnitude, the Board of Animal Health needs the ability to trace bird movements to ensure the disease has not spread. That is why we added poultry to Indiana’s Animal Disease Traceability (ADT) rule.”
For those who purchase birds from out-of-state sources, BOAH reminds buyers that all poultry entering Indiana must have either a certificate of veterinary inspection (CVI) or a National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP) form VS 9-3. If chicks are purchased from an NPIP-certified hatchery, then the chicks can enter Indiana with a copy of the NPIP form VS 9-3.
Derrer says, in addition to record keeping, they are urging all poultry owners to step up biosecurity efforts, “We are always banging the drum for biosecurity and especially now with this disease in Indiana.” She added that biosecurity is important, not just for commercial poultry operations but for backyard flocks as well.
Information about Indiana’s poultry entry and record keeping requirements is available on BOAH’s website at: www.in.gov/boah/2721.htm. Poultry owners are encouraged to monitor their birds for any signs of unusual illness or death. Report sick or dead poultry by calling the Healthy Birds Hotline: 866-536-7593. This toll-free hotline will connect poultry owners with a state or federal veterinarian who can determine if an illness needs more follow-up.