SPF CHICKEN

Specific Pathogen-Free Flock

Specific Pathogen Free  (SPF) poultry flock is a flock of  poultry birds raised in a positive-air –pressure (PAP) surrounding at a temperature of 22oC and duly proven-free from specific pathogens. These specific pathogens consist of fourteen (14) viruses, two (2) bacteria, two (2) mycoplasmas, two (2) protozoa, one (1) coccidia and (1) helminth. An SPF unit was established with the aim of providing researchers with SPF eggs and chickens for their experimental trials and production of  biologics. It was designed to constantly produce 200 eggs or chicks per week.
The SPF unit of the APDRTC started operation in September 1988 with the arrival of a short-term Japanese expert (Shigeru Karaswa) and 400 SPF eggs of L-MWL-Line M/be from Nippon Institute of Biological Science. Finally 68 females and 20 males were selected as SPF Parent Stocks. Activities of the SPF unit are: Hatching of SPF eggs and raising of an SPF flock Conducting Artificial Insemination Production and supply of SPF eggs Production and supply of SPF chicks Collection of samples for monitoring Prepare and supply chicken feed
Egg Production The hen house laying percentage during 2003 and 2004 between 21weeks and 60 weeks is 60%-64%. Through this period the liveability of the male and female were 100% and 80% respectively.
Fertility and Hatchability Artificial Insemination (AI) for the production of fertile eggs has been done twice a week. The average fertility was 91 % and the average hatchability was 78 %. Natural mating has been introduced in 1998.The average fertility, hatchability and mortality are 87%, 82% and 6% respectively. Production and Supply of Eggs Eggs are supplied to various units in VRI and other regional laboratories. In the beginning there was low consummation of eggs but at present there is high demand for these valuable eggs. The cost of producing   one SPF egg at APDRTC in 1990 was RM13.80.We have now reduced the cost to about RM 3.00   by increasing the number of birds and having high producing egg birds. It could further reduce by increasing the cages and birds. Production and Supply of Feed The first batch of feed was brought from Japan as the local feed materials were found to contain high bacterial counts. Later feed was heated to reduce or eliminate bacteria by using the autoclave and pellet machine in the SPF feed mill. These method consumed high electricity, wastage of raw material, time and manpower. Since 1992 a different method was used by using hot air for reducing or eliminating pathogenic bacteria. Feed samples were tested for plate count, Enterobacteriacae & Salmonella isolation and the results were negative. This method uses less electricity  wastage, time and manpower. SPF Flock Health Monitoring Regular monitoring have been done at fixed intervals. Flocks are tested for 22 viral, bacterial and parasitic infections/infestations. Flocks have been so far been tested free. The followings are the specific pathogens/diseases being tested for the SPF flock at VRI.

Monitoring on the Status of SPF poultry at VRI

No.                        Disease Test 1 Infectious bronchitis (IB) AGPT 2 Infectious bursal disease (IBD) AGPT 3 Avian encephalomyelitis (AE) AGPT 4 Chicken embryo lethal orphan (CELO) AGPT 5 Avian influenza (AI) AGPT 6 Reovirus infection (REO) AGPT 7 Reticuloendotheliosis (REV) AGPT 8 Fowl pox (FP) AGPT 9 Infectious laryngotracheitis  (ILT) AGPT 10 Marek’s disease (MD) AGPT 11 Newcastle disease (ND) HI 12 Egg drop syndrome (EDS) HI 13 Avian leucosis (ALV) ELISA 14 Swollen head syndrome ELISA 15 Chicken anaemia FAT 16 Mycoplasma gallisepticum (Mg) RPAT 17 Mycoplasma synoviae (Ms) RPAT 18 Salmonella Pullorum RPAT 19 Infectious coryza HI 20 Leucocytozoonosis AGPT 21 Blood protozoa Giemsa stain 22 Coccidiosis Salt floatation 23 Helminths Salt floatation

AGPT : Agar Gel Precipitin Test
HI: Haemagglutination Inhibition
ELISA: Enzyme Linked    Immunosorbent  Assay
FAT: Fluorescent Antibody Technique
RPAT: Rapid Plate Agglutination Test