Defend the Flock Newsletter / Summer Edition 2020

Defend the Flock:Your Biosecurity Bulletin

Q&A TRAINING HIGHLIGHTS:

Defend Your Flock From 

Poultry Disease: Know the 

Signs and How to Respond

USDA APHIS hosted a free webinar to share important 

information on recognizing the signs and symptoms 

of poultry disease and best practices for disease 

prevention. APHIS brought together a team of experts, 

including:

• Dr. Julie Gauthier, Assistant Director for Poultry 

Health/Veterinary Medical Officer, USDA APHIS 

Veterinary Services

• Dr. Tahseen Aziz, Staff Veterinarian, North Carolina 

Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory System

• Dr. Michael Martin, Director of Poultry Programs, 

Veterinary Division, North Carolina Department of 

Agriculture

Listen to the webinar and review the follow-up Q&A 

at the Defend the Flock Resource Center, under the 

“Webinars” tab.

 Vet for a Day: A Talk 

 with Dr. Kathryn Burden

We asked Dr. Kathryn Burden, VDM in USDA Animal and Plant Health 

Inspection Service Veterinary Services, what it’s like to “Defend our Flocks.”

1. What led you to specialize in poultry 

medicine? My involvement with poultry 

started with my high school Future Farmers 

of America (FFA) chapter, which led to a parttime job in a laboratory dedicated to poultry 

research. At the University of Georgia (UGA), 

I majored in Poultry, Animal and Dairy Science 

and worked on projects related to Salmonella 

mitigation in meat and poultry products. 

After finishing veterinary school at UGA, I 

joined the Georgia Poultry Laboratory in 

Gainesville, GA as the Department Director 

of Bacteriology and as a Diagnostic 

Veterinarian for the commercial and backyard poultry industry. 

In 2020, I became a Veterinary Medical Officer (VMO) with the National 

Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP). My previous experiences mesh well with 

the USDA APHIS mission to safeguard the health of our nation’s agricultural 

resources and the NPIP mission to improve poultry and poultry products 

throughout the country.

2. We understand that the NPIP is a voluntary program. What 

is the value of getting certified? Participation in NPIP provides 

growers with health papers for shows, state or local poultry sales, and 

moving birds across state lines. NPIP certification also makes poultry 

producers eligible for compensation for certain disease outbreaks, 

pending approval of USDA APHIS. For more information, speak to your 

Official State Agent (OSA).

To find your closest Official 

State Agent or NPIP authorized 

diagnostic laboratory, 

visit the NPIP website at 

www.poultryimprovement.org

 continued

If you see signs of illness, take action right away! Phone Number

Veterinarian 

Cooperative Extension Office 

State Veterinarian/Animal or Poultry Diagnostic Lab 

USDA 866.536.7593

Report Sick Birds

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Defend the Flock Newsletter / Summer Edition 2020

Do You Recognize 

Normal Poultry Behavior?

While lethargy is a sign of illness, this mama hen isn’t 

sick. She’s just sitting on her eggs.

The droopy tail and hunched back are signs that this 

bird isn’t feeling well.

3. What diseases are covered by the NPIP? Salmonella, 

Mycoplasma and avian influenza are three of the biggest poultry 

pathogens that can devastate the commercial industry and drastically 

affect international trade. 

4. How can smaller and backyard growers apply NPIP principles 

to their operations? Make a list of all of the areas where you see a 

potential “breach” of your facility and try to fix those problem areas, such 

as holes in fencing or gates that allow people, animals, or pests to have 

easy access to your poultry. Don’t overlook things such as access to clean 

feed and water sources to keep your poultry from ingesting detrimental 

microorganisms. Proper feed/water storage and vegetation control around 

your premises will help deter rodents and other pests from congregating 

on your property and transmitting disease. 

Many of the bacteria and viruses that infect poultry can easily remain 

on hair, clothing, and shoes for days. Always spray or dip your shoes in 

disinfectant upon exiting your coop, wash your clothing with hot water 

regularly, and shower as soon as possible. Simple changes in clothing 

and footwear before entering or leaving your coop ensures that you are 

not spreading diseases.

Q&A Vet for a Day: A Talk 

 with Dr. Kathryn Burden

 continued

Prevention is better than treatment. With a few 

simple biosecurity practices, flock owners can have 

a lot of control over the risks to their flock’s health.

- Dr. Kathryn Burden

If you see signs of illness in your birds, 

take action right away and report sick birds 

at 866-536-7593 or visit the Defend the Flock

website on aphis.usda.gov for resources.

Test your know-how and 

share with the hashtag 

#FlockDefender. 

Visit the Defend the Flock 

website on aphis.usda.gov

for more tips! 

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

For more information about how to keep your flocks healthy, follow Defend the Flock on 

Facebook and Twitter and visit www.aphis.usda.gov/animalhealth/defendtheflock.