Defend the Flock Newsletter / Winter Edition 2020 

Defend the Flock: Your Biosecurity Bulletin 

TRAINING HIGHLIGHTS: 

Defend the Flock: 

Controlling Salmonella in 

Commercial Poultry through 

Biosecurity 

USDA APHIS hosted a free webinar that 

provided commercial poultry producers practical 

recommedations for how to control and prevent 

Salmonella infections in their focks through biosecurity 

practices. 

The webinar featured APHIS Veterinary Services staff 

Dr. Taylor Gaines and Dr. Katy Burden and subject 

matter expert, Dr. Charles Hofacre, President of the 

Southern Poultry Research Group and Professor 

Emeritus at The University of Georgia. 

You can listen to a replay of the webinar and see the 

follow-up Q&A at the Defend the Flock Resource 

Center, under the “Webinars” tab. 

Q&AVet for a Day: A Talk

 with Dr. Savannah Thomas 

We asked Dr. Savannah Thomas, National Poultry Improvement Plan 

Compartmentalization Coordinator in USDA Animal and Plant Health 

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

1. You have been involved with poultry

since childhood. Tell us about your frst

fock. When I was around ten, my brother

and I accompanied our father to a poultry

auction for the frst time. Our frst chicken

was a single Buff Orpington chick named

Baby. Our parents encouraged us and our

fock grew tremendously to include chickens,

ducks, geese, guineas, pigeons, and turkeys.

2. As a young poultry owner, were you

involved with any agricultural groups?

How did that experience infuence your

career path? I was very active in Future

Farmers of America (FFA) and was a member of the state-winning poultry 

judging team. During my senior year, the head of the poultry science 

department at the University of Georgia came and spoke to our FFA 

classes. He talked about the industry and opened my eyes to the many 

opportunities that existed within the world of poultry. 

3. How did you become aware of the importance of biosecurity

practices? As children, we made the mistake of introducing a sick bird

into our fock. Before long, many of our birds had swollen eyes, sneezing,

and increased mortality. Due to the rapid spread and severity, medical

intervention helped but was not enough to save our fock. After that, I

researched and began implementing biosecurity practices. This greatly

decreased the occurrence of disease and improved the overall quality of

our birds.

 continued 

Report Sick Birds 

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

Veterinarian 

Cooperative Extension Offce 

State Veterinarian/Animal or Poultry Diagnostic Lab 

USDA 866.536.7593 

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 
 

Defend the Flock Newsletter / Winter Edition 2020 

SAVE THE DATE 

BIRD HEALTH 

AWARENESS WEEK 

February 22–26, 2021 

New Defend the Flock 

webinar for backyard 

growers/enthusiasts and other 

resources 

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and 

the Defend the Flock website for updates 

The Defend the Flock calendar is back for 2021! Get 

yours, and make biosecurity an everyday practice all 

year round. To order, visit bit.ly/APHIS_publications and 

search for PA-2261. 

Q&AVet for a Day: A Talk

 with Dr. Savannah Thomas

 continued 

4. What led you to work with USDA/APHIS and the National

Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP)? During undergrad and veterinary

school at the University of Georgia, I focused my externships and

internships on poultry medicine, one of which was with the NPIP. After

graduation, I worked at Lavonia Animal Hospital, a mixed animal practice.

I learned that the NPIP had an opening and was ecstatic to return to the

poultry world.

5. How do your experiences working on farms and at a mixed

animal veterinary practice infuence your work with APHIS?

During high school, I worked at a two house broiler breeder farm. My

duties included assisting the fock supervisor and veterinarians during

their visits. At Lavonia Animal Hospital, I experienced a different side of

poultry medicine—backyard focks. Most sick birds I saw were due to

poor husbandry and biosecurity. Both experiences reinforced how

prevention and biosecurity are among the most important aspects

of fock management, whether

large-scale commercial or small

hobbyist.

6. What would you recommend

to youth interested in raising

their own poultry? First, start

small. Most people think raising

a fock is simple and don’t realize

all the responsibilities. Second,

focus on good biosecurity. Most

of us learn the hard way that good

biosecurity practices are what’s

most important to keep focks

healthy and productive.

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

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

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