ABSTRACT Background The poultry sector offers considerable promise due to its rapid expansion, efficient feed‐to‐protein conversion and low land requirements. Furthermore, chicken products are more affordable and widely accessible compared to other protein sources like beef. In Ethiopia, the poultry industry is growing swiftly but is mainly reliant on small‐scale backyard operations, with larger commercial farms limited to urban areas. The national chicken population, estimated at 57 million, comprises 78.9% indigenous breeds, 12% exotic breeds and 9.1% hybrid breeds. However, the sector faces challenges such as frequent disease outbreaks and poor management practices. Objectives The objective of this study was to assess the biosecurity practices in commercial chicken farms and to identify the indicators of good biosecurity status in commercial chicken farms in Sebeta town. Methods A cross‐sectional study was conducted using a questionnaire conducted on the individuals randomly (simple random) contacted from 80 chicken farms, and the collected data were analysed using frequency tables and Pearson's chi‐square test with Stata 14 statistical software. Results Overall, 61.25% of farms achieved a biosecurity score (BS) above 50%, indicating good biosecurity management practices. The study revealed that 62.5% of farm owners had prior chicken‐raising experience, with men making up 77.5% of respondents. Farm characteristics varied: 50% were over 300 m from main roads, 58.75% within 500 m of other farms and 93.75% near residential areas. Most farms had basic biosecurity measures like fencing (93.75%), footbaths (100%) and visitor restrictions (42.5%), while 77.5% avoided surface water for cleaning or drinking. However, several biosecurity gaps were identified: 65% lacked covered storage for spent litter, only 41.25% displayed access restriction signs and 97.5% neglected regular cleaning of protective gear. Specialized headgear use was absent, proper disposal of dead birds was practiced by just 12.5%, and only 11.25% of visitors wore appropriate attire. Biosecurity scores (BS) were positively correlated with farm attributes like capacity, type, prior training and experience ( p < 0.05). While 61.25% of farms had BS above 50%, 38.75% fell below this benchmark, signalling a need for improved biosecurity management. Conclusion Biosecurity practices are crucial for preventing the introduction and spread of diseases in poultry farms. This study found that most commercial chicken farms in Sebeta town were managed by males at small‐ and medium‐scale levels, reflecting good management practices. Despite these encouraging results, significant gaps were identified, including the use of non‐impervious materials in chicken houses and hatcheries, a lack of quarantine or isolation rooms, improper waste disposal, unrestricted movement of attendants, inadequate dead bird disposal practices, insufficient visitor precautions and the absence of covered storage for removed litter. These shortcomings highlight areas requiring improvement to enhance biosecurity measures.
Gemeda et al. (Thu,) studied this question.