Eltholth et al. /Alexandria Journal of Veterinary Sciences 2016, Apr. 49 (1): 68-77 68 Alexandria Journal of Veterinary Sciences 2016, Apr. 49 (1): 68-77 www.alexjvs.com 2047, - ISSN 1110 DOI: 10.5455/ajvs.220886 Assessment of Biosecurity Practices in Broiler Chicken Farms in Gharbia Governorate, Egypt Mahmoud M. Eltholth 1, Radi A. Mohamed 2* , Fatmaelzahraa A. Elgohary 3 and Eman A. Abo Elfadl 4 1 Department of Hygiene and Preventive Medicine (Animal, Poultry and Environmental Hygiene), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kafrelsheikh University, Egypt 2 Department of Hygiene and Preventive Medicine (Animal Behaviour and Welfare), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kafrelsheikh Universit y, Egypt 3 Hygiene and Zoonosis Department (Animal, Poultry and Environmental Hygiene), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura Un iversity, Egypt 4 Department of Animal Husbandry and Development of Animal Wealth (Biostatistics), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University, Egypt ABSTRACT Key words: Broilers, Biosecurity, Poultry Farms, Nile Delta, Egypt The aim of this study was to assess biosecurity measurers and practices in broiler chicken farms in one of the highly populated areas of the Nile Delta, Egypt. A cross sectional study was conducted in which 267 broiler chicken farms were selected from Gharbia Governorate. In addition to data collected by individual interviews using structured questionnaires, interviewers’ observations were also recorded. Descriptive statistics were obtained for the key variables from the questionnaire. A univariate binary logistic regression model, with yes/no outcomes as responses and farm size as a reference was used for comparing management practices across broiler chicken farms. About 60% of farms were small scale of less than 5,000 birds per production cycle. The main source of chicks was breeder companies and almost all farms sold broilers to live bird traders. The distances between farms and between farms and the residential areas were less than that specified by the Egyptian law for poultry farms. More than 70% of farms had no official veterinary supervision and in most farms, there were no hygienic handling and disposal of dead poultry and poultry manure. In conclusion, most of broiler chicken farms in the study area were of small scale with low or no biosecurity measures, which increase the likelihood of disease transmission between farms and between farms and backyard poultry and increase the risk of human exposure to potential health hazards. Policy makers should take into account the perception and attitudes of producers in order to implement effective and applicable biosecurity measures. They should also collaborate with private sectors such as breeder companies and veterinarians to spread the awareness and to motivate actors along the poultry value chain to implement biosecurity measures to protect wealth and health. Further studies for identifying knowledge, attitudes and practices of different actors involved in poultry production in Egypt toward biosecurity measures are required. *Corresponding Author : Radi A. Mohamed: radiali_2007@yahoo.co.uk 1. INTRODUCTION Poultry industry represents an important sector in agricultural industry, particularly in developing countries where small commercial and backyard systems are often extensive and dominating the industry (Conan et al., 2012). In Egypt, about 70% of broilers are produced by medium to large-scale commercial farms with the remaining 30% produced by small-scale village farms (Kaoud, 2007, El Nagar and Ibrahim, 2007). In addition to its importance for the livelihoods, agricultural economy and food security, poultry meat is an important source of protein for the Egyptian population and it represents about 40% of protein consumption (Meleigy, 2007, El Nagar and Ibrahim, 2007). The growth rate of poultry production was increasing fast and the local production of poultry meat was sufficient to satisfy home consumption and about two million birds were exported annually before the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 outbreak in 2006 (Hosny, 2006, Taha, 2004, El Nagar and Ibrahim, 2007). However, this increase in production and the number of poultry farms and other associated establishments was not according to a well-defined long term plan (Abdelwhab and Hafez, 2011). This resulted in high proportion of medium to small scale farms were not under the supervision of the official authorities and consequently monitoring and early