As a continuation of its Biosecurity Program offerings, the U.S. Poultry & Egg Assn. (USPOULTRY) is hosting a webinar on "Effective Disinfection for ON-Farm and OFF-Farm Equipment" on Wednesday, April 29, from 1-2 p.m. EDT, with a follow-up “Overview on Farm Depopulation” webinar on Wednesday, May 6, from 1-2 p.m. EDT. The webinars are free of charge to USPOULTRY members.

Both webinars will feature Dr. Eric Benson, professor in the University of Delaware department of animal and food sciences, who has been involved in emergency animal response. Benson and his team have been involved in support for the current highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreak at both the state and federal level.

The “Effective Disinfection for ON-Farm and OFF-Farm Equipment” webinar will cover the ins and outs of cleaning equipment and will focus on practices for equipment and machinery used inside and around poultry barns on the farm premises and equipment brought from outside the farm.

The “Overview on Farm Depopulation” webinar will focus on the different available methods of farm depopulation, concentrating on mass emergency methods appropriate for structural and disease response.

"With the continued avian influenza detections in the United States, effective biosecurity measures are extremely important, now more than ever. These webinars can help our members enhance their existing biosecurity programs," said USPOULTRY chairman Sherman Miller with Cal-Maine Foods in Jackson, Miss.

Participants will be able to submit questions throughout both webinars, which will be answered by Benson during a question and answer period at the end of the program. All participants will receive a copy of the recorded program and a one-page document containing important points from the webinars.

To register for the “Effective Disinfection for ON-Farm and OFF-Farm Equipment” webinar, click here. To register for the “Overview on Farm Depopulation” webinar, click here.