Pheasant.com Blog

We implemented biosecurity practices 35 years ago at MacFarlane Pheasants, and each year we refine our procedures to protect our game birds from disease. Our biosecurity team meets monthly to review protocols and to respond to the latest biosecurity concerns in bird populations. Avian Flu ( a serious bird virus) has affected many pheasant farms across the United States, even though it is common practice for all game bird farms to have stringent biosecurity practices. Read More »

Troy Cisewski, our Production Manager, oversees the three MacFarlane Pheasants’ farms in Missouri. They are all located within a 30-minute driving distance of each other. The primary purpose for having the Missouri farms is biosecurity. Multiple egg sources protect us if a disease occurs and other farms would need to be quarantined. Another safety measure we employ at the Missouri sites is to have designated employees at each location to eliminate cross-traffic contamination. The Missouri sites also free pen space in Janesville for our famous flight birds. Read More »

We had two excellent speakers cover the topic of biosecurity in upland game bird farms at our International Pheasant Seminar in March. Abby Neu Schuft agreed to provide some of the information used in her presentation to share with our readers. Read More »

Biosecurity-the methods and protocols established to keep animals safe from contagious diseases, parasites, and pests are continuously evaluated. When there was an outbreak of HPAI in the Midwest in the spring of 2015, we increased our biosecurity standards beyond the strict protocols we already had in place. HPAI is Avian Influenza, informally called bird flu. It is a highly contagious disease among birds and if it spreads throughout a farm, it can be quite deadly. So, sure we worry, but mostly we take action, by following our regularly updated biosecurity plans. Read More »

Although birds by nature have a hardy constitution, and we breed them and raise them that way, it still makes sense to take as many precautions as we can to insure their health. Read More »

A few years ago during the “avian influenza” scare, biosecurity was a big topic. Two years ago Ben Lawton, our hatchery manager put together a biosecurity manifesto of sorts that addressed all sorts of areas on our farm where we could make improvements in our biosecurity. Read More »