Poultry Doctor (Poultry Veterinarian)

Job Summary:

The Poultry Doctor is responsible for overseeing the health, productivity, and operational efficiency of poultry operations, including breeder farms, hatcheries, feed management, disease prevention, contract farming, and processing plant audits. This role involves diagnosing and treating poultry diseases, ensuring biosecurity, optimizing production, and ensuring compliance with industry standards and regulations. The Poultry Doctor works closely with farm managers, hatchery technicians, feed specialists, and processing units to maintain high-quality poultry production and food safety.

1. Breeder Farm Management:

• Health Monitoring

  : Monitor the health of breeder flocks (parent stock) to ensure optimal egg production and fertility rates.

• Disease Prevention

  : Implement vaccination programs, biosecurity protocols, and preventive measures to control diseases like Avian Influenza, Newcastle Disease, and Infectious Bronchitis.

• Reproductive Health

  : Diagnose and address issues related to fertility, hatchability, and egg quality.

• Nutrition

  : Collaborate with nutritionists to formulate balanced diets for breeder flocks to enhance reproductive performance.

• Record Keeping

  : Maintain detailed records of flock health, vaccination schedules, and production metrics.

2. Hatchery Operations:

• Incubation Management

  : Oversee egg handling, incubation, and hatching processes to maximize hatchability and chick quality.

• Sanitation and Biosecurity

  : Ensure hatchery hygiene and implement biosecurity measures to prevent disease transmission.

• Chick Health

  : Assess and ensure the health of day-old chicks, including early disease detection and vaccination.

• Equipment Maintenance

  : Monitor and maintain hatchery equipment (incubators, setters, hatchers) to ensure optimal performance.

• Quality Control

  : Conduct regular audits of hatchery processes to meet industry standards and improve chick quality.

3. Feed Management:

• Feed Formulation

  : Work with nutritionists to design feed formulas that meet the nutritional needs of different poultry types (breeders, broilers, layers).

• Quality Assurance

  : Inspect feed ingredients and finished feed for quality, safety, and nutritional value.

• Feed Efficiency

  : Monitor feed conversion ratios (FCR) and advise on optimizing feed usage to reduce costs and improve flock performance.

• Additives and Supplements

  : Recommend appropriate feed additives, vitamins, and minerals to enhance flock health and productivity.

4. Disease Diagnosis and Management:

• Diagnosis

  : Conduct clinical examinations, necropsies, and laboratory tests to diagnose poultry diseases.

• Treatment

  : Prescribe and administer medications, antibiotics, or other treatments while adhering to regulations on antibiotic use and withdrawal periods.

• Disease Control

  : Develop and implement disease control strategies, including vaccination schedules and biosecurity measures.

• Outbreak Management

  : Respond to disease outbreaks by isolating affected flocks, coordinating with authorities, and implementing containment measures.

5. Contract Farming Support:

• Farmer Training

  : Train contract farmers on best practices for poultry rearing, biosecurity, and disease prevention.

• Farm Audits

  : Conduct regular visits to contract farms to assess flock health, management practices, and compliance with company standards.

• Technical Support

  : Provide guidance to farmers on housing, ventilation, feeding, and waste management to optimize production.

• Performance Monitoring

  : Track flock performance metrics (e.g., growth rates, mortality, egg production) and provide recommendations for improvement.

• Contract Compliance

  : Ensure contract farmers adhere to agreed standards for flock management and product quality.

6. Processing Plant Audits:

• Food Safety Compliance

  : Conduct audits of poultry processing plants to ensure compliance with food safety standards (e.g., FSSAI, HACCP, ISO).

• Hygiene and Sanitation

  : Inspect processing facilities for cleanliness, proper handling, and storage of poultry products.

• Quality Control

  : Verify that processing practices meet quality standards for meat and egg products, including proper chilling, packaging, and labeling.

• Animal Welfare

  : Ensure humane handling and slaughter practices in line with regulatory and ethical standards.

• Traceability

  : Monitor traceability systems to track poultry products from farm to market.

7. General Responsibilities:

• Consulting and Advisory

  : Provide technical advice to poultry farm owners, hatchery managers, and processing plant operators.

• Regulatory Compliance

  : Ensure all operations comply with Indian regulations (e.g., FSSAI, Animal Welfare Board of India, and Pollution Control Board standards).

• Research and Development

  : Stay updated on the latest advancements in poultry health, nutrition, and technology, and implement innovations to improve productivity.

• Reporting

  : Prepare detailed reports on flock health, production metrics, and audit findings for management and regulatory bodies.

• Crisis Management

  : Act as a point of contact during emergencies, such as disease outbreaks or supply chain disruptions.

Desired profile of the candidate

Key Competencies:

• Disease Management

  : Ability to diagnose and control poultry diseases effectively.

• Biosecurity Expertise

  : Strong understanding of biosecurity protocols to prevent disease spread.

• Operational Efficiency

  : Skills in optimizing breeder, hatchery, and processing operations for maximum productivity.

• Audit and Compliance

  : Proficiency in conducting audits and ensuring regulatory compliance.

• Farmer Engagement

  : Ability to train and support contract farmers to achieve production goals.

Education qualification

Bachelor of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry (B.V.Sc. & A.H.) or equivalent; a Masters degree (M.V.Sc.) in Poultry Science or Veterinary Medicine is preferred.