Biosecurity
Biosecurity is a set of practical measures to prevent the spread of disease on and between farms. Some diseases are zoonotic, meaning the disease can be transmitted between animals and humans. Setting up a biosecurity management plan helps protect everyone on farm as well as your stock.
Common methods of disease transmission on farm:
- Vehicles and farm vehicles coming onto a farm with dirty wheels
- Airborne disease spread by the wind from neighbouring farms
- Direct contact between animals
- Dirty equipment, clothing and footwear worn by anyone coming onto the farm
- Introduction of diseased animals to an existing herd or flock
- Introduction of animals that have recovered from disease but are now carriers
- Contaminated water and open water sources such as puddles, rivers and ponds
- Animals such as dogs, cats, wildlife, rodents, birds and insects
- Contaminated feed and dirty bedding
Biosecurity checklist
- Establish the health status and check the vaccination records of animals before purchase
- Quarantine bought-in animals, separating those from multiple farms
- Check the health status of your livestock before selling them
- Make certain every visitor disinfects their footwear when entering and exiting your farm
- Check visitors’ clothing, footwear and tools are free of soil or organic waste before entering and leaving the farm
- Train staff in biosecurity and farm hygiene practices (e.g. management, personal, equipment and vehicles)
- Prevent your animals from having direct or close contact with animals on neighbouring farms
If any of these are not being carried out on your farm, speak to your vet about how to improve your biosecurity.
