Farm biosecurity Flashcards
What is biosecurity?
Measures taken to prevent the introduction or spread of (infectious) disease
How can we reduce disease challenge?
- Management: Hygiene, Ventilation stocking rates
- Test and cull infected animals
- Drug treatments: antibiotics/anthelmintics
How can we improve animals resistance?
Vaccinate Management: - Improve nutrition - Reduce stress - Reduce concurrent disease Breeding
What questions are asked when forming a farms risk assessment?
- What is the risk of a disease coming onto a farm?
- How much of a problem is it?
- What practical measures can we take to reduce that risk?
Which factors influence a biosecurity plan?
- Based on knowledge of pathogen biology, epidemiology, control
- Preventing introduction of infectious disease isn’t always the best route
- Feasibility (availability of a sensitive/specific test)
- Affordability (cost/benefit)
- Risk of disease might be very low
What are the OIE – World Organisation for Animal Health (biosecurity international level) six principles for control?
- Transparency
- Scientific information
- International solidarity
- Sanitary Safety
- Promotion of veterinary services
- Food Safety and Animal Welfare
What are the principles of OIE notifiable diseases?
- Countries must inform OIE
- First occurrence of a notifiable disease
- Reoccurrence of a notifiable disease
- New strain of a notifiable disease
- Change in morbidity or mortality patterns
- Change in epidemiology
- New emerging diseases
What are some examples of biosecurity advice for TB?
- Comply with current statutory TB testing requirements
- Protect your herd: source bought in stock from low risk areas and that are consistently test negative and adhere to isolation procedures for any inconclusive or reactor animals.
- Make your farmyard less attractive to badgers: badgers are likely to be attracted to accessible feed and may spread disease to cattle.
- Be aware of main badger latrines and active setts at pasture: where possible keep cattle away from these high-risk areas.
- Keep cattle away from neighbouring cattle herds: disease can spread between cattle.
How can disease be brought onto a farm?
- Bought in
- Grazing
- Contact with neighbouring stock
- Escapees
- Carry on fomites (faeces, blood, pus snot!)
- Vets
- Foot trimmers
- Shearers
- AI
- Vehicles and equipment
Describe the role of other spp in bringing disease onto farms
- Midges: • Blue Tongue • Schmallenberg - Ticks - Badgers, birds, stray animals - GID - Taenia Multiceps-dogs - Toxoplasmosis - Cats
What information is needed to quantify risk of disease entry?
- Based on disease prevalence
- Nature disease
- How disease spreads
- How it might come on to the farm
- Low, medium, high, very high
What biosecurity measures can be taken that directly work with the animals on the farm?
- Source of the animals brought onto farm
- Quarantine/legislation: Any animals brought onto the farm should be isolated/quarantined
- Isolation facility: 3-6 weeks
- Vaccinations
- Separate clothing/disinfection point
- Boundaries to prevent contact
How do we know if animals are diseased and how can we find out?
- Clinical signs
- Sub-clinically infected or carrier animals: Laboratory test
- Assume animal is diseased and treat e.g. sheep scab
What control measures can be implemented on the farm to prevent disease?
- Vermin Control
- Protect feed stores
- Access to buildings
- Fencing
- Worm farm dogs
- Cat control
- Vaccination/ Culling of Badgers
Where is sheep scab notifiable?
Scotland
