Bio-securitys a way to secure top profits
Bio-securitys a way to secure top profits
By Jessica Buss
INTEREST in bio-security before foot-and-mouth was low, even among vets, but it is not the bugbear many believe and it could help improve farm profitability.
Andrew Taylor, senior vet for Genus breeding, told the BVA congress that back in early February one of three British Cattle Vet Association workshops on bio-security had to be cancelled due to lack of interest. The others suffered poor attendance.
"Pig and poultry units have good bio-security, they take a precautionary approach. Whereas the cattle industry – with its different structure – has been slow to adopt bio-security measures." Apart from statutory disease controls, they live with disease and treat it, said Mr Taylor.
But controlling disease spread has many benefits to the individual producer. "It increases production, improves animal welfare, can reduce use of medication and enhances the value of stock sold with known health status."
This increase in health status could have benefits in terms of international trade, maximising export markets and realising premiums to those with disease-free stock.
But farm bio-security would also help safeguard the human food supply chain. "Food retailers are taking more interest in food safety," added Mr Taylor.
How infectious agents enter a herd must be considered. "This can be by direct cattle-to-cattle contact," he said.
Therefore, isolation of animals is valuable. "If we put animals in isolation they may show disease before you introduce them to the herd. But they may need to be tested for some diseases.
"However, there are other sources, such as contaminated drinking water and visitors to farms, including vets, who are not best known for keeping their cars clean."
For all visitors, he suggested keeping vehicles out of farm yards. Even feed can be delivered into stores without the lorry coming into contact with areas of the yard where livestock go. He added that contractors machinery should also be cleaned before it comes on to the farm.
Wildlife and other animals, such as sheep on keep, should also be recognised as possible vectors. Sheep on winter keep have been known to introduce leptospirosis into dairy herds.
Pig and poultry units have good biosecurity, but the cattle industry is slow to adapt these precautionary approaches to reducing disease risk, says Andrew Taylor.
GOODBIO-SECURITY
• Reduces disease risk.
• Saves on drugs.
• Improves profit.