How to Prevent a Disease Outbreak On-Farm
In the light of the most serious bird flu outbreak on record, farm businesses across the UK are having to watch as this terrible disease runs rampant, like wildfire through their precious flocks.
Such outbreaks cause untold damage to livestock, reputations and finances of farmers, not to mention the psychological trauma of dealing with such a terrible disease. The scale of the problem is unprecedented and has highlighted the very grave need for enhanced biosecurity in UK farming.
This year has seen outbreaks being reported later in the year than previously, meaning poultry farmers are still very vulnerable to the substantial threat posed by avian influenza. The terrible spread of bird flu in wild seabird colonies in Shetland, for instance, is a grave omen as spread in wild birds constitutes a further threat to poultry farmers as such birds can fly over or land on farmland, bringing in disease. This highlights the serious need for a comprehensive, joined-up approach to the problem on a governmental level, but also strengthens the argument for a robust review of biosecurity practices on individual farms.
How can farmers prevent disease outbreaks?
The increasing risk of disease that farmers are confronted with in the UK at present highlights the need for a dedicated biosecurity plan. Being ahead of the game when it comes to biosecurity involves reviewing all current prevention measures, identifying existing and projected risks and implementing recommended protocol, often hand-in-hand with specialist companies like the UK’s Livetec. It cannot be emphasised strongly enough that on all levels, prevention is better than cure, not least as bird flu, Newcastle Disease and Salmonella cannot be cured and vaccines are unreliable, meaning the end result of an outbreak is catastrophic.
Preventative measures are essential to avoid the potentially disastrous emotional, physical, financial and reputational repercussions of a disease outbreak. Some of the key ways in which on-farm outbreaks can be prevented include:
- The strict implementation of biosecurity measures, under the guidance of a reputable specialist company. Moving poultry indoors, into scrupulously sanitary conditions where the threat is high, is one such measure.
- Fully understanding the risks of an outbreak. This may sound obvious, but without comprehensive risk assessment any biosecurity protocol implemented will be useless. Site layout should be fully evaluated, including prospective entry and exit points and shared boundaries. Farmers must understand any high risk areas and how to minimise these risks.
- Understand the nature of each virus. Only by being aware of how a virus spreads, how long it can survive in populations, on surfaces and in different temperatures can help when it comes to implementing biosecurity measures and adapting farming practices.
More generally it is also incredibly important to have good training and communication on-farm. Ensuring that everyone is trained on biosecurity measures and aware of any new practices will ensure that there are no gaps in staff knowledge that could lead to a fatal slip-up. Such slip-ups can also result from poor record-keeping. Logging all visitors and keeping tabs on where any livestock is coming from as well as any new suppliers are all vital parts of any sustainable biosecurity plan.
