Biosecurity

What is Biosecurity

“Biosecurity” is the prevention of the introduction of a new disease to a holding from outside sources - not only bovine TB but other contagious diseases also.  “Biocontainment” is the prevention of the movement of an infectious disease once it has entered a premises. It is vital that animals which have possibly been infected, are isolated.  Both biosecurity and biocontainment involve a number of measures & protocols designed to prevent disease causing agents.

Biosecurity Quick Tips

1. Know your own farm inside out;

2. Walk every field boundary regularly;

3. Record on maps (badger setts, latrines, feeding areas, runs etc);

4. Check for setts close to buildings;

5. Secure all buildings and feed stores;

6. Check barns, sheds and hay stacks etc.

Biosecurity Advice

 Herd

-           If at all possible keep/switch to a closed herd

-           Breed your own replacements

-           Keep purchased/bought in cattle to a minimum

When Buying in cattle

-           Check the TB status of the herd being bought from and ensure evidence of a pre-movement test

-           Insist on a pre-movement test when buying in cattle from 3 or 4 yearly testing areas

-           Wherever possible keep bought in animals isolated for 3-4 weeks and then arrange for a post-movement test

Control Measures

• Keep badgers out of cattle housing and feed stores
• Feed store walls and doors should be secure and doors kept closed (especially at night)
• Silage clamps should be well covered and the face protected by electric fence if not in use
• Avoid feeding concentrates on the ground
• Molassed blocks should be placed where they are difficult to access by badgers
• Feed troughs should be raised, kept clean and free of contaminants
• Intensive grazing encourages cattle to graze margins of fields where there is more risk of infection
• Be aware of latrines
• Avoid cattle getting access to woodland
• Dispose of badger carcasses carefully

• If you share livestock vehicles, disinfect them.
• Avoid sharing trailers etc, if at all possible.
• Avoid spreading slurry from another farm.
• If possible store slurry for 6 months.
• Don’t feed milk from a reactor or IR to calves.
• If at all possible keep/switch to a closed herd and Breed your own replacements.
• Keep bought in cattle to a minimum.

Wildlife Proofing of Buildings

• Sides of the building should not be open but of a smooth and solid construction and greater than 1.5 metres high
• Doors should be of a smooth and solid construction and a minimum of 1.5 metres high (solid sheets of metal or ply can be added to a 5 bar gate)
• Gaps at the sides and under doors and walls should be no greater than 10cm and must not be able to be enlarged by digging or chewing
• Where effluent or waste water drains into a soak away ditch, wildlife must not have access.  This is to prevent the contamination of the environment and wildlife
• Where appropriate, electric fencing can be used at the boundary to ensure access by wildlife is denied (best practice to include feed stores and silage face etc) Strands of wire should be at 10, 15, 20 and 30cm above ground.

The photos below show gates and fences before and after Wildlife-Proofing: