Biosecurity

Biosecurity is the protection of livestock, poultry and crops from any type of infectious agent whether viral, bacterial, fungal, or parasitic. It includes containment of these agents to prevent them from entering your operation, spreading within your operation, or from moving to another operation.

People, animals, vehicles and equipment can be a source of disease pathogens and through their movement can transmit disease onto, within and off farm sites. Individual farms are less isolated than in the past and inputs are entering farms from further away, often from other countries. As well, people are travelling globally much more frequently and often to and from countries where reportable diseases are endemic, e.g. Foot and Mouth Disease is endemic in certain regions of Asia, Africa and South America. Although most diseases are mechanically spread (by people, animals and inanimate objects) some are transmitted by other means such as via air currents.

Ontario Livestock & Poultry Council’s “Livestock On-Farm Biosecurity Information Guide”

A comprehensive guide to biosecurity. Topics include the importance of biosecurity and implementing biosecurity on your farm. Sample record keeping templates make starting easy.

Movement and isolation checklist

Follow these guidelines when introducing new animals onto your farm. Reduce the risk to your operation by helping to keep disease out.