Disease control: Biosecurity
Biosecurity literally means ‘safe life’. If you work or come into contact with farm animals, biosecurity means taking steps to make sure that good hygiene practices are in place. This will help prevent the spread of animal disease.
Good biosecurity is a vital part of keeping new disease away from animals. It also helps to improve farm efficiency, protect neighbouring farms and the countryside.
There is current Defra biosecurity
guidance 
(267 KB) for all owners of livestock and anybody who comes into contact
with or visits premises with farm animals. The guidance has been published
as part of the Government’s requirement under the Animal Health
Act 2002.
Defra and farming organisations have also put together the following publications:
- Biosecurity leaflet
(13KB) for livestock keepers.
- Foot and Mouth: Biosecurity – Preventing the
introduction and the spread
of foot and mouth disease (600 KB)
- Biosecurity guidance for poultry keepers
- Protect
your birds from the risk of avian influenza (bird flu)
(52 KB) - A short guide on how to protect your birds from the risk of
avian influenza.
The message is simple:
- Disease may not always be apparent, especially in the early stages;
- Be clean, particularly if handling animals or moving between different premises.
- A good biosecurity routine is always essential – not just when there is a major disease outbreak
Review of the Poultry Catching Industry in England and Wales
Defra and the Food Standards Agency have jointly funded a review of the poultry catching industry, paying particular attention to biosecurity practice. Catching teams are involved in depopulating birds from broiler, egg laying, turkey and duck farms, often visiting more than one site per day, and therefore have an important role to play in minimising the risk of spreading diseases such as avian influenza and Campylobacter. Completion of the review has been followed by a biosecurity education campaign for catching teams. When the education campaign comes to an end on 31 January 2007 the majority of catching teams working either for integrated companies or specialised catching businesses will have received training.
Further information
- Biosecurity at markets and shows
- Cleansing and disnfection of livestock vehicles
- Farm Health Planning
- Latest information regarding Avian
Influenza.
Page last modified: March 14, 2008