150 Biocheck Ugent – A quantitative tool to measure biosecurity at broiler farms and the relationship with technical performance and antimicrobial use (Research paper – Gelaude, 2014)

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150 Research paper – Gelaude – 2014 – Biocheck Ugent_ a quantitative tool to measure biosecurity at broiler farms and the relationship with technical performance and antimicrobial use

SIG: Biosecurity
Species targeted: Poultry;
Age: Young;Adult;
Summary:
The Biocheck.UGent scoring system was developed to measure and quantify the level of biosecurity on broiler farms. This tool is composed of all relevant components of biosecurity on broiler farms and is subdivided into external (purchase of 1-d-old chicks, off-farm movements of live animals, feed and water supply, removal of manure and dead birds, entrance of visitors and personnel, supply of materials, infrastructure and biological vectors, location of the farm) and internal (disease management, cleaning and disinfection, materials, and measures between compartments) biosecurity. This scoring system takes the relative importance of the different biosecurity aspects into account, resulting in a risk-based weighted score. The Biocheck.UGent scoring system can be filled in for free at www.Biocheck.UGent.be. The obtained biosecurity scores are provided immediately after completion of the questionnaire, and the scores for each subcategory can be compared with national averages to allow for benchmarking of results between colleagues.

Where to find the original material: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25193257; http://dx.doi.org/10.3382/ps.2014-04002

Country: BE

148 Review of transmission routes of 24 infectious diseases preventable by biosecurity measures and comparison of the implementation of these measures (Research paper – Filippitzi, 2018)

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148 Research paper – Filippitzi – 2018 – Review of transmission routes of 24 infectious diseases preventable by biosecurity measures and comparison of the implementation of these measures

SIG: Biosecurity
Species targeted: Pigs;
Age: Young; Adult;
Summary:
This study reviews the transmission routes of important infectious pig diseases and their impact on transmission in pig herds. First, a literature review identifying transmission routes of 24 infectious pig diseases preventable through biosecurity measures was done. Second, the level of implementation of these measures using data obtained from 574 pig farms in Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden, entered between January 2014 and January 2016 was analyzed quantitatively. Third, a qualitative analysis based on a review of literature and other relevant information resources was performed. The quantitative analysis indicated that at the level of internal, external and overall biosecurity, Denmark had a distinct profile with higher external biosecurity scores and less variation than the other countries. The qualitative analysis identified differences in applied policies, legislation, disease status, pig farm density, farming culture and habits between countries that can be useful for country-specific biosecurity advice.
148

Where to find the original material: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29124908; https://doi.org/10.1111/tbed.12758

Country: BE; DK

142 Using the Biocheck UGent scoring tool in Irish farrow-to-finish pig farms_ assessing biosecurity and its relation to productive performance (Research paper – Da Costa – 2019)

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142 Research paper – da Costa – 2019 – Using the Biocheck UGen scoring tool in Irish farrow-to-finish pig farms_ assessing biosecurity and its relation to productive performance

Significant Interest Groups: Biosecurity

Species targeted: Pigs;
Age: Young; Adult;
Summary:
Biosecurity is one of the main factors affecting disease occurrence and antimicrobial use, and it is associated with performance in pig production. The aim of this study was to describe the biosecurity status in a cohort of Irish pig farms, and to study the impact of biosecurity on farm performance. External biosecurity score was high compared to most countries due to the characteristics of the Irish pig sector (i.e. purchasing only semen and breeding gilts on farm). The internal biosecurity score was lower and had greater variability among farms than other EU countries. Data analysis showed the biosecurity practices explained 8, 23, and 16% of variability in piglet mortality, finisher mortality, and average daily gain, respectively. Our results point out that lower performing farms need to improve practices related to the environment, region, feed, water and equipment supply, and the overall management of the different production stages.

Where to find the original material: https://rdcu.be/b40Qv; https://doi.org/10.1186/s40813-018-0113-6
Country: IE; BE: ES

140 Biosecurity Practices for Dairy Operations by Texas AgriLife Extension (Tools & Checklists)

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140 ToolsChecklists – Biosecurity Practices for Dairy Operations by Texas AgriLife Extension

Significant Interest Groups: Biosecurity

Species targeted: Dairy; Beef;
Summary:
Biosecurity measures prevent infectious diseases from affecting a herd. By implementing general management and vaccination practices, producers protect their herds from existing diseases within a country and from possible foreign animal disease outbreaks. This US made checklist and fact sheet contains information on herd immunity, common diseases, vaccination protocols, best practice animal husbandry, key steps to take when purchasing animals, biosecurity practices and staffing. It includes helpful tick lists of what steps you can take to ensure disease does not enter, spread or multiply on your farm.

https://texashelp.tamu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Biosecurity-Practices-For-Dairy-Operations.pdf;

Country: USA;

136 On-farm biosecurity as perceived by professionals visiting Swedish farms (Research paper – Noremark, 2014)

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136 Research paper – Noremark – 2014 – On-farm biosecurity as perceived by professionals visiting Swedish farms

In Significant Impact Groups: Biosecurity
Species targeted: Pigs; Dairy; Sheep; Other;
Age: Different for different species;
Summary:
The objectives of this study were to investigate how professionals visiting animal farms in Sweden in their daily work perceive the on-farm conditions for biosecurity, the factors that influence their own biosecurity routines and what they describe as obstacles for biosecurity. Visited pig farms had a higher proportion of biosecurity measures in place, whereas the conditions were poorer on sheep and goat farms and horse farms. Many of the reported obstacles related to the very basics of biosecurity, such as access to soap and water. Responsibility was identified to be a key issue; while some farmers expect visitors to take responsibility for keeping up biosecurity they do not provide the adequate on-farm conditions. There was a gap when it came to responsibility which needs to be clarified. Visitors need to take responsibility for avoiding spread of disease, while farmers need to assume responsibility for providing adequate conditions for on-farm biosecurity.

Where to find the original material: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4036743/pdf/1751-0147-56-28.pdf; https://doi.org/10.1186/1751-0147-56-28

Country: SE

134 Profile of pig farms combining high performance and low (Research paper – Collineau, 2017 )

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134 Research paper – Collineau – 2017 – Profile of pig farms combining high performance and low

In Significant Impact Groups: Biosecurity \ Pathogen management
Species targeted: Pigs;
Age: Young; Adult;
Summary:
Pig farmers have been advised to reduce their antimicrobial usage because of the threat of antimicrobial resistance. This study investigates the profile of ‘top-farms’, which combine both high technical performance and low antimicrobial usage. A study was conducted among 227 farrow-to-finish farms in Belgium, France, Germany and Sweden. Within this study, 44 top-farms were compared with the ‘regular’ farms in terms of farm characteristics, biosecurity and health status. Top-farms had fewer gastrointestinal symptoms in suckling pigs and fewer respiratory symptoms in fatteners, which could partly explain their reduced need for antimicrobials and higher performance. They also had higher biosecurity and were located in sparsely populated pig areas. However, 14 farms of the top-farms group were located in densely populated pig areas, but they had higher internal biosecurity and more extensive vaccination against respiratory pathogens. These results illustrate that it is possible to control infectious diseases with low antimicrobial usage.
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Where to find the original material: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29051316; https://dx.doi.org/10.1136/vr.103988

Country: CH; FR; SE; BE; DE; DK

132 Application of multiblock modelling to identify key drivers for antimicrobial use in pig production in four European countries (Research paper – Collineau, 2018)

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132 Research paper – Collineau – 2018 – Application of multiblock modelling to identify key drivers for antimicrobial use in pig production in four European countries

In Significant Impact Groups: Pathogen management \ Biosecurity
Species targeted: Pigs;
Age: Young; Adult;
Summary:
Antimicrobial use in pig farming is influenced by a range of risk factors, including herd characteristics, biosecurity level, farm performance, occurrence of clinical signs and vaccination scheme, as well as farmers’ attitudes and habits towards antimicrobial use. So far, the effect of these risk factors has been explored separately. This study aimed to investigate the relative importance of all these risk factors in a sample of 207 farrow- to-finish farms from Belgium, France, Germany and Sweden. The occurrence of clinical signs, especially of respiratory and nervous diseases in fatteners, was one of the largest contributing risk factors in all four countries, whereas the effect of the other risk factors differed between countries. In terms of risk management, it suggests that a holistic and country-specific mitigation strategy is likely to be more effective.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29665870; https://doi.org/10.1017/S0950268818000742

Country: CH; FR; SE; DE; BE

 

126 Biosecurity and animal disease management in organic and conventional Swedish dairy herds – A questionnaire study (Research paper; Emanuelson, 2018)

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126 Research paper – Emanuelson – 2018 – Biosecurity and animal disease management in organic and conventional Swedish dairy herds_ a questionnaire study

Biosecurity \ Pathogen management
Species targeted: Dairy;
Age: Adult;
Summary:
A questionnaire study on biosecurity and animal disease management activities was therefore conducted among Swedish farmers with organic and conventional dairy cattle herds. Herd characteristics of the two herd types were very similar, except that pipeline/tie-stall systems were less common in organic farms and that organic farmers had a higher education level than their conventional counterparts. Farmers of organic herds were more positive to policy actions to reduce the use and need for antibiotics, and they reported waiting longer before contacting a veterinarian for calves with diarrhoea and cows with subclinical mastitis. The results indicate that animal health is as important in conventionally managed dairy herds in Sweden as in organically managed herds.

Where to find the original material: https://actavetscand.biomedcentral.com/track/pdf/10.1186/s13028-018-0376-6; https://doi.org/10.1186/s13028-018-0376-6
Country: SE

123 Risk Assessment as a Tool for Improving External Biosecurity at Farm Level Sweden (Tools & Checklists)

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123 ToolsChecklists – Risk Assessment as a Tool for Improving External Biosecurity at Farm Level SWEDEN

In Significant Impact Groups: Biosecurity \External Biosecurity
Species targeted: Pigs; Dairy; Beef;
Summary: The study provide a tool for calculating the effects of different biosecurity measures and strategies on the individual farm level. A simple model was developed to assess the risk of disease introduction and the need for biosecurity measures in individual farms. To illustrate the general applicability of the tool, it was applied to theoretical examples of Swedish cattle and pig farms and diseases endemic in those animal species in the EU. The most important factors affecting the risk, and the effect of biosecurity measures were the frequency of between-farm contacts and prevalence of the disease. Model outputs could be used to justify prioritisation of measures or adapting contact patterns. The theoretic exercise of adjusting model inputs and comparing outputs may help veterinary advisors to understand farm-specific risks and motivate farmers to improve biosecurity in their individual farm, as it can be tailored to each farmer’s needs and preferences.
Where to find the original material: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4515931/;
Country: Sweden;

122 A survey of visitors on Swedish livestock farms with reference to the spread of animal diseases (Research paper; Noremark, 2013)

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122 Research paper – Noremark – 2013 – A survey of visitors on Swedish livestock farms with reference to the spread of animal diseases

In Significant Impact Groups: Biosecurity \External biosecurity
Species targeted: Pigs; Dairy; Sheep;
Age: Different for different species;
Summary: Visitors may contribute to the spread of contagious animal diseases, and knowledge about such contacts is essential for contingency planning. The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency and types of visitors on farms with cloven-hoofed animals in Sweden and to analyse whether there were differences in the number of visitors attributable to region, season, and type of herd. Veterinarians, AI-technicians, animal transporters and neighbours were often in direct contact with the animals or entered the stables and 8.8% of the repairmen were also in direct contact with animals, which was unexpected. The Swedish livestock farms survey concluded that the number of visitors that may be more likely to spread diseases between farms was associated with animal species and herd size.
Where to find the original material: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3848732/; https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-6148-9-184
Country: Sweden