BIOSAFETY FOR HILL LIVESTOCK FARMING

Team Pashudhan Praharee

August 3, 2022

605

BIOSAFETY FOR HILL LIVESTOCK FARMING

Dr Monica Singh¹, Dr Sagar A Khulape² and Dr Chandrakanta Jana²

¹ICAR- Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Mukteswar (Kumaon), Nainital 263138

²ICAR- Directorate of Foot and Mouth Disease, Mukteswar (Kumaon), Nainital 263138

Email: monica.68drsingh@gmail.com

Importance of biosafety measures in livestock rearing

The term ‘Biosafety’ is used to describe all the measures taken in a farm or a livestock shed in order to prevent the spread of infectious diseases within herd. Commonly, biosafety is maintained by an effective programme, like good hygiene practices, and vaccination. This also includes complete sterilization of the shed and achieving total reduction in introduction and spread of the pathogen. within the premises of the animal shed. The main aim of biosafety is to preserve the sanitary status of the shed and ensure the production of safe food, achieving the concept of one health. Livestock feeding on hilly regions are mostly in the form of grazing in the community pastureland, forestlands as per season of the year. For example, from May to November, the animals are grazed in the common local pastureland, but with the due to arrival of harsh winter, and scarcity of fodder, farmers need to switch to stall feeding. The availability of s dense vegetation on the mountains around, these animals get much more prone to endoparasites and other infectious pathogens especially during monsoon and post monsoon period. At higher altitudes the serious issue of pest is observed and, the control of which is a fundamental part of the biosafety programme.

Thus, in order to improve the animal health, which further can lead to increased productivity, efficiency, and profitability, biosafety measures need to be implemented, especially to control those diseases that can’t be controlled using vaccines, or any other management strategies. It could further reduce the cost of treatment, and ultimately protect the human health. Biosafety measures mainly include the process of risk assessment, identification of the epidemiologically important diseases, then it requires a plan to be developed for the prevention and spread of the harmful pathogens. The biocontainment or biosafety strategy includes all the standard operating procedure of strict compliance, and very importantly it needs to get socialized, among the farmers, veterinarians, and farm workers, in order to create awareness.

In general, the biosafety measures for hill livestock should include as-

Provision of clean drinking water, and quality food.
Application of the external barriers like fences for protection against wildlife predators and to avoid spill over infection from wildlife.
Keep pets out of the livestock premises or shed.
Establishment of integrated pest management system for control of rodents and flies. Flies are the carrier of various infectious diseases, its relation with infectious mastitis is already verified, and the severe infestation can increase the bacterial count of the milk. Rodents also act as a vector for large number of pathogens such as Leptospira,
Strategic introduction of new animals to farm following adequate quarantine process. The new lot of animal need to critically diagnosed by a registered veterinarian
Disinfection of the transport vehicles, tools and equipment, foot bath must be installed at all entry-exit of farm.
All-in-all-out management system is beneficial for small farm setup.
Regular mowing of grasses and weeds to be followed and farm area should be thrash free.
Removal, disposal and incineration of carcass as soon as possible.
Proper management of manure, to protect surface and ground water, to avoid water pollution.
Regular update and awareness of working staff by trained veterinarian