Reduce risks with these biosecurity guidelines

October 2025

INFECTIOUS DISEASES CAN HAVE A DEVASTATING IMPACT ON THE PRODUCTIVITY OF ANY LIVESTOCK OPERATION. VIRTUALLY EVERY DISEASE RESULTS IN PRODUCTIVITY LOSSES, AND IN SOME CASES, THESE LOSSES CAN BE SUBSTANTIAL, PARTICULARLY ON LARGER OPERATIONS IN WHICH MORE ANIMALS ARE AT RISK. PRODUCTION AND QUALITY CAN DECREASE, RESULTING IN NEGATIVE FINANCIAL CONSEQUENCES.

BIOSECURITY GUIDELINES 
The following biosecurity guidelines should be taken into consideration: 

Disease familiarity
To be able to prevent the spread of disease, farmers need to have basic knowledge about the common diseases that are prevalent in their area – this includes symptoms and treatments.

Contact with wildlife
Livestock should have minimum access to cats, dogs and wildlife – all of which are capable of spreading diseases.

Isolating new additions
When purchasing animals, ensure you know the disease status of the source operation. Ask for a veterinary certificate to prove that the new livestock are free from disease. Follow these steps:

• Upon arrival, the new stock may have been exposed to disease but are not yet showing clinical signs.
• Isolate new stock for 28 days.
• Quarantine camp should be a minimum of 20 m to 30 m away from the home herd.
• Isolation areas should be located down-wind and down-flow from the home herd.
• No feed bunks or water sources may be shared between the two herds.
• Ensure you know the vaccination programme for the previous farm – this will help you know for which disease they have been vaccinated.

Controlling traffic
Employees or visitors, especially those who have contact with animals from other livestock operations, can introduce disease agents from another farm via their boots, clothing, vehicles or other equipment. Follow these directions to prevent this:

• Limit number of people dealing with animals and accessing facilities. 
• Implement the use of footbaths and wheel baths on your farm. Make sure that everyone uses them and regularly clean and refill it with an appropriate product to ensure effectiveness.
• Begin working with the animals that are youngest and most susceptible to disease first.
• Control vehicle traffic, particularly rendering or delivery trucks.
• Keep a record of visitors.

Sanitation
Understanding and implementing waste management procedures and maintaining clean operating facilities and equipment are critical biosecurity management tactics for which all employees should share responsibility. These are important rules to implement:

• Ensure that everyone also washes their hands regularly.
• Always wash and sanitise boots before and after entering separated groups of animals.
• Ensure that all overalls are washed on a regular basis.
• Keep all feed ingredients clean, dry and as free as possible of rodents, which are notorious disease-carrying pests.

Vaccination plan
Vaccinating against the most economically devastating diseases is added insurance against disease outbreaks.

• Customise a vaccination plan for your farm.
• Consider compulsory vaccinations.
• Vaccinating young animals helps build a well-protected herd/flock.
• Maternal antibody interference with the vaccination, the impact of stress, nutrition and infectious organisms, the importance of boosters and adverse reactions should also be taken into consideration

Colostrum
Newborns need time to develop antibodies and therefore must rely on antibodies obtained from the mother via colostrum, which immediately helps protect the young. Newborns should receive 10% of their body weight of quality colostrum within the first twelve hours of life. Within six to nine hours after birth, they lose 50% of their ability to absorb antibodies via the colostrum. By 24 hours, virtually all antibody absorption ability is gone. Make sure to deworm youngsters and ensure the drinking water is not stagnant.

Mortality
Animal deaths represent the least desirable health outcome. Once a death has occurred, determining the cause is important in preventing future death and improving the health of the herd.

• Animals should avoid going anywhere near the material of a dead infected animal, such as carcass, saliva or blood. Animals should also avoid grazing in an area where a diseased animal died.
• The animal material should be disposed of properly by burial/burning in a secluded area. 

Publication: October 2025

Section: Pula/Imvula

Author: RED MEAT INDUSTRY SERVICES