4 practical ways to protect your block & livestock

The greatest biosecurity risk you face is when a live animal comes onto your block. Diseases can be transmitted through saliva, milk and colostrum, in utero, and via artificial insemination. Others can come in on cars, trucks, farm equipment, machinery, boots, and clothing.

1 Do your breed research

Whatever animal you’re interested in, find out what the common transmissible diseases are before you buy. Cultivate a relationship with an experienced stock person and learn from them.

Often, it’s people new to farming who are most at risk of buying a problem because they don’t know the right questions to ask.

For example, if you’re interested in goats, you’ll want to know:

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the seller’s testing regime for infectious, incurable diseases such as Johnes and CAE for their whole herd (not just the animals for sale);

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when were tests last carried out – ask to see the results;

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if the animal you want to buy is under a year old, look at the mother’s test results (as testing isn’t accurate in young animals);

2 Secure your boundary fences

Good fences limit contact between your stock and any neighbouring animals. Some diseases are transmissible when animals interact along a fence, eg touching noses, licking. Consider having outriggers with electrified wire or a second internal fence to prevent animals from touching each other.

3 Find a good vet practice

Form a good relationship with a local vet practice with staff who are knowledgeable about your animal species. A good one will happily point you to someone else if they don’t have the right expertise.

4 Practise good stock management

Good farm hygiene and animal husbandry is essential. A nutritious, balanced diet and clean, spacious conditions help to keep stock robust and healthy, and better able to cope with exposure to disease or parasites.

Crowding, poor hygiene, and lack of access to food and clean water creates stress in animals, which can reduce their immune response.

Overstocking is common on blocks. It can be difficult to judge ideal stock numbers, especially during and after a severe weather event, eg drought, flooding. Besides stress, overstocking concentrates unwanted organisms in an area.

Even if all you have is 3-4 hens, they need separate runs so you can rest an area to prevent pasture and soil damage, and the accumulation of manure and parasites.

Good observation skills will help you notice when an animal starts to feel unwell.