Intensive Farming

Livestock Biosecurity and Disease Welfare

Biosecurity measures prevent disease entry into livestock populations, reducing suffering and antibiotic use simultaneously.

Key Facts

Introduction of sick animals is the most common route of disease entry
Visitor protocols, vehicle biosecurity, and isolation of new arrivals prevent most outbreaks
Biosecurity failures cause disease outbreaks affecting entire flocks or herds
Cost-effective biosecurity typically achieves rapid payback through prevented disease

Welfare Considerations

Disease outbreaks in livestock cause significant suffering from fever, respiratory distress, neurological symptoms, and death. Many outbreaks are preventable through rigorous biosecurity. Animal movements bring new pathogens onto previously clean farms. Investment in biosecurity protocols has both welfare and economic benefits that typically exceed costs rapidly.

What You Can Do

Support farms with documented biosecurity protocols
Advocate for mandatory biosecurity standards in livestock welfare regulations
Learn about biosecurity if you work with or visit livestock farms
Back veterinary programs supporting farmer biosecurity implementation