Strengthening biosecurity in livestock farming

In the current period, biosafety farming is a sustainable direction for the livestock industry, especially for household and farm livestock. This is considered a guaranteed direction for sustainable livestock development in the agricultural sector, especially in the context of complicated epidemics, especially African swine fever. However, not all livestock farmers know about biosafety farming to apply. The Department of Livestock and Veterinary Medicine of Hai Duong province provides some basic guidance on biosafety as follows:

1. Concept of biosafety

Biosecurity for livestock facilities is the synchronous implementation of technical measures to limit the spread of pathogens from outside into livestock facilities and destroy pathogens existing inside the livestock facilities, preventing pathogens from spreading between livestock areas on the farm.

2. Biosafety requirements

a. Control of breeds:Imported breeding animals must be healthy, come from disease-free facilities, fully vaccinated, and have an animal quarantine certificate. Breeding animals must be quarantined for at least 2 weeks before being introduced to the herd. A separate quarantine area should be arranged.

b. Human control:Workers on the farm must wear protective gear and wash their hands after contact with animals. Avoid going from one farm to another or coming into contact with too many animals.
Visitors or business contacts must have an appointment with the farm owner, only enter the farm when permitted and follow the farm owner's instructions. Traders are absolutely not allowed to enter the livestock area. Visitors should be limited as much as possible.

c. Vehicle control:Control of vehicles including vehicles transporting livestock equipment, animal feed, animal transport, especially vehicles transporting traders and visitors.

d. Animal carcass disposal:When an animal dies, the carcass must be taken out of the barn and disposed of according to veterinary agency instructions, and the entire area where the animal is buried must be cleaned.

d. Control food and drink:Food must be of guaranteed quality and imported from reputable establishments that are not contaminated with pesticides and other compounds. Water sources used for livestock and poultry must be clean, unpolluted, and of guaranteed quality (such as tap water, wells with a filtration system). Tanks must be covered to avoid impurities, dead birds, and rats.

e. Animal and insect control:The cage must be covered with a net and always closed to prevent dogs, cats, birds, rats, etc. from entering. Regularly clean around the cage and clear away bushes. Do not allow other animals near the cage area and periodically disinfect the cage.

3. Veterinary work

Regularly monitor livestock. If there is a death or mass death of livestock, immediately notify local authorities and veterinary staff to organize sample collection and testing to find the cause of the disease.

Do not sell sick livestock or poultry, do not litter, and do not eat sick livestock or poultry.

Fully vaccinate livestock. Periodically spray and disinfect barns with fast and strong disinfectants.