»Biosecurity in dairy farms«
Good bio security paves path towards sustainable and safe livestock production. Proper bio security measures helps to maintain good animal health.
Additionally, farm bio security involves to the management practices to reduce the chances of disease causing agents from entering, spreading or leaving on the farm. It is always advisable to install chemical footbath at entrance. Also recording routine activities for reference is key as it helps to apply faster medication incase of a disease outbreak on the farm.
Bio security practices
Establish dairy farms not be less than 2km from habitation, also farm buildings should be well ventilated for air circulation. Furthermore, animal houses should have concrete floor and solid walls 5ft high and restrict farm entrance. Additionally, entry sanitize hands on farm entry, clean farm premises regularly and properly dispose off waste, sprinkle lime on open entrance areas and clean equipments regularly.
Other practices
Always provide clean dry beddings to calves, avoid sharing farm equipments and properly manage feeds and water. Also ensure constant feed and water availability, keep animals of same ages together and animal quarantine shed must be 100 metres away from other farm buildings. Furthermore quarantine newly bought animals for 30 days, wash hands, feet before and after milking. Lastly, clean udder and disinfect before milking, tag animals and use artificial insemination for breeding.
