What is farm biosecurity?

Farm biosecurity brings together a range of practices that aim to keep Australian livestock free of disease - with a focus on practices livestock producers can implement in their operations on a day to day basis.

Keeping disease out is important because animal diseases can:

• reduce the productivity of livestock
• affect farm incomes
• affect animal welfare
• reduce the value of farming land
• close export markets or reduce the prices Australian producers can get for their exports - with a flow on effect to domestic producers.

Some animal diseases can also be passed to humans.

What are the risks?

The biggest risk is complacency! Australia is renowned for its robust national quarantine system, which can make it easy to think it's all okay. However unwanted pests and disease can - and do - get through even the toughest systems. And don't forget the debilitating diseases that are already in Australia.

That's where farm biosecurity comes in - providing the next level of protection to your livestock.

Australia's national animal health system is at its most effective when protection is in place at many levels - at national level, at the state/territory level, at a regional level and at the individual farm level.

Australia has an outstanding national quarantine service, but what happens when disease enters Australia? How do you protect yourself from diseases that are already in Australia? Do you know what practices will keep YOUR animals and your livelihood secure?

 Farm Biosecurity highlights five key areas of risk, as the main ways that disease is spread:

• Animal movement (including the need for fencing)
• People movement (including vehicles and equipment)
• Pests
• Feed
• Water

Assess your property for these risk areas and think about ways to minimise them. You will be on your way to good Farm Biosecurity.