Biosecurity in cattle farming

Biosecurity is a set of simple, practical steps you take every day to keep diseases out of your cattle herd and stop them from spreading between animals. It’s a habit—and a powerful tool to manage your farm better. Good biosecurity helps you:

• Keep your cattle healthy

• Prevent costly disease outbreaks

• Improve growth, production, and overall farm performance

Diseases can spread through people, animals, tools, vehicles, clothing, and even the air. That’s why clean equipment and clear barriers around your farm are so important.

When harmful germs like viruses or bacteria enter your farm, they can cause serious problems. They may make your cattle sick—or in severe cases, even lead to death. Sick animals grow more slowly, produce less milk or meat, and may require costly treatment or veterinary care. In some extreme cases, animals may need to be removed to stop the disease from spreading.

That’s why a strong biosecurity plan is so important. It helps reduce the risk of diseases entering your farm, limits the spread between animals, and protects both your herd and your income.

Biosecurity includes both external and internal measures:

• External biosecurity focuses on keeping diseases from entering your farm. This includes actions like putting up fences, cleaning and disinfecting vehicles before they enter, and limiting visitor access to your cattle.

• Internal biosecurity is about preventing the spread of disease within your farm. This means separating animals by age or group, keeping housing areas clean, and always caring for the youngest and healthiest animals first.

Farm entry and visitors

• Limit visitors to the cattle area – only allow essential people

• Keep a simple visitor log (e.g. notebook) with names and dates

• Place a footbath with disinfectant at the entrance to the cattle shed

• Ask visitors to wash hands and wear clean boots or shoes

Farmer hygiene

• Change clothes and shoes before entering the cattle area

• Keep a clean pair of farm shoes only for use around the cattle

• Wash hands with soap and water before and after working with animals

Cattle housing

• Clean barns or pens regularly (remove manure and dirty bedding)

• If no disinfectants are available, use ash or lime to dry and clean the floors

• Fix broken fences or holes to keep out wild animals and stray dogs

• Group cattle by age or type, and avoid mixing different groups unnecessarily

Feed and water

• Provide clean water every day – use raised containers to avoid dirt and contamination

• Store feed in covered containers (e.g. plastic drums with lids)

• Keep feed away from rats, birds, and moisture

• Avoid feeding kitchen leftovers unless they are properly cooked

Buying new animals

• Buy cattle only from trusted and healthy sources

• Keep new animals separate from the main herd for at least 2 weeks

• Check them daily for signs of illness before mixing them with others

Pest and animal control

• Keep cattle areas clean to discourage rats, flies, and other pests

• Use traps or local solutions (e.g. ash for ants, neem for flies)

• Do not allow dogs, chickens, or other animals into the cattle housing

Disposing of dead animals

• Remove dead animals immediately

• Bury carcasses deep and far away from cattle housing and water sources

• Never throw dead animals in rivers or near the farm