Biosecurity at Cattle Farms: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats

Abstract

Biosecurity is a key component of any animal and public health strategy and disease prevention and control programs. This study reviewed the main findings of different studies implemented from 2015 to 2021 to analyse the biosecurity situation at Belgian cattle farms, including attitudes and behaviours of cattle farmers and rural veterinarians regarding biosecurity measures. Specifically, the objective was to perform a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) analysis of the situation and propose a new conceptual framework improving the level of biosecurity in the cattle sector. Biosecurity in cattle farming remains relatively low and faces multiple challenges. Its future improvement requires the different stakeholders to agree on shared goals and objectives and to carefully consider animal, public and environmental health, as well as socioeconomic and cultural factors. Further cost efficiency studies are required to identify the most important biosecurity measures and convince the stakeholders of their utility and benefits. Cattle farmers rely mainly on rural veterinarians for technical guidance and consider them as trustful informants. To be more effective in promoting these good practices, rural veterinarians need a proper guidance from the authorities, a proper training on biosecurity and communication, as well as an enabling environment.

Keywords: Belgium; SWOT analysis; biosecurity; cattle; conceptual framework; context.

Figure 1

Biosecurity principles and compartments in animal facilities (Adapted form: Saegerman, Dal Pozzo and Humblet, 2012).

Figure 2

Proposed conceptual model explaining the factors affecting the implementation of biosecurity measures at Belgian cattle farms. In orange, negative-effect factors; in green, positive-effect factors.