Biosecurity is one of the few tools in animal farming that does not directly increase production, but can prevent major losses. In commercial farms, a sanitary incident can reduce production by 10–30%, depending on the species and the response time.

In the swine sector, the introduction of a pathogen can lead to a decrease in daily weight gain by 15–25% and an increase in mortality by 3–10%. In poultry farms, respiratory or digestive infections can reduce performance per cycle by 5–15%, while flock uniformity declines visibly. In dairy farms, contagious diseases increase the incidence of mastitis and can reduce daily production by 2–4 liters per head.

The most effective measures are not the complex ones, but those consistently respected: controlling farm access, disinfecting equipment, changing footwear and clothing, separating groups, and properly managing animal flows. The cost of these measures is low compared to the impact of an outbreak.

The issue is not a lack of knowledge, but a lack of discipline. In most cases, breaches occur through routine: an uncontrolled transport, an unprotected visitor, or a deviation from procedures.

Stable farms are not those without risks, but those where risks are controlled daily through simple rules, applied without exception.

(Photo: Freepik)