Definition of biosecurity

Farm biosecurity involves animal management practices and actions to protect your animals and promote their health. It is important to take measures to secure your farm from outside sources of disease and limit the spread of disease within the flock.

The 3 basic principles of biosecurity are disease:

  • prevention
  • control
  • eradication

Work with a veterinarian that can help you identify risks to your flock and suggest management practices to improve biosecurity. Consider biosecurity measures when planning to build a new farm.

Quarantine new animals

Adding a new animal to the flock is the most common way of bringing disease into the flock. Sourcing sheep from one farm with low disease status is the lowest risk when buying new sheep.

Animals may appear healthy but could be infected with a disease that will eventually cause symptoms. The stress of transport and handling can trigger symptoms after arriving on the farm.

30-day quarantine

New animals should be quarantined for 30 days before joining the flock. During this time, animals should be:

  • monitored daily for signs of disease
  • tested for diseases of concern
  • vaccinated according to your flock’s protocol

During quarantine, isolate the new animals from the main flock, ideally on a different property or in a separate barn.

When caring for the quarantined animals, use separate coveralls and disinfect your boots before and after care. Disinfect all equipment and tools used with quarantined animals before returning to use in the main flock. Develop protocols with your veterinarian for animals returning after being off the farm for shows, breeding or other purposes.

Diseases that new animals could introduce to your flock

These can include:

  • internal parasites, which include gastrointestinal parasites (which could be resistant to treatment), lungworm, coccidia and Cryptosporidium
  • external parasites, such as lice, mange or ringworm
  • pink eye
  • viral or bacterial respiratory diseases
  • diseases causing pregnancy loss, such as chlamydiosis, toxoplasmosis or coxiellosis/Q-fever
  • chronic diseases, such as Maedi-Visna, Johne’s disease, caseous lymphadenitis or ovine pulmonary adenocarcinoma

Reduce the risk from other animals

Other livestock on your farm

Goats

Goats share many of the same diseases as sheep, so they must be considered as part of the flock if they are also on the farm.

Cattle

Cattle can transmit diseases such as Johne’s disease or mange to sheep. Cattle are also susceptible to contracting Maedi-Visna from sheep which can lead to severe disease.

Llamas and alpacas

Llamas and alpacas can also transmit caseous lymphadenitis and gastrointestinal parasites.

Poultry and swine

Poultry and swine on farm must also be considered as a biosecurity risk able to transmit disease when housed with sheep.

Livestock on neighbouring farms

Livestock from neighbouring farms with fence line contact should be considered a biosecurity risk. Maintain and monitor fencing for breaks to ensure livestock stay separate.

Some diseases can also be carried in the wind from one pasture or farm to the next.

Dogs

Dogs can transmit several parasitic diseases in their feces which can contaminate feed, bedding and pastures.

Guardian dogs living alongside sheep should be dewormed with veterinary-prescribed products to prevent the spread of tapeworms which can cause Cysticercus ovis in sheep. All farm dogs should be kept up to date on vaccinations and deworming. Dogs should also be prevented from scavenging sheep or goat deadstock to prevent their reinfection.

Cats

While cats on the farm may be important for rodent control, they pose a risk to sheep. Cats can transmit pathogens which can cause toxoplasmosis and Q-fever in sheep.

Adult cats should be spayed or neutered to control the number of kittens, which are the major spreaders of toxoplasmosis. Cats should be provided with a litter box away from sheep to avoid defecating in sheep feed or bedding. All cats should be kept up to date on vaccines.

Pests

Mice and rats should also be controlled through baits, traps, cats or other means to reduce the risk of them spreading disease.

Visitors on the farm

Feed suppliers, veterinarians, shearers, sales associates, ultrasound technicians or welcomed guests may frequently visit your flock. While people pose less of a biosecurity risk than animals, they should be considered when creating a biosecurity plan for your farm.

Sheep are also able to transmit several, sometimes serious diseases to people. Take the steps to prevent the spread of disease to humans, such as informing farm workers of possible routes of exposure and providing personal protective equipment when necessary.

When visitors come to the farm:

  • include signage at the barn entrance to indicate no entry unless authorized and list biosecurity practices expected of visitors
  • require them to wear clean coveralls or barn clothes
  • set up a boot wash station for them with clean farm-owned footwear or disposable boot covers
  • insist that they wash their hands with disinfecting soap or wear gloves before handling animals
  • ensure they use clean and disinfected equipment (such as clippers or ultrasounds)
  • provide parking in a secure area away from the facility and animal housing area
  • keep their vehicles away from muddy or contaminated areas

Biosecurity within your flock

Disease and disease opportunities are still present within your flock regardless of how healthy your sheep appear. Biosecurity practices within your flock can reduce the risk of disease spread.

To reduce the spread of disease:

  • isolate sick animals from other animals using a designated sick pen, if available
  • implement a vaccination program and a preventive treatment program (for example, dewormer) with the help of your veterinarian to reduce diseases of concern
  • monitor the flock for disease using routine diagnostic testing or by performing post-mortem examinations on animals dying on-farm
  • keep a record of disease events, treatments, diagnostic test results and dead animals (review the records yearly and share them with your flock health team to improve farm biosecurity)
  • implement protocols for cleaning and disinfecting handling equipment and tools, including cleaning and disinfecting them before their first use
  • provide animals with clean water that is tested yearly
  • use single-use needles whenever possible to avoid spreading blood-borne pathogens
  • store feed in a clean and secure location, like a feed bin, to reduce the risk of contamination and limit access by pests, cats and dogs
  • handle feed with clean equipment that is dedicated to handling only feedstuffs or is cleaned and disinfected before each use
  • properly handle, store, compost and spread manure to reduce the spread of harmful pathogens
  • clean and disinfect equipment that is used for moving manure after each use
  • use separate equipment for handling manure and feedstuffs, or clean and disinfect multi-purpose equipment after each use
  • remove deadstock and other hazardous animal material (such as afterbirth) promptly to limit access of sheep to the deceased animal and prevent scavenging by pests, dogs and vermin
  • clean and disinfect equipment used for handling deadstock after each use
  • implement protocols for cleaning and disinfecting to reduce the spread of disease in the event of an outbreak (consider an all-in, all-out policy, and consult with your veterinarian)