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Biosecurity: A shared responsibility

The good health status of our farmed animals is fundamental to the continued success of the Irish livestock sector. The ability to raise our defences in the face of a specific threat is important, but it is equally important that effective and routine farm biosecurity practices are put in place and are practised consistently.
As an island, Ireland holds a unique advantage in terms of biosecurity, particularly in the protection against exotic diseases. The natural barrier of the surrounding sea significantly reduces the risk of disease transmission from other countries, making it more difficult for pathogens to enter. With recent outbreaks of exotic diseases in Europe, including foot-and-mouth disease outbreaks in a number of countries in the EU, a wave of outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza across Europe, and the recent bluetongue outbreak in Ireland, it is important to ensure that robust biosecurity systems are implemented and maintained. 

Reducing and safeguarding

Climate change will play an increasing role in the risk of disease incursion, such as the geographic extent of where insect vectors can survive and breed. While it is not possible to eliminate the risk of certain vectors, such as midges being introduced to Ireland by wind-borne spread, there are many actions farmers can take to help to prevent the spread of disease. Risk assessments, monitoring programmes, training, and strengthened farm biosecurity will help reduce exposure, safeguard animal health, and allow livestock systems to better withstand shocks.
Farm-level biosecurity can be described as the combination of both management and physical measures which reduce the risk of the introduction, development and spread of disease to, from and within a farm. If performed consistently, the implementation of good biosecurity measures improves the health and welfare of animals, provides economic benefits, and strengthens farmers’ abilities to defend against the heightened risk of disease. Reduced antimicrobial and antiparasitic usage on farms also help to protect public and environmental health. Farm level biosecurity can be divided into two main components: 

  • External biosecurity: Measures to prevent disease entering or leaving the farm.
  • Internal biosecurity: Measures to prevent the spread of disease within the farm.

Biosecurity strategy

In December 2025, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon officially launched the second National Farmed Animal Biosecurity Strategy (2025-2030), which provides a clear and actionable roadmap to the implementation of good biosecurity practices through awareness, behavioural change, and consistency. 

  • A: Awareness
    Having the knowledge and understanding of what constitutes effective biosecurity practices for your farm. 
  • B: Behavioural change
    Implementing good biosecurity practices and forming habits. 
  • C: Consistency
    Ensuring biosecurity practices are followed routinely and consistently. 

Its success relies on all stakeholders understanding their roles and responsibilities and being committed to implementing them effectively. 

Codes of practice

Sector-specific guidance on implementing good biosecurity practices have been developed by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) in collaboration with relevant stakeholders. These are practical documents that veterinary practitioners, farmers and other stakeholders can reference readily, and should be viewed as an essential tool in disease control and management. 

TASAH

The Targeted Advisory Service on Animal Health (TASAH) biosecurity reviews are free programmes offered to farmers by the DAFM in collaboration with Animal Health Ireland (AHI) and carried out by private veterinary practitioners (PVP). The number of farmers availing of TASAH biosecurity reviews for pigs and poultry increased by 105 per cent from 2021 to 2024, ensuring that biosecurity is being more efficiently monitored on Irish farms.
The Irish biosecurity risk assessment tool – Bioscore Dairy TASAH – was introduced in 2025, which includes the biosecurity risk assessment of pasture-based dairy farms. This tool facilitates the identification of deficits in biosecurity management practices and allows farmers to benchmark their biosecurity practices against other dairy farms nationally. 

Actions to Improve biosecurity

Through veterinary-led assessments and farm-specific biosecurity plans, veterinary practitioners play a vital role in communicating and promoting effective, consistent biosecurity practices. The following are some measures that a PVP can recommend to improve biosecurity in a herd/flock under their care.

Animal measures

  • Implement risk-reduction measures to avoid disease introduction if purchasing new animals into a herd or flock, such as ensuring an equal health status, pre-movement tests where possible and quarantine and on-farm testing before introduction to a herd or flock if not.
  • Avoid disease introduction through germinal products by only purchasing from animals with a known health status. Only import germinal products from outside of Ireland if in compliance with required testing and certification rules.
  • Keep different species of animals separated.
  • Ensure animals are inspected regularly to ensure the early detection of sick animals. 
  • Prepare isolation facilities for sick animals.
  • Dead animals should be removed as quickly as possible and ideally sent for post-mortem diagnosis where the cause of mortality is unclear.
  • Farmers should seek veterinary advice on specific vaccines and treatments to protect all incoming and returning animals.

Visitor and personnel measures

  • Ensure staff are adequately trained in biosecurity. 
  • Staff should be provided with clean, farm-specific clothing and footwear.
  • Only essential visitors/personnel should enter the premises.
  • All visitors and vehicles that enter the holding should be recorded.
  • All visitors should be aware of farm hygiene protocols. 
  • Disinfection points should be placed at entrances.
  • Visitors/personnel coming from other farms or flocks should change their clothes and footwear before arrival. Impose a three-day interval period where possible. 

Premises/vehicles/equipment measures

  • Minimise the possibility of direct contact with animals from other herds or flocks by ensuring boundary fences are well maintained. 
  • Thoroughly clean and disinfect all vehicles and trailers after each use.
  • If sharing equipment, establish a protocol for cleaning and disinfecting equipment/material.
  • Encourage contractors, especially slurry/manure contractors, to cleanse and disinfect their equipment prior to arrival on farm. At a minimum, contractor’s machinery should be clean on entering and exiting the farm.
  • Ensure access to clean water by cleaning drinkers regularly, ensuring appropriate drainage, annual water testing, and implementing methods to reduce wild animal access. 
  • Keep farmyards clean and tidy and disinfect housing and loading areas periodically.
  • Bedding should always be stored in a bird and rodent-proof location. The bedding should come from a reliable source and be contamination-free.

Feed and manure measures

  • Ensure that feed is bought through registered operators with good hygiene protocols in place. 
  • Assurances should be sought in relation to the hygienic storage of feed when purchasing straights from other farms. 
  • Bringing manure/slurry from other farms should be avoided. If this is unavoidable, use it only on low-risk fields. Ensure sufficient time has passed between spreading and grazing. 
  • A robust pest control programme should be implemented.

Food waste measures

  • Farmed animals should never be fed food waste of animal origin or food waste that has been in contact with products of animal origin (kitchen scraps, picnic leftovers etc.).
  • Ensure proper disposal of food waste so that it cannot be accessed by livestock or birds.
  • Open/pet farms should locate car parks, picnic areas and cafés as far away as possible from where the animals are kept and ensure that food is not consumed near them.

Conclusion 

The introduction and spread of infectious diseases are ever-present risks to Irish herds and flocks. Ineffective biosecurity practices can lead to increased mortality, production losses and public health hazards. Good biosecurity practices, implemented effectively and routinely, reduce the risk of disease introduction and spread, focusing on prevention rather than cure. Veterinary practitioners play an essential role in disease control and management through education and collaboration with farmers under their care.