| Many small producers or livestock owners are unaware of the importance of biosecurity on their property. If you run livestock, whether on a small scale or commercially, you need a biosecurity plan. |
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A biosecurity plan should cover the steps you would take when bringing animals onto your property (e.g. inspection, identification), managing the biosecurity risks already present on your property (e.g. monitoring animals, restricting visitors) and the steps you would take when moving animals off your property.
Biosecurity means the protection of animals, plants, the environment and people’s health from harmful diseases and pests.
It includes preventing new pests and diseases from arriving on your property, managing those that might already be present and reducing the risk of spreading pests and diseases. Why have a biosecurity plan? Poor biosecurity can allow diseases to enter a property and spread, resulting in loss of money and reputation for the landholder, as well as potentially spreading to neighbours, clients or, at worst, the whole country. |
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| Followed conscientiously, the plan will help to ensure that you maintain a high standard of animal health and that your animals and their products meet market requirements. What is in a biosecurity plan? A biosecurity plan will cover a wide range of activities and include plans to keep out and/or manage various diseases, which are endemic (already present in Australia), exotic (not present in Australia) or new diseases. A biosecurity plan will cover a wide range of activities and include plans to keep out and/or manage various diseases, which are endemic (already present in Australia), exotic (not present in Australia) or new diseases. |
| An effective plan is a clear, concise, written document that covers all the biosecurity risks for your property. The plan should anticipate disease and pest risks and provide specific instructions on measures to minimise or eliminate potential problems. |
"A biosecurity plan will cover a wide range of activities and include plans to keep out and/or manage various diseases." |
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The plan will include actions that must be taken:
The plan should note how often you will observe animals for signs of ill-health. The frequency of observations may increase during anticipated higher risk periods, such as during lambing or calving or when animals are put onto a new ration.
The plan should be continuously consulted and reviewed.
For more information on bringing animals onto your property, biosecurity management on your property and how to prepare your animals before leaving your property go to the Small Landholder Information Services ‘Biosecurity plan for small landholders’ publication.
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