Awareness and adoption of farm biosecurity practices in commercial dairy, pig and poultry farms of Uttar Pradesh (India)

• Published in: Tropical animal health and production 2024-07, Vol.56 (6), p.203, Article 203
• Main Authors: Panda, Pratikshya, Tiwari, Rupasi, Singh, Amandeep, Kumari, Maina, Singh, Kaushlendra, Dutt, Triveni
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agriculture; Animal health; Animal Husbandry - methods; Animal manures; Animals; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biosecurity; Cattle; Dairy farming; Dairy farms; Dairy industry; Dairying - methods; Epidemics; Farmers; Farmers - psychology; Farms; Group size; Health care management; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Humans; India; Information processing; Life Sciences; Livestock; Meat production; Milk; Outbreaks; Poultry; Poultry farming; Regular Articles; Swine; Veterinary Medicine/Veterinary Science; Zoology
• ISSN: 0049-4747; 1573-7438; 1573-7438
• DOI: 10.1007/s11250-024-04054-3

India’s livestock sector has been facing significant losses due to episodes of disease outbreaks since time immemorial. Hence, biosecurity measures are very important to maintain and improve animal health along with prevention of disease outbreak. Keeping these facts into consideration, the study was proposed with an objective to assess the existing biosecurity practices adopted by the commercial dairy, pig and poultry farms. The current study was undertaken in the state of Uttar Pradesh as it is the leading state in milk and meat production. A total of 120 farmers were selected randomly including 40 each practicing commercial dairy, pig and poultry farming. An ex-post facto research methodology was used with face-to-face interview and observation to collect data. The biosecurity practices were assessed under seven dimensions such as, location and design of farm, restricted access, isolation and quarantine, cleaning and disinfection, management of feed and water, disposal of carcass, manure and waste, and health management. Results elicited that about 50% of the farmers had medium level of adoption who adopted 18–34 practices out of 51 practices. The average overall adoption score was 34.17 out of 51 (67%) which makes an overall adoption gap of 33%. Maximum adoption gap was seen in case of restricted access (43%) whereas minimum gap in adoption was seen in case of management of feed and water (27%). Pig and poultry farmers showed significantly higher biosecurity measures than dairy farmers ( p