Factors affecting the use of biosecurity measures for the protection of ruminant livestock and farm workers against infectious diseases in central South Africa

Background: Biosecurity measures have been introduced to limit economic losses and zoonotic exposures to humans by preventing and controlling animal diseases. However, they are implemented on individual farms with varying frequency. Objective: The goal of this study was to evaluate which biosecurity measures were used by farmers to prevent infectious diseases in ruminant livestock and to identify factors that influenced these decisions. Method and Materials: We conducted a survey in 264 ruminant livestock farmers in a 40000km2 area in the Free State and Northern Cape provinces of South Africa. We used descriptive statistics, to characterize biosecurity measures and farm attributes, then multivariable binomial regression to assess the strength of the association between the attributes and the implementation of biosecurity measures including property fencing, separate equipment use on different species, separate rearing of species, isolation of sick animals, isolation of pregnant animals, quarantine of new animals, animal transport cleaning, vaccination, tick control and insect control. Results: Ninety-nine percent of farmers reported using at least one of the ten biosecurity measures investigated, (median [M]: 6; range: 0–10). The most frequently used biosecurity measures were tick control (81%, 214/264), vaccination (80%, 211/264) and isolation of sick animals (72%, 190/264). More biosecurity measures were used on farms with 65–282 animals (M:6; odds ratio [OR]:1.52) or farms with 283–12030 animals (M:7; OR:1.87) than on farms with fewer than 65 animals (M:4). Furthermore, farmers who kept two animal species (M:7; OR:1.41) or three or more species (M:7) used more biosecurity measures than single-species operations (M:4). Farmers with privately owned land used more biosecurity measures (M:6; OR:1.51) than those grazing their animals on communal land (M:3.5). Farms that reported previous Rift Valley fever (RVF) outbreaks used more biosecurity measures (M:7; OR:1.25) compared to farms without RVF reports (M:6) and those that purchased animals in the 12 months prior to the survey (M:7; OR:1.19) compared to those that did not (M:6).When introducing new animals into their herds (n = 122), most farmers used fewer biosecurity measures than they did for their existing herd: 34% (41/122) used multiple biosecurity measures like those of vaccination, tick control, quarantine or antibiotic use, whereas 36% (44/122) used only one and 30% (37/122) used none. Discussion and Recommendations: Certain farm features, primarily those related to size and commercialization were associated with more frequent use of biosecurity measures. Given the variation in the application of biosecurity measures, more awareness and technical assistance are needed to support the implementation of a biosecurity management plan appropriate for the type of farm operation and available resources