Agriculture
PROF. Boye Omole, an Animal Scientist at the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAR&T), Ibadan, has advised livestock farmers to adopt biosecurity, critical in preventing infectious diseases.
Omole made the remark in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Ibadan.
He said biosecurity remains the cheapest, most effective means of disease control available and designed to keep potentially infected animals and contaminated objects from healthy livestock farms.
”The purpose of biosecurity is to establish a prevention barrier to disease-causing agents and other threats by minimizing the movement of biological organisms and external threats onto and within livestock operations.
”It recognizes that animal diseases cannot be eliminated, but that livestock producers can manage disease risk through effective control measures,” he said.
Omole emphasized that such infectious agents, whether they cause clinical or sub-clinical disease, significantly reduce the productivity, profitability, and long-term financial viability of livestock operations.
The animal scientist also noted that bio-security could be about managing risk to meet the objectives of the business.
”The purpose of bio-security is to establish a prevention barrier to disease-causing agents and other threats by minimizing the movement of biological organisms and external threats onto and within livestock operations.
”The whole concept of biosecurity recognizes that animal diseases could not be eliminated but that livestock producers could manage disease risk through effective control measures.
“Bio-security encompasses a variety of activities on the farm: visitors, traffic control, employees, replacement animals, technical services, feedstuffs, rendering practices and manure management all impact bio-security.
‘Biosecurity is very crucial in livestock production in order to prevent economic loss caused by production losses/premature animal depopulation,” he said.
He, therefore, urged the farmers and government to take every precaution to prevent these diseases, such as keeping animal housing clean and vaccinating livestock.
“Diseases of animals remain a concern principally because of the economic losses they cause and the possible transmission of the causative agents to humans,” he said. (NAN)
– Mar. 15, 2021 @ 11:45 GMT
Tags: Scientist urges livestock farmers to adopt biosecurity
