Biosecurity Practices in Portuguese Small Ruminant Farms: Current Status and Future Directions.

ABSTRACT: Biosecurity is essential in livestock farming to prevent the spread of diseases, ensure animal welfare, and maintain farm sustainability. In Portugal, small ruminant farms are predominantly extensive and small-scale, and most of them are familiar, especially in the northern and inland regions. Thus, biosecurity implementation on these farms is low due to factors such as an aging livestock farmer population, poor training, limited veterinary support, and economic constraints. This study, the first to assess biosecurity on Portuguese small ruminant farms, evaluated compliance levels and the influence of sociodemographic factors. A cross-sectional study was conducted between July 2023 and April 2024, through structured interviews with 276 farmers. A 32-question checklist covering nine biosecu

SUBMITTER: Alavedra M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12030838 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature