Quantitative assessment of biosecurity on Finnish dairy cattle farms by using Biocheck.UGent™ tool
Abstract
Biosecurity in dairy cattle herds plays an important role in preventing the introduction and
spread of infectious diseases and improving the herd health status. The aim of this thesis was
to investigate the implementation of external and internal biosecurity measures on the Finnish
dairy cattle herds in Pielavesi, Keitele and Vesanto regions in North Savonia by using
Biocheck.UGent™ scoring tool. Possible associations between farm biosecurity scores, herd
size, and farm type were also analysed. Moreover, the aim was to obtain practical experience
in the implementation of the Biocheck.UGent™ questionnaire.
Altogether, the implementation of biosecurity measures of 20 dairy cattle herds was assessed
by using quantative biosecurity assessment tool, Biocheck.UGent™. The obtained data was
analysed by using descriptive statistics and linear regression analysis.
The total biosecurity (BS) score was on average 57.0 %, SD (standard deviation) = 4.7. The
external BS score was on average 75.8 %, SD = 7.8. The internal BS score was on average
37.4%, SD = 4.1. Larger farms (≥106 cows) had higher scores in their internal BS measures
(p = 0.099). Freestall farms had somewhat higher total (p = 0.084), internal (p = 0.140) and
external BS scores (p = 0.168) than tiestall farms. During interviewing, some complicating
questions were identified.
Participated farms scored higher than the worldwide average.The biosecurity tool has been
implemented for example in Belgium, Kyrgyzstan, North Macedonia and Portugal and there
is a wide variation of BS levels across the farms. Freestall farms had somewhat better
biosecurity levels compared to the tiestall farms. The thesis outlines the questions in
Biocheck.UGent™ questionnaire that were difficult for the Finnish dairy cattle farmers to
answer. In future studies, it would be important to analyze the associations between the farm
BS scores and herd health parameters to motivate farmers to implement more BS measures. Bioturvalisusel on oluline roll nakkushaiguste karja toomise ennetamisel, seal leviku
tõkestamisel ja karja tervise parendamisel. Käesoleva lõputöö eesmärgiks oli uurida välis- ja
sisebioturvalisuse meetmete rakendamist Soomes, Põhja-Savo maakonnas asuvates Pielavesi,
Keitele ja Vesanto piirkondade piimakarjades kasutades Biocheck.UGent™
hindamismeetodit. Samuti analüüsiti võimalikke seoseid farmi bioturvalisuse taseme, karja
suuruse ja farmi tüübi vahel. Ka oli töö eesmärgiks saada praktiline kogemus
Biocheck.UGent™ hindamismeetodi kasutamise osas.
Lõputöö jaoks viidi läbi 20 piimakarja bioturvalisuse hindamine kasutades kvantitatiivset
Biocheck.UGent™ hindamismeetodit. Andmeanalüüs teostati kirjeldavat statistikat ja
lineaarseid regressioonimudeleid kasutades.
Farmide keskmine üldine bioturvalisuse (BS) skoor oli 57,0 %, standardhälve (SD) = 4,7.
Farmide välisbioturvalisuse keskmine skoor oli 75,8 %, SD = 7,8. Sisebioturvalisuse
keskmine skoor oli 37,4 %, SD = 4,1. Suurematel farmidel (≥106 lehma) oli kõrgem
sisebioturvalisuse skoor (p = 0,099). Vabapidamislautadel oli mõnevõrra kõrgem üldine (p =
0,084), sise- (p = 0,140) ja välisbioturvalisuse skoor (p = 0,168) kui lõaspidamislautadel.
Intervjuude käigus selgusid mõned küsimused, millele farmeritel oli keeruline vastata.
Uuritud Soome piimakarjade BS tase oli üldiselt kõrgem võrreldes mujal riikides (Belgia,
Kõrgõzstan, Põhja-Makedoonia ja Portugal) registreerituga, siiski on karjade BS tasemete
osas suur varieeruvus. Vabapidamislautadel oli mõnevõrra parem bioturvalisuse tase kui
lõaspidamislautadel. Lõputöös on välja toodud need Biocheck.UGent™ küsimused, millele
Soome piimatootjatel oli raske vastata.
Edasistes uuringutes oleks vajalik tuvastada seosed farmide bioturvalisuse taseme ja karja
tervisealaste näitajate vahel motiveerimaks farmereid neid enam rakendama.