Abstract
Preventing the spread of diseases between and within farms (biosecurity) is essential for minimizing animal mortality and morbidity, as well as for reducing the risk of spread of zoonotic diseases. These effects are even greater in countries such as Iran, which have to deal with multiple ongoing epidemics of infectious disease. However, there is currently no published information about biosecurity practices on sheep and goat farms in Iran in published research. The aim of this study was to collect such information and to identify some of the factors affecting biosecurity practices. Data were gathered using a checklist and in-depth interviews with 99 nomadic and semi-nomadic pastoralists. Regression analysis was used to identify the relationships between the collected variables and the biosecurity scores. The results showed that neither within- nor between-farm disease prevention measures were appropriately applied on most farms (median total score of total biosecurity was 37.3/90; Q1 = 29.0 and Q3 = 44.7). Almost all the farmers reported slaughtering animals on farms and nobody properly disposed of the bodies of the dead animals. Additionally, the majority of the participants did not disinfect the umbilical cords of newborns. Of the collected variables, the annual mortality rate was associated with most within-farm biosecurity practices. The increase in annual mortality rates was associated with the regular cleaning of troughs (p = 0.03), preventing feed and water from being contaminated by urine and feces (p = 0.02), providing a clean and dry place for animals to rest (p = 0.05) and disinfecting the navel cord (p = 0.03). The results of this survey suggest that there is a clear need for extension programs to enhance Iranian and sheep and goat farmers’ perceptions and practices regarding biosecurity measures.
Highlights
Infectious diseases cause significant mortality and economic losses on sheep and goat holdings throughout the world [1]. This is true in Iran, which features 70 million small ruminants, and where important infectious and transboundary diseases, such as foot and mouth disease (FMD), small ruminant pox, and peste des petits ruminants (PPR), continue to be prevalent [2,3,4]
There are very few data in regard to current biosecurity practices on Iranian sheep and goat farms, which are divided into two main types: nomadic and semi-nomadic [7,15]
This conclusion is consistent with the findings of a recent study on Iranian dairy cattle farms that identified inappropriate biosecurity practices as a major cause of mortality and morbidity [17] and those of Hosein Abadi et al [18], who concluded that high abortion rates on sheep farms in south-east Iran were related to poor biosecurity measures
Summary
Infectious diseases cause significant mortality and economic losses on sheep and goat holdings throughout the world [1]. Limiting or preventing the spread of these diseases between and within farms (i.e., optimizing biosecurity) [5] is crucial for the welfare and productivity of sheep and goats in Iran and, because of their transboundary nature, the wider west Asian region. Such control will require the development and implementation of robust biosecurity protocols. There is a clear need for the development of systematic educational programs on a national level to improve the implementation of control measures and preventive protocols on Iranian sheep and goat farms The development of such programs requires a clear overview of current practices on these farms and an understanding of the factors influencing those practices. The goal of this study was to determine the level of knowledge and the practices of nomadic and semi-nomadic pastoralists related to biosecurity practices in Alborz and Qazvin provinces, Iran
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
