Biosecurity practices and sanitary challenges in dairy farms in Brazil

ABSTRACT: The research applied an online questionnaire about farm characteristics, sanitary and manure management, carcass disposal, reproductive and milking practices, and farmers’ perceptions of disease prevention. Farms were classified by milk production and production system. Less than half of the respondents (41.8%) had previously participated in any training on biosecurity or disease prevention, and most (94.5%) consider prevention to be more advantageous and less time-consuming than disease treatment. Small and medium-sized farms had a lower level of biosecurity practice utilization compared to larger farms; although, critical practices are followed on these farms. Preventive measures, such as performing diagnostic tests (P < 0.05) and quarantining newly acquired animals (P < 0.05), were significant in larger herds and intensive production systems, respectively. Practices related to female and newborn management, such as maternity pasture (P < 0.05), were described in intensive systems. There were associations between large and intensive farms performing colostrum feeding only with a colostrum bank (30%), and extensive farms with lower milk production using the natural colostrum method (70%). The collection and storage of manure are carried out by most farms (74%), although only 9 (10%) subject it to any type of treatment. The data suggested that, in larger farms and intensive systems, more preventive measures and actions related to herd health are carried out. Given the variety in the application of these measures, awareness, and technical assistance are necessary to conduct and apply specific biosecurity measures according to the resources and needs of each farm.