Situation Analysis and Recommendations for the Biosecurity Status of Dairy Farms in Punjab, India: A Cross-Sectional Survey

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Farm biosecurity is crucial for preventing infections and maintaining animal health. The present study assessed biosecurity practices on dairy farms in Punjab, India, using a standardized scoring system. The study found that the mean external and internal biosecurity scores for the selected dairy farms were 45.4% and 43.7%, respectively. Among the different aspects of biosecurity, farms performed best in vermin control and adult cattle management, while they scored lowest in purchase and reproduction, and health management. Interestingly, larger farms tended to have better biosecurity. This study highlights the need for improvement in biosecurity measures on dairy farms, particularly in the areas of purchasing animals and health management. This research underscores the importance of addressing these issues to enhance animal health and reduce disease risk in the region. Further investigations are recommended to better understand the factors influencing biosecurity practices on these farms. ABSTRACT: Farm biosecurity is an important herd management strategy to assure infection prevention and animal health. The present study aimed to evaluate the implementation of biosecurity measures on dairy farms in Punjab, India, using the standardized Biocheck.UGent™ scoring system. Convenience sampling was used to select 94 dairy farms, comprising both cattle and buffaloes, with a mean herd size of 74.8 animals. The study found that the mean external and internal biosecurity scores for the selected dairy farms were 45.4% and 43.7%, respectively. Among the subcategories, the highest external biosecurity score was observed for ‘vermin control and other animals’ (63%), and the highest internal biosecurity score was observed for ‘adult cattle management’ (76.6%). Whereas the lowest score for external biosecurity was observed for ‘purchase and reproduction’ (30.6%), and the lowest score for internal biosecurity was observed for ‘health management’ (33.6%). The overall mean biosecurity score of the present study was 44.8%, which was lower than the overall mean global score of 52%. The correlation analysis indicated a positive correlation between herd size and overall biosecurity scores, indicating that larger farms had, on average, higher biosecurity scores. Based on these results, it can be concluded that the implementation of biosecurity measures on dairy farms in Punjab needs improvement, especially in the subcategories of ‘purchase and reproduction’ and ‘health management’. Further research to identify the factors influencing the implementation of biosecurity measures on dairy farms in the region is recommended.