The Role of Biosecurity in Promoting Farm Animal Welfare in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

Abstract

Animal farming in Low-and-Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) is predominantly managed by smallholder farmers, who play a vital role in meat production and related agricultural activities crucial for community livelihoods. However, challenges abound in rural LMIC areas, marked by inadequate infrastructure, weak disease surveillance, insufficient financial resources, governance issues, and poor collaboration among stakeholders. These challenges compromise animal welfare in aspects such as breeding, feeding, health management, and reproduction. The deficiency and complexity of implementing biosafety measures exacerbate the situation, posing barriers to animal welfare in LMICs. This chapter advocates for a holistic, systems-based approach to biosecurity, encompassing interconnected factors like production, animal health, disease prevention, and environmental sustainability. Biosecurity aspects will be addressed and strategies will be proposed, emphasizing a One Health approach. Effective adoption of biosecurity practices, including a comprehensive focus on animal health and welfare, can yield numerous benefits. These include improved animal health, environmental sustainability, enhanced quality of final products (meat, milk, eggs), adherence to hygiene standards, disease prevention, and long-term cost savings for smallholder farmers in LMICs. This chapter underscores the importance of biosecurity measures in promoting sustainable and humane animal farming practices in resource-limited settings.