University Dissertation - Biosecurity survey

[Lydia Haydon]

Hello,
My name is Lydia Haydon, I'm currently in my final year studying Bio-Veterinary Science at Harper Adams University.
As final years we are required to carry out research projects (HRP/Dissertation) on a chosen subject.

My HRP title is as follows - Attitudes to biosecurity in the farming industry: An investigation into the key influences on farmers regarding the implementation of biosecurity practices, current awareness of pathogen risk and preliminary response to the Covid-19 pandemic and its effects to biosecurity implementation

I would be very grateful if people could take the time to complete my survey- it should take roughly 10 minuets to complete and all responses are anonymous

Thank you in advance,
Lydia

LINK TO SURVEY

** https://harper-adams.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/attitudes-to-biosecurity-in-the-farming-industry-an-inves-2 **

 

[Lydia Haydon]

Hello,
My name is Lydia Haydon, I'm currently in my final year studying Bio-Veterinary Science at Harper Adams University.
As final years we are required to carry out research projects (HRP/Dissertation) on a chosen subject.

My HRP title is as follows - Attitudes to biosecurity in the farming industry: An investigation into the key influences on farmers regarding the implementation of biosecurity practices, current awareness of pathogen risk and preliminary response to the Covid-19 pandemic and its effects to biosecurity implementation.

I would be very grateful if people could take the time to complete my survey- it should take roughly 10 minuets to complete and all responses are anonymous.

Thank you in advance,
Lydia

LINK TO SURVEY
** https://harper-adams.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/attitudes-to-biosecurity-in-the-farming-industry-an-inves-2 **

 

[Ffermer Bach]

just doing it now, remember farm assured can be FAWL (farm assured Welsh Livestock), not just Red Tractor. Also, you have to tick beef or sheep, but stock farms are often both.

My biggest fear about biosecurity is Wales becoming a NVZ. At present slurry is spread in house with a splash plate spreader. I think Slurry is an excellent medium to spread diseases. If we have to inject/dribble bar all slurry, I think there will be a big increase in the use of contractors for this. The upshot of the increased use of contractors will be, an increase in the spreading of diseases between farms. I have never heard of anyone cleaning out the inside of a tanker, or an umbilical spreading system! I discussed the spreading of TB with a ministry vet, and we talked about slurry spreading and how it is good practice to use in house machinery, welsh politicians have just kicked that out of the parc!

 

[CopperBeech]

Being honest a lot of sheep farmers are clueless

 

[Agrivator]

I started the survey, but it didn't give me the option of stating Beef + Sheep.

One aspect of biosecurity is that farmers have little or no control on who visits the farm - official or uninvited. Lorry drivers, vets, knackery vehicles, Farm Assurance inspectors, ATV thieves etc all have either zero or little regard to biosecurity.

 

[MRT]

There is no biosecurity in sheep. There is little in cattle. The pig industry knows what biosecurity is

 

[Lydia Haydon]

Thankyou for the helpful feedback, Ive now added in a "Mixed livestock" option if this helps. I'm grateful to receive all responses from all farm livestock areas as any differences in biosecurity practices will help me greatly with my survey results

 

[Ffermer Bach]

I started the survey, but it didn't give me the option of stating Beef + Sheep.

One aspect of biosecurity is that farmers have little or no control on who visits the farm - official or uninvited. Lorry drivers, vets, knackery vehicles, Farm Assurance inspectors, ATV thieves etc all have either zero or little regard to biosecurity.

also footpaths and people having a "right" to wander!

 

[Lydia Haydon]

Thanks for the helpful feedback and for taking the time to complete it, that's really interesting and a great help to give me some wider perspective

 

[CopperBeech]

Funny folk talking of some of the minor potential bio security risks, when most farmers probably couldn’t tell you what most iceberg diseases etc are abs don’t know the first thing about them, but random stuff out of mart, use common grazing etc etc