Veterinarska stanica, Vol. 56 No. 2, 2025.
Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.46419/vs.56.2.1
Assessment of implementation of biosecurity measures on livestock farms in three regions of Kosovo
Behlul Behluli
; Poljoprivredni i Veterinarski fakultet, Univerzitet u Prištini, Republika Kosovo, Odjel za reprodukciju životinja, Sveučilište u Prištini, Republika Kosovo
Dhurata Axhami
; Poljoprivredni i Veterinarski fakultet, Univerzitet u Prištini, Republika Kosovo, Odjel za reprodukciju životinja, Sveučilište u Prištini, Republika Kosovo
Rreze M. Gecaj
; Poljoprivredni i Veterinarski fakultet, Univerzitet u Prištini, Republika Kosovo, Odjel za reprodukciju životinja, Sveučilište u Prištini, Republika Kosovo
*
Blerta Mehmedi
; Poljoprivredni i Veterinarski fakultet, Univerzitet u Prištini, Republika Kosovo, Odjel za reprodukciju životinja, Sveučilište u Prištini, Republika Kosovo
Curtis R. Youngs
; M. E. Ensminger katerdra za međunarodnu poljoprivredu životinja, Državno Sveučilište Iowa, SAD
Armend Cana
; Kosovska agencija za hranu i veterinarstvo, Republika Kosovo
* Corresponding author.
Abstract
Biosecurity is a multicomponent procedure that encompasses risk analysis and management strategies relevant to human, animal and plant life, as well as environmental risk assessment. The aim of this study was to assess data related to biosecurity measures implemented by farmers on cattle, sheep and goat farms in Kosovo. A total of 36 farms from three regions of Kosovo, Pristina, Ferizaj and Peja were included. A questionnaire consisting of one open-ended question and 37 closed questions was administered directly to farmers, and the current on-farm situation was observed by the investigators. Based on the collected results, 86% of farms were cattle farms, 8% were sheep farms, and 6% were goat farms. Among all the farms visited, 67% of them operated with a combined system, 28% with a closed system and only 5% operated with an open system. The vast majority of participants (81%) declared that they did not have sufficient knowledge about the term biosecurity, whereas 11% of them were moderately familiar with the term biosecurity and only 8% of them were quite familiar with the term. 83% reported that their animals undergo a veterinary health check only when necessary. Other biosecurity measures applied less frequently included: showering before entering the farm, specific clothing and shoes for visitors, animal quarantine, disinfection and systematic plan for insect and rodent control. We propose that there is room for improving the level of on-farm biosecurity by enhancing practical training and information from local
institutions. We conclude that routine integration of biosecurity measures was not demonstrated by most farmers in their management practices and that there is significant room for improvement concerning the level of biosecurity in Kosovo.
Keywords
on-farm biosecurity; food safety; public health; bioCheckGent; livestock farms
Hrčak ID:
319589
URI
Publication date:
14.8.2024.
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