Bridging the gap between biosecurity and welfare for resilient animal production systems

A sustainable animal production includes happy and healthy animals free of infectious disease. To estimate this we can measure animal welfare and biosecurity.

However, good biosecurity (BS) and good animal welfare (AW) are not mutually exclusive as some BS measures can mean decreased AW and vice versa.

Thus, costs and benefits associated with implementation of AW and BS measures should be considered together, taking into account long-term impacts and larger perspectives as well as priorities and perspectives of the farmer who is the one carrying out actions and changes on farm. However, currently they are considered separately.

In this project, the links between BS and AW will be explored to enable a more holistic approach.

By using opportunities from the development of BS and AW protocols and research investigating the benfits/costs of biosecurity methods opportunities and needs for a common assessment will be evaluated and areas of overlap/gaps identified.

Through surveys, in-depth interviews and workshops the needs and practical considerations of farmers, consumers and stakeholders are addressed when shaping the strategy for balancing AW and BS to ensure a sustainable and resilient animal production in the near future. The long-term impacts of applying AW and BS measures will be explored by two types of modelling.

In the end this will provide tools and methods that connect the two areas as well as an understanding of how farmers and other stakeholders view the road ahead.