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Biosecurity is a system of measures based on preventive action against external and internal biological threats. Combined with proper management and effective control, it helps reduce the risk of infectious disease transmission.
A farm biosecurity system is designed to:
- prevent the introduction of pathogenic microorganisms onto the farm
- eliminate them or limit their spread
- destroy or reduce pathogens already present on the farm
- control disease incidence in animals
- reduce the risk of product contamination or biological infection
- improve livestock productivity
Losses are inevitable when farm biosecurity remains weak. A well-organised biosecurity system is an essential tool for protecting animal health, human health, and product safety.
Goat Farm Biosecurity Plan
- A disinfection and sanitation programme for livestock facilities must be developed on the farm. The frequency of disinfection measures should be determined in line with the specific production cycle.
- It is important to carry out decontamination of pathogenic microflora and to maintain regular preventive hoof hygiene. This can be done by driving animals through special tunnel hoof baths or by spraying with mobile hoof treatment units using dedicated hoof hygiene products.
- A preventive veterinary vaccination programme for the entire herd should be developed and strictly followed in accordance with the epizootic situation and the infectious diseases identified on the farm.
- Special attention must be given to veterinary care for young stock, sanitary housing conditions for lambs, compliance with the all-in all-out system, sanitation of feeding equipment, and timely early-life procedures such as treatment of the navel in newborn lambs, colostrum feeding, and the first preventive treatments.
- A daily clinical veterinary examination of the herd should be carried out. Sick animals and those suspected of infectious disease must be identified, isolated, and treated, or a decision should be made regarding their further use, including culling or slaughter for sanitary reasons.
- If animals with suspected infectious disease are identified, or if disease is suspected without an obvious cause, pathological material should be tested in the laboratory to clarify the diagnosis and prevent possible spread of infection.
- Preventive treatment of the entire goat herd against endoparasites and ectoparasites is essential to prevent parasitic diseases and exclude vector-borne spread of infection within the herd.
- Farm buildings should undergo insect control treatment against insects and their larvae.
- Rodent control should be carried out in livestock buildings, feed storage areas, and staff facilities in order to eliminate rodents and prevent the introduction of infection.
- Work on the farm must be carried out only in protective clothing and footwear. This clothing must be washed and sanitized directly on site.
- All farm workers and visitors must be healthy and have documented medical confirmation that they are not ill and are not carriers of zoonotic diseases transmissible between humans and animals.
- Bird deterrent devices must be installed to prevent contamination of the buildings.
- No stray animals, including dogs and cats, should be present on the farm premises.
- Newly purchased animals or animals transferred from other farms must be kept in quarantine for 30 days, isolated from other animals in a separate building, referred to as an isolation unit, or on a separate outdoor area.
- All types of feed, including finished feed, must be monitored. A sample from each new batch should be tested for bacteriological contamination and mycotoxins.
- Water used for livestock drinking should undergo laboratory testing at least once a year for pathogenic microorganisms. Its chemical composition should also be checked for toxic impurities and suitability for animal drinking.
- A full planned screening for infectious diseases must be carried out twice a year in line with recommendations from the veterinary service.
- Biosecurity measures during insemination must be strictly followed.
- Biological material taken from animals, including blood, body fluids, saliva, mucosal swabs, and milk, should be monitored systematically to rule out hidden infections and support timely decisions on infection control and elimination.
- Regular in-house laboratory control of farm products should be carried out.
- Veterinary and sanitary control should be maintained at animal burial sites.
Production buildings must prevent entry by birds and wild animals and must have restricted access for people. Rodent presence should be checked regularly. The all-in all-out principle must be followed in all buildings.
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The quality of goat kids is assessed using several parameters, including health status, live weight, overall development, number of kids in the litter, and any defects in fleece or body conformation. The exact assessment criteria depend on breed characteristics.
Healthy animals have bright eyes with no discharge, and mucous membranes should be pink or pale pink. The animal should move actively and without lameness. Breathing must be calm and even, and there should be no unusual discharge from the nostrils.
On a body condition score from 1 to 5, the ideal level is around 3. The backbone should be felt, but it should not form a sharp ridge. The coat should be even, the skin clean, and the tail area free from fecal contamination.
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Depending on the natural, climatic, and geographical conditions of the farm location, goats may be kept under a pasture system, a pasture-and-housing system, a housing-and-pasture system, or a fully indoor housing system.
Goat management requires a planned set of measures that includes housing, feeding, and proper zoohygienic conditions, taking behavioural traits into account. Goats are usually kept loose in groups on deep bedding, on bedding that is replaced periodically, or without bedding on partially or fully slatted floors. For dairy goats, slatted floor is generally not recommended. Feeding and watering may take place indoors or in outdoor feeding and exercise areas. The pasture system is considered extensive, and its main advantage is lower feeding costs.
Goat housing systems
Housing system Description Pasture-based Used in regions with sufficient pasture, including during winter. Animals remain on pasture throughout the year with the use of seasonal camps. Pasture and indoor housing Iarna, animalele sunt întreținute în adăposturi sau pe platforme de plimbare și hrănire, iar vara – pe pășuni, cu utilizarea taberelor de vară. Suprafața copertinei pentru adăpostirea animalelor în perioada estivală se stabilește la 0,6–0,8 m² pentru o femelă adultă și 0,3–0,4 m² pentru efectivul de animale tinere. Indoor housing and pasture Year-round indoor housing Animals are kept indoors, indoors and in outdoor feeding and exercise areas, or only in outdoor feeding and exercise areas. Fătarea caprelor-mamă este planificată pentru perioada de iarnă, începutul primăverii sau primăvara, iar creșterea caprinelor pentru lapte sau carne – toamna ori pe parcursul întregului an. În sezonul rece, fătarea se desfășoară în adăposturi dotate cu compartiment de fătare și spații încălzite sau în încăperi special amenajate, iar în perioada caldă – sub copertine prevăzute cu adăposturi încălzite.
Kids are raised according to the production system in use. They may stay with their does, be reared in pen or artificially.
Kid rearing methods
Method Description Joint rearing Iezii sunt întreținuți împreună cu mamele în adăpost; în vreme frumoasă – pe platforme de plimbare și hrănire sau pe pășuni. Pen-and-stall rearing Does and kids are kept indoors until the kids reach 10–15 days of age. During the day, does are kept on outdoor feeding and exercise areas or on pasture. In good weather, kids are kept on outdoor feeding and exercise areas separately from the does, and in bad weather they remain indoors. Once or twice a day, usually at night, the does are brought back to the kids for feeding. Artificial rearing Kids are separated from their does within 1–3 days after birth and kept in separate sections for artificial feeding. -
Preparation of the building begins well before the end of the grazing season. Routine repairs are carried out first, along with checks to confirm that feeders and drinkers are sufficient and in proper working condition. After repairs, the premises undergo mechanical cleaning to remove dirt. Surfaces are then washed with hot water until their structure and colour become clearly visible.
Disinfection is performed with hot disinfectant solutions in doses recommended by the manufacturer. Premises are disinfected before the start or after the completion of a specific production cycle.Normele de spațiu în compartimentele colective și în cuști individuale, în cazul întreținerii în adăposturi, sunt în funcție de metoda de amplasare, locul hrănirii, dimensiunea caprelor (în funcție de rasă și de producție), iar pe platformele de plimbare și hrănire – de grupa de vârstă și sex a animalelor.
Dairy goats recommended housing parameters
Age and production group Suprafață, m² Breeding bucks 2–2,5 Doe with kids 2,0–2,5 Non-pregnant does 1,5–1,8 Young stock, 4–12 months 0,6–0,8 Young stock, 12–18 months 0,9–1,0 -
Valorile optime ale temperaturii pentru întreținerea animalelor în adăpost variază între 10–15 °C, umiditatea aerului -70–80%, iar viteza de circulație a aerului – 0,3–0,8 m/s. Caprelor le este mai confortabil în încăperi răcoroase decât în cele calde, astfel încât, la temperaturi ridicate, se intensifică schimbul de aer.
Optimal microclimate parameters for goat housing
Parameter Sheepfolds and housing for bucks, does, and weaned young stock Maternity section in a heated unit, sheepfolds with slatted flooring Housing for does with kids Temperatura, °C 5 (3-6)
15 (12-16)
8-12 Relative humidity, % 75 (50-85)
70 (50-85)
50-75 Recirculare aer, m³ oră/animal
Winter, transitional period, summer15 25
45
15 30
50
10 20
40
Air speed, m/s
Winter, transitional period, summer0,5 0,5
0,8
0,2 0,3
0,5
0,5 0,3
0,2
Contaminare microbiană admisă, mii unități/m³ aer ≤ 70
≤ 70
≤ Permissible concentration of harmful gases CO₂, %;
NH₃, mg/m³;
H₂S, mg/m³
0,3 20,0
10,0
0,25 20,0
10,0
0,25 20,0
10,0
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For maximum comfort of both animals and staff, lighting intensity in goat housing is usually maintained at no less than 200 lux, while some areas may operate within a 160–200 lux range. In indoor housing, the light period should generally last 16–18 hours, followed by 6–8 hours of darkness.
The recommended colour temperature range for lighting is 4000–5000 K, which corresponds to a neutral cool white tone.
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Animals must have unlimited access to fresh, clean water.
Water intake depends on the housing system and on the condition of green forage on pasture. Water demand is higher when animals are fed dry feed. In lactating goats, water intake reaches 3.5 litres for each litre of milk. On average, animals need 2 to 5 litres of water for each kilogram of dry matter intake.
In spring, adult animals drink 3.5–4 litres of water per day, in summer 5–6 litres, in autumn 3–3.5 litres, and in winter 1.7–2.3 litres. Lactating animals may require up to 10 litres per day.
Goats average water requirement
Animal group Litres per day Adult 6-8 Young stock 2-3 Drinking water must meet potable water quality standards.
When animals become thirsty, appetite declines, feed intake drops, and nutrient utilization worsens. The optimal water temperature is 12–15 °C. To prevent heat stress during hot periods, farms use physical protection methods such as shelters, fans, and water spraying, along with functional premixes containing osmoprotectants.
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Animal management should include a schedule of preventive treatments and vaccinations recommended by veterinary services and adapted to the epizootic situation in the region.
If any health problems occur, veterinary advice should be sought without delay.
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