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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.
Sheep farm biosecurity plan:
- A disinfection and sanitation programme for livestock facilities must be developed. The frequency of disinfection measures should be established 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 vaccination programme for the herd should be developed and strictly followed in line 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 sheep flock against endoparasites and ectoparasites is essential to prevent parasitic diseases and exclude vector-borne spread of infection within the flock.
- 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 introduction of infection onto the farm.
- Work on the farm must be carried out only in protective clothing and footwear. This clothing must be washed and sanitized on site.
- All farm workers 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 across the farm to prevent contamination of the buildings.
- No stray animals, including dogs and cats, should be present on the farm.
- 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.
- It is important to ensure biosecurity during insemination.
- 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 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 production buildings.
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Lamb quality is assessed using several parameters, including health status, live weight, overall development, number of lambs in the litter, and any defects in wool 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. Depending on the age of the animals examined, teeth should also be checked. 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 fleece should be even, the skin clean, and the tail area free from fecal contamination.
Housing systems
Depending on natural, climatic, and geographical conditions at the farm location, sheep may be kept under a pasture system, a pasture-and-housing system, a housing-and-pasture system, or a fully indoor housing system.
Sheep housing systems
Housing system Description Pasture-based Used in regions with sufficient pasture, including during winter. Sheep graze for about 80% of the time, so the need for mechanisation is minimal. Animals remain on pasture throughout the year, with roughage and concentrate supplementation during winter. Pasture and indoor housing Used in regions where grazing is still possible in winter. Sheep spend 60–70% of the time on pasture, which creates a need for mechanisation and labour for feed preparation and manure removal. Feed reserves are required for ewes during lambing and for supplementation in winter and early spring, when green forage is insufficient. Indoor housing and pasture Sheep spend 30–40% of the time on pasture, and pasture feed covers 35–45% of annual feed requirements. Feed production costs rise to 60–70% of total costs. This system is used in regions with a long winter. Year-round indoor housing Oile sunt crescute fără pășunat. Pentru întreținere se utilizează spații de adăpost și mijloace de transport pentru prepararea și distribuirea furajelor. Creșterea intensivă impune respectarea unui set maxim de măsuri zooveterinare. Iarna, animalele sunt ținute și hrănite în adăposturi și în tabere de pășunat cu hrănire, iar vara – doar în tabere de pășunat cu hrănire. -
Sistemul de întreținere pășunat–stabulație este considerat cel mai răspândit. În perioada rece a anului, animalele sunt ținute în adăposturi închise – stâne/țarcuri, iar vara sunt scoase pe pășuni naturale sau cultivate. Chiar și iarna, în condiții meteorologice nefavorabile, oile sunt scoase în țarcuri deschise sau tabere speciale pentru hrănire și mișcare. Se delimitează secții pentru fătare și un punct de inseminare artificială. Pardoseala și gardurile în adăposturile pentru oi sunt realizate din panouri de lemn cu șipci, care pot fi transformate pentru a preveni deplasarea haotică a animalelor.
Sheep barns slatted fencing specifications
Purpose Panel height, cm Gap width in slatted panels, cm For pens in the lambing section 50-60 In the lower part up to a height of 40–50 cm — 5; in the upper part — 12 For pens and small enclosures 80-100 General housing areas for animals 120 For pens in the ram section 120 12-15 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 secțiile de grup și în boxele individuale, în cazul creșterii în adăposturi, depind de modul de amplasare, locul de hrănire, mărimea oilor în funcție de rase și direcțiile de producție; zonele de pășunat cu hrănire – depind de grupa de vârstă și sex a animalelor.
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The optimal conditions for sheep housing are a temperature range of 10–15 °C, air humidity of 70–80%, and air speed of 0.3–0.8 m/s. Sheep feel more comfortable in cool housing than in hot conditions, so air exchange should be increased when temperatures rise.
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Most pens in sheep barns may have a light level of 5–10 lux. For maximum comfort of both animals and staff, lighting in sheep housing is usually maintained at no less than 200 lux, while some areas may operate within a 160–200 lux range. In sheep barns, 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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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. On average, animals need 2 to 5 litres of water for each kilogram of dry matter intake. In spring, adult sheep drink 3.5–4 litres per day, in summer 5–6 litres, in autumn 3–3.5 litres, and in winter 1.7–2.3 litres. Lactating animals require up to 10 litres per day.
Sheep 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 are 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 shades, 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.
Shearing is usually combined with preventive and therapeutic treatment against ectoparasites.
Sheep shearing regulatory requirements
Animal group Number of shearings Season Fine-wool and semi-fine-wool breeds Breeding rams 1 Spring Replacement ram lambs 1 Spring Ewes 1 Spring Replacement ewe lambs 1 Spring Coarse-wool breeds Breeding rams 2 Spring and autumn Replacement ram lambs 2 Spring and autumn Ewes 2 Spring and autumn Replacement ewe lambs 2 Spring and autumn If any health problems occur, veterinary advice should be sought without delay.
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