Comparative study of biosecurity among cattle farms in Austria

Abstract

Biosecurity is an essential component of modern cattle farming, preventing the introduction and spread of infectious disease which has not only an impact on animal health, but also on farm productivity and economic sustainability. This thesis evaluates biosecurity measures on Austrian dairy and beef farms using the Biocheck.UGent survey, which is a risk-based tool designed to quantify biosecurity practices. The results of the survey were analyzed and compared to the world average to identify strengths, weaknesses and areas for improvement.