Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
6.3
3.6
Journals
Agriculture
Special Issues
Biosecurity for Animal Premises in Action
share announcement

Biosecurity for Animal Premises in Action

A special issue of Agriculture (ISSN 2077-0472). This special issue belongs to the section "Farm Animal Production".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 August 2026 | Viewed by 4874

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Mo Salman

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Animal Population Health Institute College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523-1644, USA
Interests: infectious animal diseases; preventive veterinary medicine; biosecurity; food security; global health
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Effective biosecurity is essential for protecting animal health, ensuring sustainable production, and safeguarding global food systems. However, challenges remain with regard to translating biosecurity principles into consistent, measurable practices to be implemented by farms and other animal care facilities. This Special Issue focuses on practical applications and data-driven evaluations that will advance the science and practice of biosecurity in real-world settings.

The journal Agriculture (https://www.mdpi.com/journal/agriculture) is seeking submissions for a Special Issue entitled “Biosecurity for Animal Premises in Action,” which will focus on relevant tools, demonstrations, and practical applications of biosecurity measures and their impact on preventing the introduction of animal diseases. Original research, evaluations of training programs, and applied approaches for enhancing biosecurity in animal populations are welcome. We anticipate submissions of the following:

  1. Original research articles exploring the application of biosecurity practices across various livestock species and production systems, including metrics to measure impact and methods of evaluation.
  2. Descriptive manuscripts detailing training programs, including their structure, implementation, and demonstrated outcomes.
  3. Applied approaches to enhancing biosecurity in different livestock sectors, supported by case studies or validation data.
  4. Evidence-based evaluations of challenges and gaps in implementing biosecurity measures, along with proposed solutions.

Prof. Dr. Mo Salman
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Agriculture is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • biosecurity
  • animal premises
  • livestock
  • animal diseases
  • biosecurity tools

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Other

23 pages, 1669 KB  
Article
Design and Implementation of Integrated Biosecurity–Biosafety Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Survey on Front Range Colorado Dairy Farms (2020–2021)
by Robert Fathke, Mo Salman, Pablo Pinedo and Sangeeta Rao
Agriculture 2026, 16(10), 1063; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture16101063 - 13 May 2026
Viewed by 303
Abstract
Dairy farms are complex environments where cattle, workers, and the farm environment interact, creating opportunities for infectious disease transmission across animal, human, and environmental interfaces. During the COVID-19 pandemic, little was known about dairy farmers’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding integrated livestock [...] Read more.
Dairy farms are complex environments where cattle, workers, and the farm environment interact, creating opportunities for infectious disease transmission across animal, human, and environmental interfaces. During the COVID-19 pandemic, little was known about dairy farmers’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding integrated livestock biosecurity and worker biosafety. This study aimed to develop and demonstrate the application of an integrated biosecurity–biosafety KAP questionnaire and pilot test for dairy farms. A novel English and Spanish version of the questionnaire was developed using published biosecurity literature, zoonosis-related studies, expert input, and existing dairy biosecurity tools. From June 2020 to August 2021, 18 Front Range Colorado dairy farms were contacted, and 6 farms enrolled. Data were collected from 50 participants, analyzed descriptively; selected associations were examined using Chi-square or Fisher’s exact tests, odds ratios, and 95% confidence intervals. The final questionnaire captured integrated KAP on livestock biosecurity, zoonoses, biosafety, and COVID-19. Important knowledge gaps were identified, particularly regarding human-to-animal disease transmission and zoonoses training. Supervisors generally demonstrated broader knowledge than workers and organic farms showed higher knowledge levels than conventional farms. Veterinarians were highly trusted information sources. Training was associated with improved zoonosis-related knowledge, and several animal-focused and human-focused preventive practices were significant. This study demonstrates the feasibility and value of an integrated dairy farm biosecurity–biosafety KAP tool and highlights the need for tailored, bilingual, One Health-oriented training. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biosecurity for Animal Premises in Action)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 1237 KB  
Article
Biosecurity Practices on Small- and Medium-Scale Dairy Farms in Northern Kosovo: A Risk-Based Scoring Assessment
by Blerta Mehmedi, Diellor Voca, Curtis R. Youngs, Claude Saegerman, Arben Sinani, Behlul Behluli, Sadik Heta and Armend Cana
Agriculture 2026, 16(4), 442; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture16040442 - 14 Feb 2026
Viewed by 594
Abstract
Biosecurity plays a central role in preventing disease transmission in dairy production systems and animal welfare. However, quantitative data on biosecurity implementation in smallholder and medium-scale dairy farms remains inconsistent, especially in developing countries. This study provides a structured assessment of on-farm biosecurity [...] Read more.
Biosecurity plays a central role in preventing disease transmission in dairy production systems and animal welfare. However, quantitative data on biosecurity implementation in smallholder and medium-scale dairy farms remains inconsistent, especially in developing countries. This study provides a structured assessment of on-farm biosecurity practices in northern Kosovo using a standardized, risk-based scoring approach. A cross-sectional survey was conducted on 55 dairy farms using the unmodified Biocheck.UGent™ dairy questionnaire. External and internal biosecurity scores were calculated through predefined, weighted algorithms and analyzed using non-parametric descriptive statistics. Farm-level results were subsequently compared with international reference values derived from the Biocheck.UGent™ global database. The median biosecurity scores for Kosovo farms were 47.8% for external biosecurity and 29.0% for internal biosecurity, indicating uneven implementation with pronounced weaknesses in measures designed to limit within-herd transmission. The lowest-scoring domains were purchase and reproduction and feed and water within external biosecurity, and working organization and equipment, calf management, and calving management within internal biosecurity. In contrast, visitors and farmworkers, control of vermin and other animals among external measures, and adult cattle management among internal measures, showed relatively higher scores, although all remained below international reference levels. When compared with the global overall biosecurity reference median of 76.7% derived from the Biocheck.UGent™ database, the biosecurity performance of the surveyed dairy farms in Kosovo was substantially lower. This gap does not indicate a complete absence of biosecurity measures but rather an uneven application, with the most pronounced deficiency observed in routine practices that govern within-herd disease transmission. The use of a risk-based scoring system allowed these weaknesses to be identified in a structured manner and placed the Kosovo results within an international benchmarking framework. In this context, the approach functions as a practical diagnostic tool, enabling farmers and veterinarians to prioritize feasible, epidemiological-relevant improvements within small- and medium-scale dairy production settings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biosecurity for Animal Premises in Action)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Other

Jump to: Research

21 pages, 793 KB  
Perspective
Economic Perspectives on Farm Biosecurity: Stakeholder Challenges and Livestock Species Considerations
by Blerta Mehmedi, Anna Maria Iatrou, Ramazan Yildiz, Kate Lamont, Maria Rodrigues da Costa, Marco De Nardi, Alberto Allepuz, Tarmo Niine, Jarkko K. Niemi and Claude Saegerman
Agriculture 2025, 15(21), 2288; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15212288 - 3 Nov 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3476
Abstract
Livestock farm biosecurity is crucial for animal health and economic sustainability, however uneven adoption/implementation across diverse livestock species and production systems persists. To improve uptake of biosecurity, it is necessary to identify critical economic behavioural, and systematic barriers, and to outline practical drivers. [...] Read more.
Livestock farm biosecurity is crucial for animal health and economic sustainability, however uneven adoption/implementation across diverse livestock species and production systems persists. To improve uptake of biosecurity, it is necessary to identify critical economic behavioural, and systematic barriers, and to outline practical drivers. Perceived high costs, labour/time burdens, and uncertain benefits can suppress private investment, while poorly designed indemnities can create moral hazard. Conversely, targeted subsidies, risk-based insurance, and market standards (e.g., certification and procurement) can incentivise implementation. Knowledge and trust gaps, especially in smallholder and backyard settings, further limit compliance. Participatory, and context-specific training led by field veterinarians consistently outperforms top–down messaging, with effective element including: simple, low-cost “easy wins”, tiered checklists, and decision-support tools to help embed routines and demonstrate the value of biosecurity. Integrating clear cost–benefit evidence, incentive-based tools, and co-designed training can transform biosecurity from a perceived practical and cost burden into a resilient, profitable practice that delivers public-good benefits for animal health, trade, and One Health across Europe and beyond. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biosecurity for Animal Premises in Action)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-3
Back to TopTop