An animal scientist at the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAR&T), Ibadan, Prof. Boye Omole, has advised livestock farmers to adopt biosecurity, which is critical in preventing infectious diseases.

Mr. Omole made the remark in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Ibadan.

He said biosecurity remains the cheapest, most effective means of disease control available and designed to keep potentially infected animals and contaminated objects from healthy livestock farms.

“The purpose of biosecurity is to establish a prevention barrier to disease-causing agents and other threats by minimizing the movement of biological organisms and external threats onto and within livestock operations.

“It recognises that animal diseases cannot be eliminated, but that livestock producers can manage disease risk through effective control measures,” he said.

Mr. Omole emphasised that such infectious agents, whether they cause clinical or sub-clinical disease, significantly reduce the productivity, profitability and long term financial viability of livestock operation.

“Biosecurity is very crucial in livestock production in order to prevent economic loss caused by production losses/premature animal depopulation,” he said.

He, therefore, urged the farmers and government to take every precaution to prevent these diseases, such as keeping animal houses clean and vaccinating livestock, adding that diseases of animals remain a concern because of the economic loss they cause and the possible transmission of the causative agents to humans.