Practical biosecurity steps on your farm

Strong biosecurity practices on your property are crucial to protecting your animals, as well as the safety of our food and agricultural industries, from pests and diseases.

Take these steps on-farm for high standard biosecurity.

Get a Property Identification Code

Register for a free Property Identification Code (PIC) using our Online PIC service.

PICs provide vital information about the location of animals and allow the Victorian Government to contact you during disease outbreaks and emergencies.

If you already have a PIC, make sure your details are up to date.

Update the National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) database

Ensure timely uploads of any livestock movements on the National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) database.

Make a farm biosecurity plan

A farm biosecurity plan should promote good hygiene practices and control the movement of livestock, people, and equipment onto your property.

Make sure your plan includes a farm biosecurity map and a BMP coversheet (WORD - 36.4 KB)  and update it regularly.

A BMP coversheet includes mandatory content and a map that outlines your property’s boundaries and biosecurity management areas. This information, along with compliant biosecurity signage, is required under the Livestock Management Act 2010, to enforce prosecution in the event of illegal trespass or non-compliance with the farm’s biosecurity protocols. Find farm biosecurity plan and BMP coversheet templates at Farm biosecurity plan templates.

Manage vehicles and visitors on your property

Document all vehicle movements onto your property, such as fodder deliveries and milk pick-ups, agricultural contractors.

Limit the access visitors or contractors have to your livestock or livestock holding areas and ensure everyone arrives with clean footwear and clothing.

Use biosecurity signage at all vehicle and pedestrian access points that clearly outline all visitor obligations.

Sign templates can be downloaded from Changes to the Livestock Management Act 2010 page. Existing biosecurity signs may be modified to include the required information via the application of a robust (e.g. vinyl) sticker.

Have facilities and equipment in place for washing and disinfecting shoes and clothing and any other equipment and vehicles that enter your property.

Managing your livestock

If you are working on a property and are in contact with sick animals, wash your hands, change your clothing, and wash footwear and any equipment after contact to avoid infecting other healthy animals.

Keep up to date records of your livestock movements on and off your property.

When new livestock arrive on your property, isolate them and monitor closely for any signs of sickness for up to two weeks (minimum seven days) before joining with your existing flock or herd. Always continually monitor the health of your herd or flock.

Do not feed or supply pigs with meat, meat products, imported dairy or any food that has been served on the same plate or has come into contact with meat. This is prohibited pig feed.

Know the signs of disease

Understand the signs of disease in different types of livestock. At first suspicion of sickness or a disease that concerns you, contact your local vet or notify Agriculture Victoria on the Emergency Animal Disease Watch Hotline phone number 1800 675 888

FMD is a notifiable exotic disease, and any suspected cases must be reported to Agriculture Victoria immediately.

To learn more about foot-and-mouth disease, and any changes to this advice, please visit the Foot-and-mouth disease page.