From awareness to action: the imperative of biosecurity risk assessment in Serbian cattle production

Biosecurity is the base of sustainable cattle production, preventing pathogen outbreaks and spreading threatening cows’ health and productivity and public safety. Serbian dairy and beef operations are mostly small- to medium-sized family farms with structural, economic, and other constraints, limiting biosecurity implementation. Despite increasing farmers’ awareness of disease risks, systematic evaluation of biosecurity practices and critical risk factors remain limited. Risk-based approach with standardized assessment tools may limit pathogen transmission and enhance herd health. The socio-economic, managerial, and educational factors that influence farmers’ adoption of preventive practices, underscoring the need for targeted interventions and capacity-building programs were reviewed. The strategies integrating risk assessment into national veterinary frameworks and extension services, emphasizing the potential benefits for productivity, disease prevention, and One Health outcomes were discussed.

Keywords: biosecurity, cattle production, risk assessment, disease prevention, herd health