Safeguarding Your Farm and Future – Make Biosecurity Your Priority

By Rachel Kraynick, PAg, Agriculture Programs Specialist, Yorkton

September 2025

Disease outbreaks and the introduction of harmful pests and pathogens into a livestock operation can be devastating for producers. However, there are ways to protect your operation, and it starts with implementing proper biosecurity plans and procedures on your farm or ranch.

The Animal Health and Biosecurity Program provides support for producers in the apiculture, beef cattle, bison, cervids, small ruminants (sheep/goats), dairy, poultry and swine sectors. The purpose of this rebate program is to increase participation in biosecurity and animal welfare initiatives by improving the knowledge and adoption of best practices through training and equipment funding. The program funds approved eligible expenses and equipment costs at 50 per cent to a maximum program payment of $2,500 or $15,000 depending on the application stream.

Biosecurity protocols on operations can apply to a wide range of practices that prevent the introduction, spread and transmission of disease and contaminants that could harm livestock or even the people on your operation. These protocols can involve quarantining animals that were recently purchased to monitor for disease symptoms before introducing them into other parts of the herd. The protocols also include proper hygiene practices such as disinfecting equipment, clothing and vehicles that could bring contamination into your operation. How you manage entry points, animal feed and water, vaccination practices, air quality in barns, record keeping/traceability and waste management can all impact the safety and profitability of your operation.

The Animal Health and Biosecurity Program helps producers mitigate potential biosecurity risks through industry-led training and equipment funding. Some examples of equipment that can be funded for different livestock streams include:

• Segregation pens
• Hand and boot washing stations, backpack sprayers, fogging machines, fumigation equipment and industrial pressure washers
• Radio Frequency Identification technology (RFID) tag-reading equipment (tags are not eligible) improving traceability, monitoring and disease control
• Fencing that restricts access to stored feed, standing water and deadstock piles
• Medical equipment storage
• Air filtration systems
• Water treatment monitoring equipment

Please note that each species of livestock has its own listing of eligible equipment so be sure to check out the list of items. To access funding, eligible producers are required to enrol in their industry-specific training and/or certification, provide proof of a vet client-patient relationship (VCPR) and include copies of all paid invoices.

Don’t take chances, safeguard your operation and your future by participating in the Animal Health and Biosecurity program today.

For more information on this program or to apply, please call our Agriculture Knowledge Centre at 1‑866‑457‑2377 to speak to an agriculture programs specialist.

Funding for the Animal Health and Biosecurity Program is provided under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a federal-provincial-territorial initiative.