Tools that help farmers anticipate and manage disease risks are growing in popularity as outbreaks continue to disrupt livestock sectors.
Digital systems are helping farms respond quickly to threats, according to a biosecurity and disease management specialists Livetec Systems, which is marking 15 years in the pig and poultry sector,
The company began as a small advisory operation focused on practical on-farm support during disease incidents. It has since expanded its services as producers seek better ways to prepare for outbreaks such as avian influenza and African swine fever.
Practical experience
Livetec group managing director Gordon Samet said the business had evolved alongside the changing disease landscape facing livestock producers. In that time, the company has grown from two staff to more than 40 employees.
“We’ve gone from being known largely for our on-the-ground, face-to-face work to becoming a company that blends decades of practical experience with a growing range of digital tools.”
Livetec’s Livestock Protect Platform is now used by more than 4,300 poultry producers. It brings together biosecurity planning, compliance monitoring and disease risk information into one place.
Founder and group technical director Julian Sparrey said the platform had been expanded to include emergency response planning tools, the eBAS digital biosecurity assessment system and wild bird tracking data.
“These features make biosecurity more practical and accessible for farmers, by bringing our four P’s – planning, prediction, prevention, and preparedness – to life in meaningful ways,” he said.
Industry groups say stronger planning and preparedness will be essential as disease threats remain unpredictable.
British Poultry Council chief executive Richard Griffiths said tools that help farmers prepare for outbreaks are becoming more important. “In an increasingly complex disease environment, the ability to plan, predict and prepare is critical.
Mr Griffiths added: “Biosecurity is a cornerstone of sector resilience; our partnership with Livetec reflects our commitment to taking a proactive approach to risk, rather than simply responding to it.”
Training and preparedness programmes are also expanding. Livetec has launched an e-learning platform focused on poultry biosecurity and is running African swine fever readiness workshops with industry partners.
Mr Sparrey said: “Notifiable and endemic diseases remain significant threats to the agricultural industry and ensuring people feel informed, confident and prepared to deal with disease outbreaks will continue to be a priority for us.”