Overlooked Factors Affect Disease Risk of Intensive Livestock Farming

An international team of scientists concluded that when social, economic, and political factors are considered, intensive animal agriculture could contribute to the risk of infectious diseases developing. Although intensive production is often considered to reduce disease risk because of better control, biosecurity, and separation, researchers found that real-world conditions are less than ideal, and can, in fact, contribute to the development and spread of infectious diseases. According to co-author Dr Kin Wing (Ray) Chan, “Increasing on-farm biosecurity, standardization, and efficiency in farm animal production is not the panacea for achieving a disease-free environment. Rather, we need to reconsider the socio-cultural impacts of intensifying farm animal production on planetary health, environmental sustainability, and animal welfare issues.”