Prevention Over Response

Biosecurity excellence prevents disasters. Foot-and-mouth disease outbreaks destroying herds. Avian influenza forcing facility closures. Disease transmission decimating endangered breeding programmes. Single biosecurity breach can undo years of work. Prevention costs pennies. Response costs thousands.

This section establishes biosecurity best practices for preventive protocols, regular assessments, visitor management, and zone compliance. These are proven patterns minimising disease introduction and spread across animal management contexts.

1. Preventive Biosecurity Protocols

Why Protocols Matter

Ad-hoc biosecurity fails under pressure. When workload increases, staff shortages occur, or routines change, undocumented practices get skipped.

Protocols provide:

• Consistency: Same procedure executed identically by different staff members
• Accountability: Clear assignment (who does what, when, how often)
• Verifiability: Execution documented, compliance measurable
• Training: New staff follow established procedures
• Regulatory compliance: Authorities require documented protocols for export certification

Example: Commercial poultry farm maintains export certification requiring documented biosecurity protocols. During audit, inspectors verify protocols exist, review execution records, confirm compliance. Farm with documented protocols + execution evidence = certification renewed. Farm without documentation = certification suspended pending compliance demonstration.

Protocol Categories

Kora supports six biosecurity protocol categories:

Select category matching primary purpose. If protocol covers multiple areas, categorise by primary goal and note secondary benefits in description.

Creating Effective Protocols

Essential protocol elements:

1. Clear Name: Descriptive, searchable (e.g., "Daily Quarantine Health Check - All Species")
2. Detailed Description: What, why, how
3. Frequency Definition: Execution schedule (Daily, Weekly, Monthly, Quarterly, Annually, Custom)
4. Priority Level: Importance classification (Mandatory, High, Medium, Low)
5. Checklist Items: Step-by-step tasks (specific, measurable, verifiable)

Example Protocol

Name: Daily Quarantine Health Check - Cattle

Category: Health Check

Description: Systematic visual health assessment of all cattle in quarantine isolation pen to detect early signs of infectious disease, monitor health status during mandatory quarantine period, ensure compliance with export health certification requirements.

Frequency: Daily (every 24 hours)

Priority: Mandatory

Checklist Items:

1. Observe all animals for abnormal behaviour (Pass: Animals alert, responsive, normal group interactions)
2. Check appetite and water intake (Pass: Feed consumed within normal range 80-100%, water level decreased)
3. Assess general body condition (Pass: Coat quality normal, posture normal, movement coordinated)
4. Look for disease symptoms (Pass: No discharge, no coughing, no diarrhoea, no visible lesions)
5. Record temperature if abnormalities suspected (Trigger: If any above checks fail; Normal range: 38.0-39.5°C)
6. Document observations in Kora (For each animal: Create health observation)
7. Report concerns immediately (If Critical symptoms: Call veterinarian immediately)

Protocol Compliance Tracking

Kora tracks protocol compliance metrics:

• On-Time Execution Rate: % of protocols executed by due date (Target: ≥ 95% for mandatory protocols)
• Completion Quality: % of executions with all checklist items completed (Target: 100% for mandatory items)
• Average Execution Time: How long protocol actually takes
• Issues Found Per Execution: Frequency of problems detected

Addressing compliance gaps:

If protocols frequently missed (< 90% completion rate):

1. Review workload: Are staff overassigned?
2. Clarify responsibility: Is "responsible person" clear and acknowledged?
3. Adjust frequency: Is "daily" realistic? Could "every 2 days" achieve 95% compliance?
4. Simplify checklist: Are items too numerous or too vague?
5. Training: Do staff understand why protocol matters?

2. Regular Biosecurity Assessments

Assessment Purpose and Scope

Biosecurity assessments are comprehensive facility evaluations. Systematic review of 12 operational categories with 76+ specialised checklist items assessing risk, compliance, and preparedness across property, livestock, inputs, people, equipment, health, waste, infrastructure, pests, security, employees, and outputs.

Assessments differ from protocols:

• Protocols: Regular tasks (daily, weekly) maintaining biosecurity
• Assessments: Periodic audits (quarterly, annually) evaluating overall biosecurity status

Assessment outcomes:

• Compliance score: 0-100% based on checklist responses
• Risk level: Low, Medium, High, Critical (derived from compliance score)
• Critical issues: Items marked both "Critical" AND "No/NeedsWork" requiring urgent action
• Action items: Specific tasks generated from gaps identified

Assessment Frequency Recommendations

Triggering additional assessments:

• Disease outbreak (on-property or regional): Immediate assessment
• New animal introductions: Within 7 days of arrival completion
• Regulatory inspection scheduled: 30 days before inspection
• Significant operational change: New facilities, changed stocking density, new species introduced
• Prior assessment score < 70%: Follow-up assessment within 30 days

12-Category Assessment Framework

Kora's biosecurity assessment covers:

1. Property Details: Emergency contact information, biosecurity plan documented, isolation facilities available
2. Stock Inventory: All animals identified and recorded, locations current, species/breed information complete
3. Livestock Inputs: New arrivals quarantined, purchase source verified, health certificates validated, vaccination records current
4. Feed Management: Feed storage secure (pest-proof, dry, elevated), supplier verification, no contamination
5. People, Equipment & Vehicles: Visitor log maintained, footbaths functional, vehicle disinfection, equipment cleaning documented
6. Herd Health: Regular health observations documented, veterinary relationship established, disease monitoring active
7. Waste Management: Manure stored away from animal areas, dead animal disposal compliant, wastewater managed
8. Fences & Boundaries: Perimeter fences intact, gates functional, subdivision fences intact, wildlife barriers effective
9. Pest & Weed Control: Rodent control active, insect control implemented, weed management, wildlife management
10. Farm Security: Access control (gates locked), visitor screening procedures, biosecurity signage visible
11. Employee Risk Assessment: Multi-property workers identified, hygiene protocols enforced, travel history screening
12. Outgoing Products: Transport vehicles cleaned, health certificates issued, documentation complete

Response Scoring and Compliance Calculation

Each checklist item receives a response:

Compliance score calculation:

Compliance Score = (Sum of weighted positive responses / Total possible weight) × 100

Risk Level assignment:

• Low Risk (Green): 90-100% compliance
• Medium Risk (Yellow): 70-89% compliance
• High Risk (Orange): 50-69% compliance
• Critical Risk (Red): 0-49% compliance

Critical Issues and Action Items

Critical issues flagged when:

• Item marked as "Critical" importance AND response = "No" or "Needs Work"

Automatic action item generation:

• Critical issues: Create task due in 7 days, assigned to farm manager, priority = High
• Moderate issues: Create task due in 30 days, assigned to responsible person, priority = Medium
• Recommendations: Note in assessment report, no automatic task

3. Visitor Management Best Practices

Risk-Based Visitor Screening

Not all visitors pose equal biosecurity risk. Risk-based screening tailors protocols to actual threat level.

Visitor risk scoring (Kora's point-based system):

Category 1: Travel History (0-35 points)

• International travel past 7 days: +15 points
• High-risk country travel (FMD, ASF, AI endemic): +25 points

Category 2: Multi-Property Contact (0-30 points)

• Visited 2+ properties past 7 days: +15 points
• Visited property with reported disease: +20 points
• Livestock market exposure: +15 points

Category 3: Animal Contact Intensity (0-25 points)

• Direct livestock contact expected: +8 points
• Bringing equipment from other properties: +10 points
• Vehicle not disinfected: +8 points

Category 4: Disease Exposure (0-35 points)

• FMD exposure: +20 points
• African Swine Fever exposure: +20 points
• Avian Influenza exposure: +20 points

Category 5: Personal Health (0-15 points)

• Illness symptoms: +10 points
• Known infection exposure: +8 points

Category 6: Biosecurity Readiness (0-10 points)

• No PPE available: +5 points
• Refuses biosecurity protocols: +10 points

Risk Level Determination:

• Green (0-20 points): Low risk → Standard protocols, no manager approval needed
• Amber (21-60 points): Medium risk → Enhanced protocols (footbath, hand wash, limited access)
• Red (61-100 points): High risk → Manager approval required, strict protocols, possible denial

QR Code Check-In/Check-Out Workflow

QR code visitor management streamlines biosecurity:

Setup (one-time):

1. Kora generates unique QR code for your location
2. Print and post QR code at main entrance
3. QR code links to mobile-friendly check-in form

Check-In Process (visitor):

1. Visitor scans QR code with smartphone
2. Form opens with pre-filled location
3. Visitor completes: Name, company, contact details, purpose of visit, expected duration, risk screening questions
4. System calculates risk score
5. If Green/Amber: Check-in confirmed, visitor proceeds
6. If Red: Manager notification sent, visitor waits for approval

Manager Approval Workflow (if Red risk):

1. Manager receives notification: "High-risk visitor requires approval"
2. Manager reviews: Visitor details, risk score breakdown, current facility status
3. Manager decides: Approve, Approve with Conditions, Deny, or Escalate
4. Visitor notified of decision via mobile

During Visit:

• Visitor follows assigned protocols
• Zone access tracked if visitor enters restricted areas
• Staff can view current visitors via dashboard

Check-Out Process (visitor):

1. Visitor scans QR code again
2. Confirms departure time
3. Optional: Completes exit questions
4. System records check-out timestamp
5. Visit duration calculated

Visitor Protocol Compliance

Essential protocols by risk level:

Green (Low Risk):

• Check-in/check-out documented
• Footbath optional (unless entering animal areas)
• Visitor badge/identification

Amber (Medium Risk):

• Check-in/check-out required
• Footbath mandatory (entering animal areas)
• Hand wash/sanitiser before animal contact
• Biosecurity briefing (written or verbal)
• Zone access logged
• Vehicle disinfection (if entering property with vehicle)

Red (High Risk):

• Manager approval required
• Complete risk assessment documented
• Footbath mandatory
• Full PPE (disposable coveralls, boots, gloves if animal contact)
• Dedicated biosecurity briefing
• Supervised access (staff accompaniment)
• Restricted zones only
• Vehicle disinfection (comprehensive)
• Equipment restrictions
• Post-visit monitoring

4. Biosecurity Zone Compliance

Zone Definition and Security Levels

Biosecurity zones are spatially defined areas with specific access and protocol requirements. Physical boundaries (fences, gates) + GeoJSON polygons on maps + security level classification guiding what happens in each zone.

Security Levels:

Zone Definition Best Practices:

1. Descriptive Names: "Quarantine Zone - North Paddock Isolation Pen" not "Zone 1"
2. Clear Boundaries: Draw GeoJSON polygons matching physical fences
3. Purpose Documentation: Explain why zone exists
4. Protocol Linkage: Specify which protocols required in this zone
5. Duration: Temporary zones (quarantine) have defined duration

Access Control Enforcement

Zone-based access control works through:

Physical Controls:

• Locked gates (only authorised personnel have keys/codes)
• Fencing with appropriate height/strength
• Signage (biosecurity zone markers visible, specify requirements)
• Footbaths at entry points

Digital Controls (via Kora mobile app):

• GPS proximity alerts
• Zone access logging: System records who entered which zones, when, for how long
• Permission verification: App checks user's access level before allowing zone-specific actions

Best Practices:

• Single entry point: Reduce zone access to one gate (easier to enforce protocols)
• Visual indicators: Colour-coded signage matching Kora's security level colours
• Protocol stations: Footbath, hand sanitiser, PPE at entry point
• Audit logs: Review zone access logs weekly

Zone Movement Tracking

When personnel or animals move between zones:

Personnel Tracking:

• Check-in at zone entry (via QR code or manual log)
• Zone ID recorded in visitor log or staff activity log
• Duration calculated (entry time → exit time)

Animal Tracking:

• Movement records automatically capture from-zone and to-zone
• If animal moved from Quarantine Zone → Restricted Zone: System checks quarantine completion
• Alerts if premature movement attempted

Contact Tracing via Zones:

• If disease detected in animal from Zone A, system identifies all other animals that shared Zone A during exposure window
• If disease requires spatial isolation, system identifies all zones within X metres of infected animal's location

Breach Prevention and Response

Common breach scenarios:

Scenario 1: Unauthorised Access

• Detection: Zone access log shows person without authorisation entered quarantine area
• Response: Manager reviews (was it authorised but not logged? Genuine breach?)
• Action: If genuine breach, interview person, monitor quarantined animals, retrain staff

Scenario 2: Protocol Non-Compliance

• Detection: Biosecurity assessment or staff observation notes footbath empty, unused
• Response: Immediate refill, verify who entered zone without footbath use
• Action: Contact tracing, staff retraining, increase monitoring frequency

Scenario 3: Premature Animal Movement

• Detection: Animal moved from quarantine zone before 21-day period complete
• Response: Immediate return to quarantine (if caught quickly), veterinary consultation
• Action: If animal contacted main herd: Main herd now considered exposed, implement monitoring

Scenario 4: Zone Boundary Breach (physical fence failure)

• Detection: Animal from quarantine zone found in restricted zone
• Response: Immediate animal recapture, fence inspection and repair
• Action: Contamination assumed, both zones treated as exposed, implement health monitoring

Preventive Measures:

• Regular zone inspections: Weekly fence checks, gate functionality, signage visibility
• Staff training: Annual biosecurity refresher, specific training on zone access protocols
• Technology aids: GPS alerts, mobile app access verification, dashboard monitoring
• Clear consequences: Documented policy on unauthorised access