What are the main farm animal diseases, how are TB and brucellosis controlled, and what is biosecurity?
The cause, symptoms, prevention and treatment of mastitis, fluke, pneumonia and salmonella, the effect and economic impact of tuberculosis and brucellosis, how their spread is limited, and the meaning of farm biosecurity.
A focused CCEA GCSE Agriculture and Land Use answer on animal health and disease, covering the cause, symptoms, prevention and treatment of mastitis, fluke, pneumonia and salmonella, the effect and economic impact of TB and brucellosis, limiting disease spread, and farm biosecurity.
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What this dot point is asking
CCEA wants you to give the cause, symptoms, prevention and treatment of four named diseases (mastitis, fluke, pneumonia, salmonella), describe the effect and economic impact of TB and brucellosis, outline how their spread is limited, and explain farm biosecurity.
The four named diseases
Tuberculosis and brucellosis
Economic impact
- Infected animals must be slaughtered, so farmers lose valuable stock.
- Affected herds face movement restrictions, so animals cannot be sold or moved, cutting income.
- Testing, compensation and control schemes are costly.
- Both can affect human health, raising public health concerns and costs.
Limiting their spread
The government and agencies limit spread by regular compulsory testing, slaughtering infected (reactor) animals, restricting movement of affected herds, and keeping movement records (for example through APHIS), backed by good biosecurity.
Biosecurity
Good practice includes disinfectant foot baths at entrances, cleaning and disinfecting vehicles, equipment and housing, isolating (quarantining) new or sick animals, and controlling visitor and animal movements.
Examples in context
Example 1. A TB breakdown on a farm. A herd tests positive for TB, so the reactor animals are slaughtered and the farm is placed under movement restrictions, meaning no cattle can be sold or moved until clear tests are achieved. The farmer loses stock and income, showing the heavy economic impact of TB and why testing and movement control are essential.
Example 2. Biosecurity for new stock. A farmer buying in new cattle keeps them isolated (quarantined) for a period and uses a disinfectant foot bath at the shed entrance. This biosecurity stops any disease the new animals might carry from spreading to the existing herd, protecting the whole farm.
Try this
Q1. State the cause of mastitis in cows and one way to prevent it. [2 marks]
- Cue. Bacterial infection of the udder; prevent with good milking hygiene (clean equipment, teat dipping, clean bedding).
Q2. Give one reason TB has a large economic impact on farming. [1 mark]
- Cue. Infected animals are slaughtered and herds face movement restrictions, costing farmers stock and income.
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of CCEA exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
CCEA Unit 2 style6 marksFor mastitis in cows, describe its cause, one symptom, and how it can be prevented and treated.Show worked answer →
Marks for cause, symptom, prevention and treatment.
Cause: mastitis is an infection and inflammation of the udder, usually caused by bacteria entering the teat, often linked to poor milking hygiene or a dirty environment.
Symptoms: the udder becomes swollen, hot and painful, and the milk is abnormal (clots, flakes or watery milk), with milk yield falling.
Prevention: keep good milking hygiene (clean, well-maintained milking equipment, teat dipping after milking, clean dry bedding) so bacteria cannot enter the udder.
Treatment: treat the affected cow with antibiotics as advised by a vet, and discard her milk during the withdrawal period so it does not enter the food chain.
Markers reward the bacterial/hygiene cause, a clear udder symptom, hygiene-based prevention and antibiotic treatment with the withdrawal point.
CCEA Unit 2 style4 marksExplain the impact of tuberculosis (TB) and brucellosis on the agricultural economy, and outline one way their spread is limited.Show worked answer →
Three marks for the economic impact and one for limiting spread.
TB and brucellosis are serious cattle diseases. They harm the economy because infected animals must be slaughtered, so farmers lose valuable stock; herds are placed under movement restrictions, so animals cannot be sold or moved, hitting income; testing, compensation and control schemes are costly to run; and both diseases can affect human health, raising public health concerns and costs.
Their spread is limited by regular compulsory testing of cattle, slaughtering reacting (infected) animals, restricting the movement of affected herds, and keeping records of animal movements (for example through APHIS), along with good biosecurity.
Markers reward several economic impacts (slaughter, movement restrictions, costs, human health) plus one valid control measure.
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