Issues of livestock disease management beyond the farm: Collective action, the role of food chains, and influences from wildlife

This chapter considers outside factors that play a role in farmer disease management. It covers how livestock farmers working collectively to manage livestock disease in areas such as risk insurance, surveillance, and in response to livestock epidemics. This collective action often involves partnerships with the government. What influence do actors in the rest of the value chain have on farmer livestock disease management? Responses to food safety and quality, animal welfare and other consumer concerns related to livestock production methods may drive changes in farm practices by aligning incentives with policy objectives. This is followed by a discussion of what the presence of wildlife populations as disease reservoirs and vectors means to disease management and farm decisions. The final section summarises the implications for livestock policy across these issues.