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Livestock diseases are a potentially catastrophic type of agricultural risk. Outbreaks – or even rumours of an outbreak – can result in widespread consumer alarm, food safety concerns, disruption of trade, high economic losses and severe effects on incomes, not to mention the human cost of illnesses and deaths arising from animal disease. The globalisation of trade and human movement, and sensitivities to food safety, enhance the relevance and complexity of disease control for livestock.

Governments are increasingly acting to prevent and control livestock diseases, using policies such as regulations and advisory or education systems, and compensation schemes to incentivise producers, veterinarians and others to take appropriate actions. However, in order to ensure efficiency, the nature and financing of these prevention, control and compensation schemes need to be carefully considered, given the need to involve a variety of stakeholders in both design and implementation.

This report is an overview of the management of risk due to livestock diseases. It focuses on government policies relating to livestock health systems and compensation scheme designs, and includes case studies of Australia, Botswana, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Netherlands and Viet Nam.

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