Livestock health: Why biosecurity starts at the farm gate

True biosecurity is about more than just fences; it is about farmer-led resilience. Dr Stefan Steyn joins us to discuss the vital role of the Red Meat Producers' Organisation (RPO) in connecting rural communities with the state, ensuring that producers’ interests remain a priority in national policy.Steyn has spent the last 16 years refining his expertise in the veterinary field. As a technical manager for Afrivet Training Services, his work centres on the intricate relationship between viruses and the immune systems of poultry and livestock.In this episode, he highlights why the responsibility for animal health must begin with the individual farmer, and how the Red Meat Producers' Organisation (RPO) acts as a critical facilitator in shifting the narrative toward farmer-led resilience.Steyn explores the concept of fence-line biosecurity, advocating for a shift toward community-led defence. By adopting a neighbourhood watch model, communal and emerging farmers can form clusters to monitor animal movements and protect shared grazing areas, moving the focus from reactive treatments to sustainable, collective prevention.