With the objective of assisting sheep and goat dairy farms in family farming to certify them free of tuberculosis and brucellosis, the National Agri-Food Health and Quality Service (Senasa) implements, together with other institutions, the Inter-institutional Intervention Project in food establishments the province of Buenos Aires.
Article continues below
The plan is aimed at producers of sheep and goat farms of Family Farming - free of charge - registered in the National Registry of Agricultural Producers (Renspa) of Senasa and in the National Registry of Family Farming (Renaf), which operates under the orbit of the National Institute of Family, Peasant and Indigenous Agriculture (INAFCI).
According to the latest survey carried out by the Sheep/Goat Law (Buenos Aires Provincial Execution Unit-UEP) in December 2021, there are 26 sheep dairy establishments and 18 goat dairy establishments in Buenos Aires.
“75% correspond to private producers and 25% to public establishments (national universities and agricultural schools). The estimated number of farms is about 3,600 sheep and 2,400 goats, with a range that goes from 20 to 800 animals per establishment,†said Natalia Galán, Sheep and Goat Law-UEP Buenos Aires technician.
Sanitary work for brucellosis consisted of bleeding sheep and goats over 6 months of age, tuberculinization of sheep over 6 months and goats over 3 months.
“For the certification as a free establishment, two or more diagnoses were made with an interval of 90 days, depending on the case, and in turn we plan to continue with the re-certification of Free Establishments, which is annual", explained Mariana Barros, a veterinarian from the Senasa Family Agriculture Coordination.
"As a result of these tasks, the first goat cheese farm and another sheep farm were set up as a Small Artisanal Food Productive Unit (PUPAA) in the province of Buenos Aires and three producer families have already started the management."
So far, of the dairy farms visited, a percentage higher than 90% obtained the certificate of free establishment for both diseases.
“From INAFCI, for many years, we believe that it is the way to help producers to remain in production and not put the health of the community at stake. For our institutions it is very important to strengthen local family productions, generating roots in the territory and making their productions visible, †said the coordinator of the Buenos Aires province of INAFCI, Armando Carlos Castro.
On behalf of Senasa, agents from the regional centers Buenos Aires Norte, Buenos Aires Sur and the Coordination of Family Agriculture of Senasa participated. ■