Animal movements are a major risk factor for the spread of infectious diseases in livestock, such as bovine tuberculosis (bTB). Although Belgium has been officially bTB-free since 2003, Mycobacterium bovis is still circulating in the cattle population, with from zero up to nine outbreaks a year during the last decade. In countries of low prevalence, risk-based surveillance may represent a cost-effective approach to demonstrate freedom of infection.

The aims of this study were to analyse cattle movements between herds using social network analysis and to assess the impact of interventions on simulated bTB outbreaks in Belgium using a simulation model of bTB within- and between-herd spread.

Analysis of the Belgian cattle movement network allowed to identify herds with a higher risk for infectious disease transmission. The simulation model showed that targeting surveillance towards selected herds substantially reduced field sampling and laboratory testing while maintaining bTB incidence low. These findings may support veterinary authorities in the design of targeted surveillance and control strategies to detect and control bTB in Belgium.