Biosecurity for the Livestock Enterprise

Biosecurity – Disease Prevention Management practices to protect health of livestock herd –Prevent introduction of pathogen and poison –Establishment of barriers –Minimize movement of biological organisms

Isolation Limit contact and co- mingling of animals Inspect, screen and quarantine new and returning animals Healthy looking animals can harbor/shed infectious agents Use of common or un- clean equipment negates isolation Purchase of new animals is most common biosecurity risk factor

Traffic Control What are points of entry? –Vehicles –Farm Equipment –Other animals

Traffic Control People –Employees –Visitors Previous travel stops Foreign travel Prevention –Footbaths –Disposable boots –Change of clothes

Sanitation Disinfection of things entering ranch –People –Animals –Equipment Maintenance of cleanliness of people and equipment

Sanitation Need to consider the prior stops of deliveries –Fuel –Feed –Livestock trucks Where do the vehicles go? What is the level of cleanliness/disinfection

Sanitation People –Transfer of pathogens on shoes, clothes Equipment –Don’t use same equipment for feed and manure –Clean equipment after potential contamination Clean facilities between groups of animals –Clean environment for working –Reduce transfer of pathogens

Biosecurity – Enterprise Security Protection of the livestock enterprise from external pressures who’s goals are to: –Alter management practices –“Free the animals” –Destroy facilities and equipment –Stop modern agriculture practices –Bring harm to individuals associated with ag enterprisesAgroterrorism PETA, ALF, ELF, Greenpeace, foreign countries

Biosecurity – Enterprise Security Isolation, Traffic Control, Sanitation Employee Screening Employee Training Assessment of Situation –People, Animals, Material Vigilance to Security Measures Florida is a “Sentinel State”

Assess security risks Look at the ranch from the outside –Where is it vulnerable –What security measures are in place People/Employees are first line of active defense Discovery and mitigation starts at the ranch – you are the 1 st responder Cooperate – Coordinate with local law enforcement If it doesn’t look right – question it

Why have a biosecurity plan 1.To prevent economic loss caused by production loess 2.To prevent theft of animals, machinery, or equipment 3.To protect wholesome image of livestock ag and protect market access 4.Prevent or minimize an interruption in cash flow 5.Create awareness of potential harm from individuals and begin prevention

For Additional Information or Training Dr. Matt Hersom Extension Beef Cattle Specialist Dept of Animal Sciences