Biosecurity Dr. Pepi Leids NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets Division of Animal Industry Modified by the GA Agriculture Education Curriculum Office July 2002

Why Should You Care? Infectious diseases cost dairy producers production and profit We are seeing increases in antibiotic resistance, making diseases harder to treat effectively We are in the FOOD business

Why Should You Care? Many clinical diseases represent the tip of the iceberg Johne’s: 1 clinical = 15 - 25 subclinically infected $228/lactating cow BVD: 1 infected = persistently infected calves for years $475/lactating cow

Why Biosecurity? Preventive approach to herd health Reduce the herd’s risk for contracting or spreading a disease Often requires only management changes, not capital investment

What is Biosecurity? A collection of management practices which protect a herd from the entry of new diseases and minimizes the spread and/or adverse effects of disease within a herd.

The Animal Health Triad

Immunity and Challenge Disease Subclinical Disease, Poor Production, Reduced Efficiency Disease Immunity (Immunity x Environment) Challenge (Disease Agent x Environment)

Putting Biosecurity to Work Minimize exposure to disease agents Develop immunity Manage environment to support above points

Reducing Exposure to Disease Consider the paths for disease entry or spread Cattle purchased animals, heifers returning from grower, show animals Manure Pests, pets, wildlife Feed Water Take steps to minimize your risk

Cattle Single source you can inspect Known health history Primary & secondary vaccine weeks before move Test as appropriate BVD-PI, Johne’s, contagious mastitis, heel warts, salmonella Protect the home herd

Transport Insist on clean transport washed between uses 60% of trucks contaminated with salmonella Don’t group animals from other farms Trained, conscientious haulers Minimize stress

Minimize Animal Contact Pets cats, dogs, chickens, geese Pests rodents, birds, wildlife

Manure Management Avoid mixing with feed Consider flows near feed storage near youngstock Watch for carriers equipment people spreading

Feedstuffs - Mill to Farm Rodent and bird control in feedmills vectors for many bacterial diseases Cleanliness of delivery trucks alternatives to delivery at the barn Drivers enter facilities only when necessary

Keep Feed Clean Rodent and bird control in storage Don’t use manure equipment in feed handling Preach caution in pushing up feed Be alert for areas where manure could mix with feed

Don’t Tolerate Fomites Every visitor should clean & sanitize: clothes boots hands equipment Discourage visitors from: entering facilities unnecessarily parking near or working with youngstock moving between different groups unnecessarily Consider the order of work routines

Manage the Environment Increase cow comfort through: Good stall design assess utilization, lunging, & resting posture Proper ventilation Proper footing Grouping cattle to decrease disruption

Calving Area Management Maternity pen is the highest priority area clean and dry single use not a hospital pen separate from cows motel 6

Neonatal Management Test for BVD-PI status before colostrum Colostrum 4 quarts ASAP from calf’s own dam or Johne’s free cow NO pooled colostrum Dip navel Remove calf ASAP

Environment Nutrition balanced for growth or production analyze & supplement Vit. A & E, Cu, Se, Zn avoid molds & mycotoxins suppress immunity pay attention to forage moisture levels and particle length can alter rumen and intestinal pH, making harmful bugs more viable

Immunity Consult with your own & customers’ vets Establish vaccination program which addresses diseases from all your customers Keep records of vaccinations

Cow & Calf Immunity Role of vaccines & colostrum protects calf from diseases transferred across placenta provides important passive immunity for the calf should take into account any bugs that heifers might encounter on your farm

Summary Avoid the entry or spread of pathogens cattle, manure, feed, water, equipment, people Manage the environment to: reduce spread of disease optimize immunity Maximize immunity optimal passive transfer: fetal & colostral sound vaccination program rigorously adhered to