Awareness in Agriculture Preventing Infectious Diseases

Refresher Biosecurity is a set of management practices that prevent infectious diseases from being carried into a herd

Old and New Diseases Old diseases Old diseases –Brucellosis –Tuberculosis –Johne’s Disease –Leukosis New or re-emerging diseases New or re-emerging diseases –West Nile Virus –Hanta Virus –Type II Bovine Viral Diarrhea

Foreign Diseases Foreign animal diseases Foreign animal diseases –Foot and Mouth Disease –Hog Cholera –Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy –African Horse Sickness Bioterrorist diseases Bioterrorist diseases –Anthrax –Botulism –Plague

So… To prevent: To prevent: –Death loss –Decreased weight gains –Reduced milk production –Premature culling of animals animals –Soaring production costs We must prevent these infectious diseases from being carried into our herds. We must prevent these infectious diseases from being carried into our herds.

Sounds easy, right? Not really Not really Multiple infection routes Multiple infection routes –Fecal/oral E. coli, Salmonella, BVD, Johne’s E. coli, Salmonella, BVD, Johne’s –Milk and colostrum Johne’s, BVD, Salmonella, BLV Johne’s, BVD, Salmonella, BLV –Nasal/saliva Salmonella, BVD, Mycoplasma – In utero Johne’s, Salmonella, BVD, BLV Johne’s, Salmonella, BVD, BLV

Biosecurity in Action

Disease Prevention Strategies Quarantine Disease Testing VaccinationSanitation

Quarantine Keep incoming livestock away from the established herd Keep incoming livestock away from the established herd –Food –Water –Air space How long? How long?

Quarantine Effective against diseases with short incubation periods Effective against diseases with short incubation periods –Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis –Bovine Viral Diarrhea –Bovine Respiratory Syncitial Virus Three weeks is generally adequate Three weeks is generally adequate

Quarantine Not an effective strategy for long incubation diseases or diseases with unapparent carriers Not an effective strategy for long incubation diseases or diseases with unapparent carriers –Tuberculosis –Brucellosis –Johne’s Disease –Leptospirosis Additional biosecurity strategies must be used Additional biosecurity strategies must be used

Disease Testing Test before purchasing Test before purchasing Accuracy is uncertain Accuracy is uncertain Herd infection vs. individual infection Herd infection vs. individual infection

Disease Testing Test entire source herd OR Purchase from producers participating in disease certification programs

Disease Testing Consult with your veterinarian Consult with your veterinarian –Which tests to request –Which animals to test –How many animals to test

Vaccination Should be used with other disease prevention tactics, because vaccination is not: Should be used with other disease prevention tactics, because vaccination is not: –100 percent effective –Available for all diseases  Ex. Cryptosporidia Established herd and additions to the herd should be vaccinated Established herd and additions to the herd should be vaccinated

Vaccination Sudden death diseases Sudden death diseases –Clostridia, Anthrax Respiratory diseases Respiratory diseases –IBR, BVD, PI3, BRSV, Pasterurella, etc. Abortion diseases Abortion diseases –IBR, BVD, Lepto, Vibrio, Trichomonas Diarrhea diseases (scours) Diarrhea diseases (scours) –Rotavirus, Corona virus, E. coli

Vaccination Many different brands and combinations are available Many different brands and combinations are available Base your vaccination decisions on: Base your vaccination decisions on: –Herd history –Management practices –Regional problems –Cost vs. benefits –Risk –Veterinary advice

Sanitation Keep dogs, cats, birds, rodents and wildlife away from feed supplies. Keep dogs, cats, birds, rodents and wildlife away from feed supplies. –Neospora, Salmonella, Cryptosporidia Do not use manure handling equipment to feed cattle. Do not use manure handling equipment to feed cattle. –Johne’s Disease –E. coli 0157:H7 –Salmonella –Coccidiosis

Sanitation Protect the herd from exposure to infectious agents Protect the herd from exposure to infectious agents  Visitor attire  CLEAN footbath and brush Practice cleanliness and be aware of environmental changes on a daily basis Practice cleanliness and be aware of environmental changes on a daily basis

Newborn Calf Management Keep traffic to a minimum AND Work with youngest calves before working older calves

Don’t Forget Colostrum Disease can be spread to calves through colostrum Disease can be spread to calves through colostrum Selection of colostrum donors Selection of colostrum donors –Healthy  Johne’s, BLV –Prolonged residence –Properly vaccinated

Colostrum Management 1.Use one dam for one calf 2.Milk dam within one hour after calving if possible, not before calving 3.Clean udder and teats prior to milking 4.Do not store colostrum warm for second feeding 5.Save the excess colostrum frozen in Ziploc bags 6.Thaw colostrum properly to prevent damage to immunoglobulins

Take this home! Quarantine, disease testing, vaccination, sanitation Quarantine, disease testing, vaccination, sanitation Most diseases are bought and paid for: Most diseases are bought and paid for: –Replacements, other herd additions, leased bulls Don’t forget: Don’t forget: –Outside vehicles, equipment and visitors Don’t overlook the established herd: Don’t overlook the established herd: –Separation of animals, order of chores, colostrum