ON–FARM BIOSECURITY: TRAFFIC CONTROL AND
SANITATION.
WHAT IS BIOSECURITY?
In the context of livestock production, biosecurity refers to
those measures taken to keep disease agents out of
populations, herds, or groups of animals where they do not
already exist. Biosecurity measures are implemented on
national, state, and herd levels. Currently, there is heightened
awareness of national biosecurity as the United States attempts
to keep foot–and–mouth disease (FMD) out of its animal
population.
In addition to national concerns, individual states take
measures to prevent the entry/reintroduction of livestock
diseases they have been able to prevent/eliminate from their
herds by setting requirements for arriving animals. Examples
of diseases that are of particular concern to states include
brucellosis, tuberculosis, and pseudorabies.
Herd–level biosecurity usually rests with the herd owner or
management team; they try to exclude any disease that is not
already present in the herd or limit the spread of disease within
the herd. Examples might include Streptococcus agalactiae
mastitis, bovine virus diarrhea, ovine progressive pneumonia,
and swine dysentery. To be successful, biosecurity plans must
address how the group of animals will be isolated away from
other groups, how traffic (movement of people, animals, and
equipment) will be regulated, and how cleaning and disinfection
procedures will be used to reduce pathogen levels.
What are the Greatest Risks of Disease Introduction?
Although infectious disease can be introduced to a farm in
several ways, bringing new animals or animals that have been
commingled with, or exposed to, other animals usually presents
the greatest risk. New herd and flock sires, or replacement
females, are often the way that new genetics are added to the
herd. This seemingly innocent process is a very common way of
introducing new disease–causing organisms. Producers should
attempt to purchase animals from sources with known health
status whenever possible. In addition, they should plan to:
• Isolate for at least two weeks, but preferably a month, all
new arrivals or animals returning to the herd from situations
where they were possibly exposed to other animals such as at
fairs and shows. Isolation should be in a facility completely
separate from the home animals. Outerwear (boots and
coveralls) worn when tending to the quarantined animals should
not be worn while caring for other animals. If complete isolation
is impossible, use a separate pen or pasture that does not
allow nose–to–nose contact or sharing of feed and water
supplies. While the new animals are isolated, testing should
be accomplished for diseases of particular concern; negative
test results should be received before the new animals are
mixed with the resident herd.
• Work with your veterinarian to develop a sound health
program that includes parasite control and vaccination for the
diseases most likely to be encountered in your operation or
management program.
• Isolate animals showing signs of disease to minimize
exposure of the apparently healthy ones. Contact your
veterinarian so that appropriate diagnostic tests and treatment
can be initiated.
(Gary L. Bowman, D.V.M. – Extension Veterinarian, Swine – & William
P. Shulaw, D.V.M. – Extension Veterinarian, Cattle and Sheep, The
Ohio State University. Adapted from http://ohioline.osu.edu/vme–fact/
0006.html – accessed on 23 December 2006)
Choose THE MOST APPROPRIATE ANSWER for the
questions below according to the text above:
In the United States, biosecurity measures are to be taken by: