Biosecurity

Foot-and-mouth disease highlights need for biosecurity on farms

Foot-and-mouth disease is bringing increased attention to biosecurity, or farm measures to keep disease organisms from spreading.

But biosecurity may be more important to control other diseases on Minnesota farms such as bovine leukosis, cryptosporidia and Johne's disease, says Scott Haskell, a veterinarian with the University of Minnesota Extension Service. He says dairy farmers especially need to evaluate risk factors and practice "protective exclusion."

At a minimum, visitors to dairy herds should wear protective plastic booties and gloves and go through an extra footbath. Better yet, says Haskell, is not allowing anyone to visit barns and other livestock areas unless they have business. Examples include veterinarians, AI technicians and milk haulers.

"This is hard for farmers," Haskell says. "Many are good hosts and love farm tours and visits. But in today's environment, this can be risky."

Biosecurity has been practiced on intensive swine and poultry operations for years. But Haskell says large dairies in other states are restricting farm visits, sometimes allowing visitors to only see animals in special glass-enclosed viewing areas.

Haskell suggests producers evaluate risk factors when planning a protective exclusion program. Then make management changes to curtail disease organisms.

The first question is whether you continue with an "open" dairy, or go to a "closed" system of restricting non-essential visitors. A closed system would mean no farm tours or foreign visitors.

Other protective measures include using footbaths, controlling birds and wild animals, testing new cows, quarantining new animals away from existing stock and avoiding auction animals of unknown origin or disease status.

"Consider both current and long-range goals," Haskell advises. Assess and identify farm-specific risks for disease transmission, then make appropriate management changes to create specific pathogen-free environments.

"A team approach is needed," Haskell emphasizes. He encourages farmers to work with the U of M Extension Service, local veterinarians, animal scientists, nutritionists and state health departments.

If you're planning an overseas trip where you'll be close to livestock facilities, wear disposable clothes and shoes. Throw them away-don't bring them back. And don't go on farms for a week after you return.

Haskell says foot-and-mouth disease comes and goes around the world. It's found in Asia, Africa and several South American countries. "But it's very rare to have an intense outbreak requiring 'depopulation' like we're seeing in England," he adds.

Internet web sites with additional information on foot-and-mouth disease are at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/oa/fmd and http://www.maff.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/fmd/default.htm.

University of Minnesota Extension Service
Source: Scott Haskell, haske003@umn.edu
Writer: Jack Sperbeck, sperb001@umn.edu