Healthy farms contribute to the health of agriculture as a whole. In Vermont and other states where the agricultural character of the land attracts many tourists, healthy farms go hand in hand with the health of the state’s economy. To ensure the sustainability of animal agriculture, farmers implement herd health programs to maintain the highest health status possible in their herds, follow biosecurity practices to prevent the introduction of infectious diseases, and implement biocontainment strategies to minimize the spread of disease among animals on the same premises.
Website Overview
Why Biosecurity?
The materials provided here focus on biosecurity issues—how to prevent the introduction of infectious disease into your herd. After the introductory section you will find tools for evaluating your farm’s biosecurity program. A multiple-choice farm biosecurity assessment and farm risk management plan worksheet are provided. Use these to help identify whether weaknesses exist in your current practices and, in consultation with your veterinarian or other adviser, build a strong biosecurity program for your farm. Subsequent sections discuss the three main routes by which diseases may enter a farm: through animal additions or through exposures at commingled heifer facilities, fairs, or shows; through vehicular or visitor traffic; or through wildlife. Next, checklists of management practices that can minimize the risk of diseases gaining entry to your farm are provided. You will also find detailed information on composting deadstock and selecting disinfectants. In addition, you can refer to basic fact sheets on several infectious diseases—some that pose a significant risk to herd production or profitability, some that are public health concerns, and some that are rare but subject to animal importation regulations. You may review these for your own information or to answer questions from visitors. Also included are resources on emergency response plans, farm animal identification, and disaster planning. Finally, kid-friendly materials for farms that host school tour groups are provided.
It is the farm manager’s responsibility to develop and implement protocols to keep his or her premises biosecure. The cooperation of visitors and agri-service personnel is an important part of the picture, but ultimately the farm manager must be willing to do what is necessary to ensure that protocols are followed by all employees and visitors.
The guidelines and recommendations contained on this Website are generally accepted as best management practices. However, adopting these practices does not imply or guarantee that your farm will be protected from all potential diseases. The information on this Website is provided purely for educational purposes. The University of Vermont assumes no responsibility for the content of the Websites listed within. Note that endorsement of products or companies is not intended, nor is criticism of unnamed products or companies implied.
What is biosecurity? Biosecurity refers to a system of management procedures designed to prevent or greatly reduce the risk of introduction of new diseases to a farm. A related concept is biocontainment or management practices directed at reducing the risk of spreading an existing disease between animals. Biosecurity can be looked at as a whole farm approach to herd health management. The risks to herd health must be assessed, prioritized, and addressed. Risk can be categorized by source of possible infection—other livestock, visitors, or wildlife; by area of the farm—maternity pens, facilities for newborns and young stock, feed storage areas, and so on; or by susceptibility of animals—for instance, baby calves, young stock, and periparturient cows having less competent immune systems than most lactating cows.
The threat from “foreign” animal diseases
Outbreaks of Foot and Mouth Disease and Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (Mad Cow Disease) in countries previously free of these diseases have captured headlines and attention. Poultry flocks infected with Exotic Newcastle Disease have been depopulated due to outbreaks in the US in 2003. Certainly, the emotional distress and economic devastation accompanying such calamities is enormous. Farmers around the world react by wondering how secure is their operation. The best protection against such diseases is the regulation of animal feed sources and animal movements. Compliance with importation and feedstuff restrictions will help keep the US free of these diseases. Veterinarians who are trained to recognize “foreign” animal diseases are our front “linemen” to block the advance of infectious marauders should they gain entry. Typical on-farm biosecurity practices are not adequate to prevent highly contagious diseases. However, by following biosecurity practices you can protect against many other disease threats to your herd and your livelihood.
The threat from “American” animal diseases
Despite the visibility of foreign animal diseases and heightened concerns about bioterrorism, we shouldn’t overlook the diseases already present within our borders (some of which may already be on your farm) that pose a risk to the health of our animals or the health of visitors to our farms. It is vitally important to the sustainability of animal agriculture that farmers maintain the highest health status possible in their herds or flocks, protect against the introduction of infectious diseases, and manage their operations to prevent the spread of disease among animals on the same premises. The management practices that address these three issues are herd health, biosecurity, and biocontainment.
The importance of maintaining healthy animals
Consumers expect farmers and farm employees to take good care of the animals that they work with for a living. In addition to maintaining an optimal environment for their livestock, consumers expect farmers to maintain the quality of soil and water around their farms. Farms that practice high standards of animal husbandry and environmental stewardship are likely to be healthy farms. Healthy farms contribute to the health of agriculture as a whole. In the state of Vermont where tourism is a major source of revenue and the agricultural character of the land is a big draw for tourists, healthy farms go hand in hand with healthy agriculture and the health of the state’s economy.
The materials on this Website have been designed to assist you in developing a biosecurity plan for your farm. After you have a plan, it must be communicated to all persons who work on or visit the farm. How can someone follow the plan unless he or she knows what it is? Meetings, signage, and consistent enforcement will make the plan effective. An effective plan will go a long ways in protecting your investment in your livestock operation.
It is my sincere hope that these materials will encourage you to do your part to maintain healthy farms and healthy agriculture in Vermont.
To your farm’s health.
Julie Smith, DVM, Ph.D
UVM Extension Dairy Specialist
Burlington, VT
September 2003
Last modified August 27 2004 11:59 AM
