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Farm and Home Biosecurity
Livestock/Row Crop Producer
Biosecurity on Today’s Dairy Farm - Protecting Your Investment
What is Biosecurity?
The management practices that prevent the introduction of infectious
organisms into your herd. Some of the organisms that you are trying to keep out
include BVD and Mastitis.
Why is Biosecurity important?
Biosecurity is important for many reasons, the two main reasons are; first,
it is the most essential aspect of on farm food programs, second, producing good
safe food is what drives the agriculture industry, anything that compromises
hurts the overall industry.
What do I as a producer need to do?
You need to develop a plan that addresses the key concerns and goals of your
agriculture operation. To do this you can contact your local county extension
agent to help you design a plan that fits your specific farming operation.
Some ideas to help guard against the spread of infectious agents on your
farm:
Have a designated parking area for all visitors—consider who is
low-risk, moderate-risk, or high-risk visitors and use common sense in dealing
with them. Most don’t want to offend a neighbor or friend.
Post signs informing all visitors to see the manager before going
into restricted areas such as milking parlors and calf raising areas. Calves
are the most susceptible to infection because of their weaker immune system.
They are the future of you farm. Take care of them.
Keep a log of all visitors
Have all visitors wash hands before and after visiting your farm
Have all visitors wear plastic boots over their shoes or have them
walk though a foot bath to disinfect their shoes
Sanitize all equipment before it comes in contact with your animals
(stock trailer, hoof trimmers, clippers, syringes)
Be careful to make sure that the milk tank and milk supply is not
contaminated
Change needles and A.I sleeves after each cow, especially if a disease
situation exists on the dairy
Control rodents, pest and other non-farm animals around farm animal
feeding, bedding, and milking areas. Wildlife can spread diseases.
Contact your veterinarian immediately if sudden unexplained death
or illness occurs on the farm
Agriterroism
This is a terrorist act aimed at the agriculture industry of the United
States of America. Here are some tips to help combat these acts.
Keep an inventory of all feed, medicine, chemicals and fertilizer
Keep all feed rooms locked.
Have an emergency plan in mind (or better on paper) and know where
dead animals and chemicals can be disposed.
Report anyone who comes around your farm acting suspicious
Take periodic samples of the drinking water for your herd
Make and follow a check list for your milking equipment and bulk
tank
Tom Harrington, Support Specialist (Dairy)
Bio-Security Alert
In the event of a Bio-Security Alert listed below are items that should be
on-hand:
Plastic Boots, and trash bags
Disinfectant
Bucket
Disposable Coveralls, and Must Mask
Robber Gloves
Restricted Area Tape
Aerosol Spray
Large and Small Specimen Bags
Specimen Container
Buffer Formalin
Blood Tubes
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