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Farm and Home Biosecurity
Livestock/Row Crop Producer
Arkansas Farm Biosecurity Plan -
Introduction
Biosecurity Fundamentals
• What is biosecurity?
• Why is biosecurity important?
•
How do you start to develop a biosecurity plan?
• What is risk assessment?
• Who is involved?
• What is bioterrorism, or agroterrorism?
Introduction
Biosecurity Fundamentals
The outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in the United Kingdom attracted
much media attention. Much animal suffering occurred, and millions of animals
were destroyed. Economic difficulties were severe in the British agricultural
communities, and the cost to that economy is now estimated at more than $10
billion. Avoiding a similar catastrophe in the U.S. has been and continues to be
a priority for all those in animal agriculture. The heightened awareness of the
importance of preventing infectious diseases from entering your herds and flocks
has many people talking about and enacting biosecurity programs.
What is biosecurity?
In the context of animal agriculture, biosecurity is the series of management
steps taken to prevent the introduction of infectious agents into a herd or
flock. Biosecurity usually involves screening and testing incoming animals, some
sort of quarantine or isolation for newly purchased or returning animals, and
then finally some type of monitoring or evaluation system. Once an infectious
agent is in a herd or flock, a similar but slightly different set of management
practices are employed to prevent the infectious agent from leaving the farm. In
some publications this is also included as part of biosecurity, while in some
cases you may see this referred to as biocontainment.
Why is biosecurity important?
Biosecurity is important for a great number of reasons. First, it is an
essential aspect of on farm food safety programs. Keeping food products
wholesome and of highest quality is important for the health and welfare of
consumers. Secondly, animals are healthier and more productive. This benefits
the farming community through greater efficiency and profitability. Finally, a
vibrant agricultural community is a positive influence on the economy of our
state and nation, and an important resource in maintaining a healthy
environment.
How do you start to develop a biosecurity plan?
The initial step in a biosecurity plan is to assess goals and key concerns of
the farm. The producer along with his/her advisors needs to determine just what
infectious agents are important in their plan. Diseases such as FMD are so
devastating for the entire farming community that federal and state regulations
and plans are in place to prevent such catastrophes. Foreign animal diseases
require a special set of biosecurity plans because they could potentially cover
such a broad range of animal species and territory. However, on the individual
farm level, a variety of common domestic bacteria and viruses can be identified
as important disease problems and should be included in the biosecurity plan. On
most dairy farms, for example, this would include diseases such as contagious
mastitis, Johne’s, Salmonella spp., Bovine Virus Diarrhea (BVD), Neospora,
digital dermatitis, and a few others. Once the types of disease agents are
identified, a risk assessment should be completed.
What is risk assessment?
Risk assessment is a way of determining the presence, distribution, and
severity of a given disease. Once risk areas have been identified, appropriate
control measures can be enacted. Acceptable levels of risk for a farm will be
determined by what products are sold or what may be sold from the farm in the
future. Typically this involves meat, milk, perhaps breeding animals, embryos,
etc. Understanding what diseases are important for the sale of each of these
products and understanding how disease may enter and spread within animal groups
is the next step. This is followed by close evaluation of methods to prevent the
disease from entering the herd from sources outside the farm. If key areas can
be identified, they are often called critical control points. Actions taken at
these critical control points are the most effective way of implementing a
biosecurity plan.
Who is involved?
In most cases, the herd veterinarian works closely with the producer to
develop and start the implementation of a biosecurity plan. However, each and
every person who lives, works, or visits the farm has a stake and role in the
biosecurity plan. To make a biosecurity plan effective and easier to follow, it
is important to adopt practices that are customized to the individual farm
setting and really make a difference. Not all animal groups are equally
susceptible to infection and not all human activities are equally likely to
contribute to disease control or potential spread. Strategies are being
developed to help identify activities and animal groups that contribute to the
risk of acquiring or preventing a specific disease. As part of that risk
assessment, the level of risk can be categorized as low, medium, or high.
Emphasizing high-risk animal groups and high-risk human activities can help to
make the biosecurity plan more effective and simpler to implement. Cooperation
and promotion of a sound biosecurity plan is important for the financial health
of the farm, as well as the consumer, through wholesome and high quality
agricultural products.
What is bioterrorism, or agroterrorism?
Bioterrorism, or agroterrorism, is the intentional contamination of plants,
animals, or humans with infectious agents (viruses, bacteria, protozoa, insects,
or fungi) or toxins (nuclear, chemical, bacterial or fungal) with the express
intent to cause disease or economic hardship in animals, agricultural systems,
or humans.
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