When producers think of biosecurity, they often associate it with serious diseases, such as foot-and-mouth disease (FMD). However, it’s essential to recognize that biosecurity is not just about preventing major outbreaks; it’s also a practical, everyday approach to managing common animal health issues. The primary goal of biosecurity is to reduce and mitigate the risks of diseases entering a farm operation, which can have a direct positive impact on your bottom line by preventing disease-related expenses. You’re investing in your operation’s long-term health.
Implementing strong biosecurity measures also serves as insurance for your herd against costly reproductive diseases. Creating a biosecurity plan may seem daunting, but it’s an essential step for every producer. Each step in your biosecurity efforts adds a vital layer of protection to your farm. By proactively addressing potential transmission points for diseases, you will significantly enhance the safety and productivity of your operation. Understanding your specific risks is not just important; it’s crucial for success. Focus on identifying the most significant risks unique to your farm or tackle small, achievable biosecurity tasks. The time to act is now; your farm’s health and profitability depend on it.
Here are some additional simple biosecurity measures for your operation.
Your resource team
“Build your team before you get to the scene,” says Lisa Pederson, extension beef quality assurance (BQA) specialist at North Dakota State University Extension. First, every operation needs a “go-to person” – a designated biosecurity manager who’s responsible for keeping the plan up to date and making sure everyone, from hired help to visitors, knows the rules. Regular training (at least once a year) helps make sure everyone understands their role in protecting the herd. Then, consider looping in other key contacts such as the owners, veterinarians, nutritionists and other folks you utilize to make key decisions on your operation.
Building your ‘moat’
One of the simplest but most important tools is the line of separation (LOS). “Think of your operation as a castle, and the LOS as your moat. For daily diseases, your moat will be close to the operation. As diseases get bigger or require more control, you’ll need to move the moat further back,” says Dr. David Wolfgang. This is the invisible (but clearly marked) line that separates your cattle and facilities from the outside world. Any time animals, people or vehicles cross that line, it should be logged, and the needed biosecurity steps – such as disinfecting boots and tires – should happen before they step inside. The best LOS is located at natural barriers to your property, such as a gate or cattle guard at the end of a driveway. Having that LOS already defined will put you a step ahead of the game.
Recordkeeping
Keeping good health records and watching your cattle closely every day is another key step. Sick animals need to be isolated right away, and new animals should go through a quarantine period before joining the main herd. This is especially important for smaller operations that might bring in sale-barn calves or replacement heifers. Ideally, any new or returning animals should be quarantined away from the main herd for 21 days. This time frame covers the incubation period for most common diseases, but any amount of time is better than introducing the animal to the herd on the first day of arrival. Not having access to shared feed, water and avoiding nose-to-nose contact is vital to making the isolation period effective. Additionally, care for the quarantined animals last. Wash up and change clothes before returning to your main herd.
Herd health plans
Another key aspect of biosecurity is your vaccination and herd health plan. Make sure you have a comprehensive plan that works for your region and operation. This will include not just vaccination strategies, but also routine testing for things like bovine viral diarrhea (BVD) persistently infected animals and trichomoniasis. Working with your local veterinarian will help ensure your herd health plan will protect your herd from the diseases most prevalent in your area.
Equipment and other vehicles
Equipment and vehicles can be sneaky ways disease spreads. Any truck, trailer or piece of machinery that crosses onto the property should either belong to the operation or be disinfected before entering animal areas. Be especially cautious of equipment and trailers that have been in areas where cattle from different operations commingle, such as the sale barn. Visitors should also have clean clothes and boots. Ideally, workers have dedicated clothing that stays at the operation. Keeping a simple logbook of who comes and goes helps with traceability if there’s ever a problem.
Feed deliveries
Feed deliveries should come covered, and feed handling equipment should be kept separate from anything used for manure or carcass handling. Water sources need regular cleaning and inspection, with a backup plan for clean water if your regular source becomes contaminated. Regularly remove manure from corrals and around feeders. Utilizing bale feeders of any type can both reduce waste and prevent manure contamination of feed.
Grazing public lands
For producers who graze on public lands, biosecurity gets trickier. Shared roads, corrals and water sources mean you’re not just managing your own risk, you’re sharing it with everyone else out there. Gates often get left open, or neighboring animals trespass over fences. The scale of these working landscapes means that cattle from neighboring ranches might not be observed until they’ve been with your herd for days or weeks. Having good relationships with your neighbors and a similar herd health plan can benefit all operations.
Wildlife risks
Finally, don’t underestimate wildlife and pests. Birds, rodents and predators can all carry diseases, so keeping feed areas clean, fences maintained and a rodent control plan in place is just as important as managing cattle-to-cattle contact. Producers on public lands will face an added biosecurity risk of wildlife sharing water sources and utilizing cattle supplements. For example, deer have been shown to harbor BVD and could expose cattle, potentially causing persistently infected calves to be born on a ranch. A stringent testing protocol for BVD can identify these calves before they have a chance to expose others to the cow herd. “Wildlife presents risks that are often beyond your control. Don’t get worked up over things you cannot control. Instead, focus on areas where you can make the biggest impact,” says Dr. Jeff Bissett.
Whether you run 20 cows or 200, a biosecurity plan doesn’t have to be fancy to work. It just needs to be practical, written down and followed every day. And while this article covers the basics, it also sets the stage for a follow-up about secure beef supply (SBS) plans, which are the enhanced biosecurity steps that kick in during a serious disease outbreak, such as FMD. A solid daily biosecurity plan ensures your operation is prepared to handle serious disease outbreaks when they arise.
The beef industry offers valuable resources for developing effective biosecurity plans, including your herd and state veterinarians and extension specialists. BQA state coordinators serve as excellent assets for producers aiming to enhance biosecurity measures on their farms.
For more biosecurity resources: visit the BQA website or contact your local state BQA coordinator.
