The last few years have highlighted the critical importance of basic hygiene practices to reduce the spread of infectious diseases, such as hand washing, coughing into one's elbow and other preventive measures. This emphasis on hygiene extends to biosecurity on farms, particularly when managing visitors. Farms routinely host various individuals, including veterinarians, sales representatives, service technicians, inspectors and even neighbours, who may unknowingly bring pathogens with them from their daily activities. Consequently, it is vital to ensure that biosecurity protocols are followed by all individuals entering your operation.
The importance of biosecurity
Biosecurity is essential for minimizing the introduction of infectious diseases to the farm, reducing the spread of disease within the herd and preventing zoonotic diseases (those that can be transmitted from animals to humans). Following biosecurity guidelines established by ProAction is a critical step in safeguarding the health of your farm. To complement these guidelines, consider implementing the following eight proactive measures when managing visitors on your farm.
- Biosecurity signs. Place biosecurity signs at the entrance of your driveway and at the entrances to each barn. These signs should indicate that biosecurity protocols are in place and that only authorized personnel are permitted to enter. Including the farm owner's or manager's contact information on the signs allows visitors to contact you upon arrival.
- Visitor log book. A 2015 Canadian study revealed that only 2% of dairy operations surveyed kept visitor logs. Visitor logs are crucial for tracking who has been on the farm, which can be especially helpful in the event of a disease outbreak. Logs should include the visitor's name, the date and time of their visit, and the vehicle they arrived in.
- Boot cleaning. Designate a boot cleaning area in each barn, ensuring that disinfectant soap, a scrub brush and running water are available. It is essential to remove not only organic and physical materials from boots but also to clean the entire boot thoroughly with soap and water. Visitors and farm employees should clean their boots before moving between barns to minimize the spread of diseases.
- Disposable PPE. Provide disposable personal protective equipment (PPE), such as boot covers and gloves, to all visitors. This ensures that visitors do not bring pathogens from one area of the farm to another.
- Hand washing. Encourage visitors to wash their hands as soon as they arrive on the property and again before leaving. If no handwashing stations are available, provide hand sanitizer to ensure proper hygiene practices are maintained.
- Protective clothing. Ensure that farm employees wear appropriate protective clothing, such as coveralls, and encourage visitors to either wear their own protective clothing or change between visits to different farms.
- Designated parking area. Designate a specific parking area for visitors. This limits how far their vehicles can travel into the operation, reducing the risk of cross-contamination. It also provides an easy way to monitor whether visitors are on the property.
- Minimize animal interaction. Visitors should be discouraged from touching animals unless their work requires it. If animal interaction is necessary, visitors should thoroughly wash their hands both before and after contact and wear disposable gloves to prevent the potential spread of disease.
Implementing biosecurity protocols is crucial for the health and safety of your herd, employees and family. By establishing and following proactive policies and procedures, you can minimize the risk of infectious diseases spreading on your farm and within the broader dairy community. For further guidance on biosecurity and ProAction, visit Dairy Farmers of Canada Biosecurity Resources.
References omitted but are available upon request by sending an email to the editor.
