When placed strategically and used consistently, boot wash stations help protect vulnerable animals, reduce cross-contamination and promote a culture of care and responsibility.

Disease outbreaks pose a real and growing threat to cattle operations of all sizes. Whether it’s a common concern, such as bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV), or a foreign animal disease, such as foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), proactive biosecurity measures are key for disease prevention.

Biosecurity must be seen as more than just a reactive measure – it’s the proactive backbone of a resilient beef operation. Integrating enhanced biosecurity practices into your daily routine not only protects against everyday animal health risks but also positions your operation to participate in the Secure Beef Supply (SBS) Plan during a significant disease outbreak, like foot-and-mouth disease (FMD).

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.

David and Paul visit with Dr. Ron DeHaven, former chief veterinarian and administrator at the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, to look back on 20 years since the first case of BSE back in December 2003. If now’s the season when you and the family enjoy Christmas movies, be sure to join the entire Progressive Cattle Podcast team in a cinema rating discussion about the best and worst in Christmas movies.

Sickness in horses and cattle can have a long-lasting impact, especially should an outbreak occur when biosecurity and quarantine best practices are not implemented. Get advice from a vet on what those best practices are.

How we responded on the farm to COVID-19 tells us something about our willingness to go from 0 to 60 with biosecurity for animals.

Many diseases enter our herds when we acquire new animals and commingle them with our herd. In a cow-calf operation, this often occurs with the addition of new herd sires, replacement females or calves you intend to graft on a cow who lost her calf.