Biosecurity in Beef Production

By Arden Wohlers DVM
Extension Veterinarian
University of Nebraska Panhandle Research and Education Center

When farm biosecurity issues are brought up, we immediately think in terms of a terrorist introducing foot and mouth disease, anthrax or some other terrible foreign animal disease into our animal population. More economically important to our farms are the common diseases that we deal with every day, such as the bovine respiratory diseases. The same awareness, recognition and action that prevent these terrible foreign animal diseases from entering our farms will also greatly reduce the disease problems that we deal with on a daily basis.

The first step in biosecurity is to identify the many ways that a disease can enter the farm. The second step is the action you take to block this entry. The diseases that may enter any operation and the steps taken to stop them will be similar on all farms. However, differences in the environment, goals and operating procedures dictate that biosecurity procedures will be unique to each farm. Disease entryways and possible solutions to block their entry would include:

Introduction of new cattle: We need to determine if the cattle are healthy when they arrive. We should also be aware that they may have come from a diseased environment and could be incubating a disease that they will develop after entry. The cattle may have been sick before arrival and they are still carriers. The solution is to know the origin of the cattle and problems that they might have, then isolate or quarantine them to reduce exposure to cattle already on the farm for as long as possible up to 30 days. Arriving cattle should be unloaded away from other cattle. The trucks bringing cattle onto the farm should have been cleaned before loading the cattle for shipment. A method to isolate disease on the farm is to have cattle already on the farm vaccinated against the common diseases so they have immunity prior to exposure.

Isolation of sick cattle: Sick cattle are not only a source of disease but they are more likely to pick up a new disease if exposed. The treatment area and equipment should be cleaned frequently. It is important to not share water between groups of cattle, especially between sick and healthy cattle.

Control movement of disease vectors: Insects, rodents, wild animals and stray dogs and cats can spread disease from farm to farm, pen to pen and animal to animal. To control these problems we need to eliminate breeding grounds for these pests by draining mud holes. We need to remove trash, spoiled feed and dead animals that attract these intruders. Keep these intruders out of feed storage areas because they can bring disease onto farms either as contamination on their body or as a carrier and temporary host of a disease. It may be necessary to use methods to kill the intruders.

Different kinds of animals should be separated and different equipment used in their care: Some animals can serve as hosts for diseases that can be devastating to another animal group. Sheep can carry Malignant Catarrhal Fever that may be deadly if introduced into cattle. Equipment should not move between sheep pens and cattle pens without disinfecting. You should change clothes between handling sheep and handling cattle.

Don’t spread disease with equipment: Promptly move dead animals to an area where they may be picked up by a rendering truck without the truck entering the farm. Equipment used to move carcasses should not be used for feeding livestock. Pens need to be cleaned with equipment that is not used for handling feed or the equipment should be disinfected before handling feed.

Protect water from contamination: Know who has access to wells. Lock entry to the water source. Establish water drainage from pens so surface water does not flow between pens.

Prevent entry of disease by human traffic: This would usually be accidental, but could be intentional. Individuals who have had contact with animals off premises should change clothes or wear clean coveralls while on the farm. It is especially critical to change boots or shoes. Do not allow stepping in feed bunks. Vehicles brought on to the premises by livestock buyers, salesmen, veterinarians, neighbors and others often have been on other operations that may have a problem. These vehicles should be left at the edge of the corrals and your farm vehicle used to transport visitors. IDENTIFY AND VERIFY THE PURPOSE OF EVERYBODY THAT ENTERS OR COMES ON THE FARM. A farm should have only one entry point where all guests should enter. Signs should be posted at restricted areas.

It is important to note that biosecurity is a two way street. The same procedures should be implemented when you visit another livestock operation. It should also be noted that some diseases such as salmonella and E. coli can be transmitted from animals to humans. Farm workers should change clothes and shoes and wash their hands before being with family members. Young children can easily catch these diseases.

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