A76
Biosecurity

Introduction: Biosecurity by definition means to create an environment where infectious diseases are removed and prevented from spreading. A failure or "break" in biosecurity can result in disease, decreased production, death, and ultimately profit loss. In general, adequate biosecurity can be accomplished when two major categories are understood and then addressed. These categories, along with appropriate subcategories are listed below:

1. Remove the source or potential host for the infectious disease by:
   1. Maintaining a closed herd or carefully monitoring new additions to the herd.
   2. Maintaining a superior calf management program.
   3. Developing a written and consistent herd vaccination, de-worming, and parasite control program. This can help prevent any outside source of infection from entering the herd.
   4. Controlling the amount of stress placed on each animal.
   5. Providing adequate nutrition and water for the various stages of production and growth.
      
      
2. Prevent the spread of infectious disease by:
   1. Using proper disinfection, sanitation, and handling techniques with potentially infectious areas, equipment, or animals.
   2. Controlling the access that people, vehicles, rodents, and other animals have to the herd.
   3. Utilizing artificial insemination (A.I.) instead of natural service.
   4. Monitoring access to livestock during shows, fairs, etc.

1. Maintain a closed herd:
   1. To prevent new diseases from entering a herd, it is highly recommended to maintain a closed herd. A closed herd is one that does not receive any replacement animals from an outside source. Replacement heifers and bulls are raised directly on the farm or ranch.
   2. If it is not possible to maintain a closed herd, certain precautions are essential:
      1. Replacement heifers and bulls should be purchased before they reach sexual maturity.
      2. All new animals should be examined by a veterinarian for any signs of infectious disease. Examinations and tests should be done to ensure that the cow is free of Johnes disease, bovine leukosis (BLV), brucellosis, bovine viral diarrhea (BVD), foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), and others.
      3. All new animals should be placed in an isolation pen/pasture for 3-4 weeks. During this time the animal should be examined for signs of disease. This may involve taking the temperature, listening to the lungs, drawing blood samples for testing, and observing the general attitude of the animal. If no signs of disease have occurred after the 3-4 weeks of isolation, the cow can be placed with the other animals in the herd.
      4. Bulls over 4 years of age have the tendency to harbor trichomoniasis; therefore, older bulls should be culled if the risk of trichomoniasis is present. All bulls should be tested for trichomoniasis every year and all bulls should have a breeding soundness exam (BSE) performed. See page F842 for additional information on trichomoniasis.
         
         
2. Newborn calves and calf management:
   1. All pregnant heifers (and adult animals if situations permit) should be moved to a maternity pen/pasture prior to calving. This area should be designed for calving and should be used for only this purpose. This area should be clean, dry, and have the necessary climate control elements (wind breaks, shelters, etc.) to avoid temperature extremes. All animals should be removed from this area after calving.
   2. All calves should receive 2 quarts of colostrum in the first 6 hours of life. For additional suggestions see page A122. Most calves left with their dam can receive sufficient colostrum from nursing. In these situations, cleanliness of the cow (udder, legs, tail, etc.) and surrounding environment are critical. However, some calves may require colostrum that is force fed. This is important in situations where the dam has poor colostrum (a heifer) or has an infectious disease that can be shed in the milk (Johnes disease, BLV, BVD, etc.). Force feeding colostrum is also necessary when the calf is too weak to nurse on its own.
   3. Each calf should have the navel dipped immediately after birth. Povidone iodine (betadine) is recommended and can be administered in two ways: the entire umbilical cord and opening into the abdomen can be submerged in the iodine, or the iodine can be sprayed onto the cord and surrounding structures. Do not inject the iodine into the umbilical vein. See page B156 for instructions on dipping navels.
   4. A vaccination program should be in place for the entire herd. For vaccination recommendations in calves, refer to page A905.
      
      
3. Vaccination, de-worming, and parasite control programs:
   1. These programs should address the diseases and parasites that are commonly found in the area or on the ranch.
   2. These programs should be developed under the direction of a local veterinarian and should be modified as needed every 6 months.
   3. Each program should have specific protocols for each age and type of animal. The information should be written down and followed closely. The programs should identify what products are used, how they are administered, and how often they are given.
      
   • For additional information on handling vaccines, and developing a vaccination or de-worming program, refer to pages A900, A905, and A620 respectively.
     
     
4. Reducing Stress - Stress comes in many different forms for a cow or calf. Stress in an animal can come from an internal source (sickness, poor nutrition, etc.) or an outside source (hot and cold extremes, overcrowding, etc.). Any stress will cause the cow’s internal disease defenses (immune system) to be compromised. This renders the cow more susceptible to disease and infection. Many of the internal causes of stress have been or will be addressed in other areas of this discussion. The following will identify the major causes of stress from an outside source and identify some recommendations.
   1. Avoid heat stress by:
      1. Providing adequate fresh, cool drinking water.
      2. Providing plenty of shade. Placing shade over feeding areas and troughs will increase consumption during the hotter times of the day.
   2. Avoid cold stress by:
      1. Providing sufficient wind breaks and shelter as the environment dictates. This is particularly important during calving times when the newborn calf is extremely susceptible to exposure.
   3. Minimize stressful events by:
      1. Not performing several stressful procedures (moving pastures, shipping, vaccination, dehorning, etc.) at the same time.
      2. Handling the animals in a calm and quiet manner. Excessive yelling, kicking, and prodding only compounds the amount of stress placed on the animal.
         
         
5. Provide proper nutrition and plenty of clean, fresh water:
   1. A nutritionist familiar with the particular ranch and grazing environment should be utilized for help in nutritional decisions.
   2. Basic nutrition information can be found on page A575.

1. Disinfectants, sanitation, and proper handling techniques with potentially infectious areas, equipment, and animals:
   1. Some of the common disinfectants include chlorhexidine (Nolvasan), betadine (iodine), and bleach (Clorox). Each of these solutions should be diluted before use. Equipment such as calf pullers, chains, tube feeders, overboots, etc. should be soaked in one of these products for at least 10 minutes before use. These products are generally effective against most bacteria and viruses.
   2. When using any piece of equipment on multiple animals, it should always be disinfected between each animal. This is particularly important when treating any animal with an infectious disease. Coveralls, boots, gloves, and all equipment should be cleaned immediately after use. The slightest contamination (manure, saliva, etc.) on any item can spread disease to another animal. For cleaning smaller equipment, chlorhexidine is the product most often recommended.
   3. When handling any animal with diarrhea (scours) or pneumonia, the use of latex gloves is highly recommended.
   4. All calving areas, chutes, etc. should be kept clean, manure free, and as dry as possible.
   5. If an animal has died from a potentially infectious disease, the body should be kept in an area isolated from other animals (including scavengers) until it can be disposed of properly.
      
      
2. Controlling general access to the herd - Vehicles, humans, rodents, and other animal species can bring many infectious diseases onto a farm or ranch. It is critical that access to the herd be limited to those people and vehicles that are essential. It is not uncommon to have a veterinarian or feed supplier wash their boots and even truck tires before they enter a premises. When people access a ranch or herd and when owners and managers visit other livestock facilities, the following are a must:
   
   Minimum Biosecurity Measures:
   1. Avoid livestock areas, pens, barns, etc., unless it is necessary to complete the goal of the visit.
   2. To avoid contact with dirt, mud, or manure, park all vehicles on paved or concrete locations that are away from all animal production areas. If this is not possible, all tires should be completely free of debris before entering and upon leaving the premises. This can be accomplished by hosing the tires/wheel wells and scrubbing them with a brush and detergent. A pressure car wash is also very effective.
   3. Wash hands and boots with detergent and water before entering and after leaving the livestock areas on the premises.
   4. Coveralls, latex gloves, and rubber overshoes may be required if direct contact will be made with any livestock or livestock areas. Once used, these coveralls, gloves, and boots should be placed in a bag labeled contaminated and properly disposed of or cleaned. Rubber boots should be scrubbed with a disinfectant solution on both top and bottom.
   
   The following table lists some of the common disinfectants that can be used to kill most bacteria and viruses:

   Product	Mixing Instructions	Final Dilutions
   Chlorhexidine (Nolvasan)	Follow label directions	Varies
   Acetic acid (vinegar)	Add 4.6 ounces of galcial acetic acid to 1 gallon of water - then mix thoroughly	4%
   Bleach	Add 3 ounces of bleach to 2 gallons of water - then mix thoroughly	3%
   Virkon-S (Antec)	Follow label directions	1%



3. Artificial insemination (A.I.) vs. natural service: A.I. breeding will help reduce the chance of spreading most diseases if proper insemination techniques are followed. If A.I. is not used, all bulls should be tested for trichomoniasis every year and all new bulls should have a breeding soundness exam (BSE) performed. See page A712.
   
   
4. Large public events: Whenever large groups of animals and people are in one location, the chance of spreading disease increases dramatically. It is important to understand that people can spread infectious diseases from one animal to another through contaminated shoes, hands, brushes, halters, etc. The following are suggestions for organizers and those that participate in shows or fairs where large numbers of animals and people interact:
   1. Implement and practice effective biosecurity measures at the event site as outlined above under minimum biosecurity measures.
   2. Veterinary exams of all animals participating or being shown in the event should be required.
   3. All international travelers who have returned within the last 5 days should avoid animal exhibits and any other interaction with animals at the event.
   4. Discourage visitors (through the use of fencing, signs, and monitors) from touching or petting exhibited animals, except at designated petting areas.
   5. Prohibit the public from eating and drinking in animal exhibit areas.
   6. Prohibit and prevent the public from feeding human food to animals.
   7. Have a veterinarian routinely examine the animals for clinical signs of disease throughout the duration of the event.
   8. Advise producers and owners to isolate their animals for a minimum of 5 days after the event. Have the owners review the recommendations on maintaining a closed herd discussed above, and consult with their veterinarian on the proper ways of reintroducing the animals into established herds.