BIOSECURITY means different things to different people. After September 11, it means planes falling from the sky. During Europe's foot-and-mouth disease outbreak, it meant fears of having our herds infected. today it may mean concerns about diseases introduced to the herd from purchased animals or antibiotics place din milk supplies by saboteurs.

Some of these situations are beyond our control, but many can be managed with some effort on our part. One problem with starting a biosecurity program on the farm is that it seems to be overwhelming. And farms are affected by different issues. The large western dairy with lots of daily traffic faces other problems than the very rural dairy overrun with wildlife.

The AJCA Biosecurity Task Force and the Jersey Journal have published a series of articles pertaining to biosecurity and plan more in the future. In addition, a series of fact sheets entitled Biosecurity 101 will accompany your TimeSaver applications in months to come. They will be very basic and we hope you will use them to start a biosecurity program on your farm, if you have not already done so. If you cannot do all of them, at least do some. Doing something is better than doing nothing!

Dairy producers purchasing cattle in today's market are much more aware of health issues. Having a functioning biosecurity program has financial advantages in decreasing veterinary costs, lowering cull rates, and giving you more health cattle to market.

1: General Herd Health

• Develop a good vaccination program for your herd.

• Do everything possible to avoid spread of health programs between herds:

• Limit visitors and/or have them wash boots or wear disposable boots.

• Bar visitors from calf raising facilities and maternity areas

• Quarantine purchased animals and animals returning from shows.

• Confine vehicles (feed trucks, A.I., veterinarian, renders' truck) to driveways.

• Use needles ONE TIME ONLY. Multiple uses may not only transfer disease, but also contaminate bottles of vaccine or antibiotic. Clean IV sets.

• Use rectal sleeves ONE TIME ONLY. Clean ultrasound equipment.

• Avoid transferring blood between animals. Sanitize tattoo, ear tag and dehorning equipment and foot trimming tools between animals.

• Use separate equipment for feed and manure. Use different pitchforks for hay and manure. Use separate buckets on skid loaders, etc.

• Do not walk or drive through feed that is being purchased up for animals to eat.

• Control wildlife, rodents and birds to the best of your ability.

• Keep pet animals (dogs, cats) away from feed supplies, maternity pens, etc.

2: Show Cattle

• Have all cattle properly vaccinated and tested before show season starts.

• Transport cattle in clean trucks or trailers, your own if possible.

• When tying up, try to establish a barrier between your animals and those from other herds with displays or equipment space. Do not tie nose to nose with strange cattle.

• Never let cattle drink at a common water tub. Use your own buckets for watering or set up a drinking system.

• Never share equipment. Use only your own feed tubs, grooming equipment, etc. Take a jug of Clorox for emergency clean-up.

• If possible, use your own milking equipment. Be extra careful to follow proper milking procedures.

• Try to have someone on duty at all times to protect cows from strangers.

• Isolate show animals when they return to your farm and follow quarantine procedures.

3: Keeping Your Farm Safe

• When building or remodeling facilities, consider biosecurity in the layout. Correct placement of animals, milking facilities, feed storage, delivery points and animal pick- up areas can minimize outside traffic.

• Limit access (entrance) points to your farm.

• Have adequate lighting around all buildings at night.

• Educate your family/employees/service people on the importance of limiting farm to farm contamination. Change or clean boots after visiting other farms. Use caution with equipment shared with another farm.

• Ask your employees to question/report any suspicious activities. Work with your neighbors to watch each other’s farms.

• Consider locking your milk house or bulk tank.

• Isolate incoming animals (including those off farm for shows, flushing, etc.) for 30 days if possible. Use only clean trucks and trailers and clean them out only into manure storage areas. Haul animals in your own trailer if possible.

• Avoid common fence lines and water sources which allow your cattle contact with cattle from another farm.

• FEMA offers an independent study course, "Livestock in Disaster" (course code IS-111). It discusses reducing risk to animals from natural disasters and effective responses to outbreaks of disease. Visit www.training.fema.gov/emiweb and click on independent study. Or call FEMA at (800) 838-3358. Free, no prerequisites.

Click here for index of articles previously published in Jersey Journal.

Biosecurity 101 is a project of the AJCA Biosecurity Task Force.