Biosecurity
A',
BY PAT PURCELL
UNIVERSITY PARK (Centre
Co.) Good herd health is the
foundation of an efficient and pro
fitable dairy farm. As the profit
margin continues to narrow on
Northeast dairy farms, it is not
enough to correct animal health
problems. Today, profitability
hinges on prevention.
Prevention begins With farm
biosecurity. Biosecurity is the
management practice which pro
tects the herd from the entry of new
diseases and minimizes the spread
and/or adverse effects of diseases
in the herd. Herd health may be a
familiar concept, but biosecurity
must be the focus for every farmer
who plans to continue farming into
the 21st century.
The only thing predictable about
the dairy industry is that it will
change. Just how it will change,
few can be sure. To plan for a
healthy profit margin fanners are
scrutinizing management prac
tices and searching for more ways
to cut costs.
While milk production is impor-
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Manual
Small Investment With
tant, it takes second place to costs.
The farmer who can increase milk
production by 2,000 pounds will
not be any farther ahead if his per
CWT costs have increased beyond
his return. The focus on biosecuri
ty puts the farmer’s management
skills under the microscope to
detect those unhealthy practices
which may be robbing precious
dollars from the dairyman’s enter
prise. Biosecurity, is the knot that
binds together good herd health to
a healthier return on the farmer’s
investment.
With this goal in mind the “Pen
nsylvania Dairy Health and Biose
curity Manual” was put together
by Larry Hutchinson, D.V.M.,
PSU Extension Veterinarian; Tina
L. Smith, D.V.M., assistant exten
sion veterinarian; and Carolyn M.
Bums, veterinary extension spe
cialist.
Copies of the Pennsylvania
Dairy Health and Biosecurity
Manual are available for $B.OO
from Penn State University, Publi
cations Distribution Center, 112
Agricultural Administration
kssMus
IP PI *
PURINA CHOWS
Rt. 82
Unionville, PA 18375
(215)347-2377
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Building, University Park, PA
16802.
The manual’s notebook design
allows for quick reference and the
easy removal or addition of pages
for constant updating. It is divided
into eight sections.
•Checklist
•Control of New Arrivals
•Control of Farm Traffic
•Separation of Groups
•Sanitation and Disinfection
•Preventive Medicine
•Disease Resistance
•Meat and Milk Quality
Checklist
The checklist is to be followed
for every new animal on the farm.
Its design helps the farmer plan,
organize and carry out necessary
procedures at the proper time from
birth to 24 months and beyond.
The checklist includes:
A. Control of new animals
B. Calf and heifer calendar (birth
to 24 months)
C. Cow calendar
D. Environmental Management
E. Vaccination program
F. Parasite Program
A Big Return
G. Quality assurance
The remainder of the manual is a
series of information sheets on
health and biosecurity subjects and
practices. This information
explains the checklist and is
divided into seven sections
covering:
•Control of New Arrivals
•Control of Farm Traffic
•Separation of Groups
•Sanitation and Disinfection
•Preventive Medicine
•Disease Resistance
•Meat and Milk Quality
Control of New Arrivals
This section discusses the value
of a health certificate, closed herd,
and animal isolation in addition to
bovine leukosis and Johne’s
disease.
The manual lists IS steps neces
sary to eradicate Johne’s disease
from the herd. According to the
manual, “in known infected herds,
it is possible to eradicate Johne’s
disease if a program is carefully
implemented. Eradication has
been achieved in both Johne’s vac
cinated and non-vaccinated herds.
Control of Farm Traffic
This section offers information
on the identification and removal
of the three species of birds which
create unsanitary conditions for
humans as well as livestock.
Pigeons, house sparrows and
European starlings consume and
contaminate food and are responsi
ble for transmitting a number of
diseases to livestock and poultry.
The accumulation of droppings is
corrosive to equipment and birds
cause additional damage by
destroying building insulation.
To avoid bird problems limit
availability of food and water by;
Cleaning up spilled grain.
Storing grain in bird proof
containers.
When possible, using cov
ered feeders that exclude birds.
The best way to reduce bird
problems in buildings is to exclude
them from the buildings. This can
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Rats and Mice
“Rodents can spread or accel
erate the spread of established dis
eases from contaminated areas to
uncontaminated areas via their
droppings, feet, fur, urine, saliva or
blood. Rodents travel through
infected feces of isolated sick cows
and then contaminate the food and
water of healthy animals several
hundred feet away.”
Rodents cause a great deal of
economic loss from gnawed feed
sacks, contaminated feed and
through transmission of disease.
Rodents multiply quickly making
it important .to monthly check
rodent populationsL and continue
control methods. The manual
includes recommendations for
control and list supply houses.
Recommendations are also
included for visitor control. People
spread contaminated material as
much as brids and rodents.
Separation of Groups
Calf and heifer housing is exa
mined including individual hutch
es and group hutches. Building
plans are also included for hutches,
gang hutches, open front shed and
gated freestall bam.
Sanitation and Disinfection
This section discusses proper
procedures for disposal of dead
animals, treating foot rot, manure
management and disease control
and sanitation of maternity and
bedding. Also, included is a list of
common disinfectants, their char
acteristics and uses.
Preventive Medicine
Identification, treatment and
eradication of ringworm and con
tagious mastitis and also to exter
nal parasites including lice,
mange, grubs and to such internal
parasites as flatworms, protozoa,
and roundworms.
Disease Resistance
Perhaps because of its plentiful
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