Dairy producers can be considered as the “first line of defense” when keeping their herds free of infection. Instead of reacting to diseases that occur on the farm, Eric Gordon from the College of Veterinary Medicine at The Ohio State University informed about a proactive approach to prevent disease by educating about biosecurity measures and practices for dairy farms.
In an online webinar with the OSU Extension Dairy Working Group, Gordon referenced three key farm areas to enforce biosecurity: farm accessibility, management of cattle, and management of people. Gordon generally recommended providing and wearing personal protective equipment (PPE), controlling farm visitors, and restricting the movement of cattle.
In terms of managing outside farm contact, Gordon suggested, “Develop a line of separation on your operation.” By creating a place at the farm’s entry where companies can deliver their product without having to drive onto the property, farms can limit their contact with any outside sources that may pass along disease. For the larger deliveries that can’t be transported by farm employees, Gordon recommended washing vehicle wheels with EPA-registered disinfectants and providing disposable footwear and outerwear for farm visitors.
Limiting the movement of cattle to and around the operation helps to reduce the risk of disease as it lowers animal exposure. With new or sick cattle, Gordon recommended isolating them in separate pens, and if possible, with separate caretakers. He also suggested that these animals are milked separately and that afterward, all aspects of the facility are thoroughly sanitized.
Deceased animals may transmit sicknesses to live animals. “Anything that we can keep off the farm right now . . . helps reduce environmental contamination,” Gordon stated. As for pests and wildlife, complete elimination of unwanted animals is difficult, which is why it’s best to prevent them from arriving on the farm in the first place. By removing created habitats and deceased animals, installing fencing and netting where necessary, and adding decoy “scare devices” around the farm, there is less chance of passing on disease.
It’s also crucial to note that any disease is highly transmittable among young livestock. To prevent possibility of any disease, it’s best to refrain from feeding raw colostrum or milk. Feeding heat-treated colostrum and milk or milk replacer is a safe option that limits disease transmission.
Keeping dairy cattle safe and healthy is a top priority and a top responsibility for dairy farmers. The implementation of biosecurity practices on dairy farms ensures that farmers are playing offense, not defense, against any potential disease.
