Biosecurity basics - let’s make it what we do!
With the emergence of the cattle disease Mycoplasma bovis (M. bovis) over the past couple of years there has been heightened awareness amongst the farming industry, particularly dairying, of the need for better biosecurity on-farm.
Good on-farm biosecurity will help ensure that your farm and stock are not exposed to any unwanted diseases, not only M. bovis but other endemic and arguably as detrimental diseases, such as Bovine Virus Diarrohea (BVD), Leptospirosis and Johnes. For the “glass half full” people among us the current M. bovis outbreak can be viewed as a positive wake-up call to make on-farm biosecurity, not a transient focus, but just what we do as part of day to day farming practice.
The key first step is to get together with the whole farm team and have a brain-storming discussion to come up with some positive biosecurity improvements and a plan specific for YOUR farm. Seeking input from all staff will help to ensure that everyone understands its importance and, as such, is engaged in it! Important bits of the puzzle to consider include animal/animal product/people/equipment movements both on and off farm (including milk/colostrum); quarantine process for new arrivals (including questions to ask about the health of the herd they have come from); farm boundary fencing (talk to AND try to work with your neighbours) and consideration of biosecurity zones (red/orange/green access areas).
Secondly is to ensure your animal identification (farm and NAIT tags) is the best it can be. Without this it is very hard to do the next bit, which is to ensure that you are recording ALL animal movements on and off farm. Again, the M. bovis outbreak has served a big wake-up call in regards to NAIT – on properties where tagging and records had been prioritised the tracing of animal movements was easy and effective.
Probably the most simple and effective of biosecurity steps to take is to ensure the cleaning and disinfection of boots/clothing/equipment is done BOTH when ENTERING (protects your farm) and LEAVING (protects the farm you are going to) a farm. Within in this is a key point that gross contamination (the dirt/mud etc that you can see) must be removed PRIOR to disinfection. This alone eliminates over 90% of the risk. Make sure you are using an effective disinfectant and that you FOLLOW LABEL INSTRUCTIONS for its use - correct mixing/dilution rate; adherence to correct contact time; and change it regularly OR if gets grossly contaminated. Essentially all you need is the mindset to make it happen, a bucket/hose for removing gross contamination, a bucket big enough to fit a gumboot into (and/or a $10 garden sprayer!), a scrubbing brush and, as already said, a good disinfectant!
Keep stock off tanker tracks/roadways and keep trucks/contractors/visitors vehicles out of paddocks and off races if at all possible. Quad/farm bikes are likely the biggest challenge as these frequently go in both areas so cleaning and disinfection of their tyres may be warranted. In relation to this (and it may not make you flavour of the month!), if stock trucks/contractors etc arrive on-farm in a dirty state ask them to return once they have been cleaned.
For additional information and some practical tips/solutions check out the DairyNZ website https://www.dairynz.co.nz and/or speak with one of our awesome veterinarians who can help you get your on-farm biosecurity plan in place!