Everyday Biosecurity on Dairy Operations: What You Should Know

The Center for Dairy Excellence hosted a special edition of its monthly “Protecting Your Profits” webinar on Wednesday, July 26. Dr. Hayley Springer of Penn State Extension shared how the dairy industry can begin to prepare for a potential outbreak of high-consequence animal diseases and the value this preparation can have in the face of a biosecurity crisis.

“When talking about biosecurity, everyone needs to be involved and informed,” Springer said. “Farms with an approved enhanced biosecurity and continuity of business plan will be at the front of the line for permits to then continue doing business in the face of an outbreak.”

Biosecurity plans are a key component of any dairy operation for the protection they provide. Learn more about how to create and execute an everyday biosecurity plan on your dairy operation.

Everyday Biosecurity

Who?

It is important to identify who sets foot on your dairy. Everyday biosecurity is for everyone to play a part in — from owners, employees, and managers who are routinely on the operation to consultants and visitors dropping off a package. Everyday biosecurity involves the biosecurity protocols that every dairy team should have in place and utilize on a routine basis.

What? 

By looking at how diseases can enter the herd, we can better identify ways to stop those processes.

“An important aspect of understanding biosecurity practices is to understand how diseases spread,” Springer explained.

Knowing how diseases spread can also help us understand everyday biosecurity practices. For example:

• Vector Born Disease: Carried in a host animal (Ex: ticks > Theileria)
• Iatrogenic Transmission: Humans transmitting the disease (Ex: reuse of needles > Anaplasmosis)
• Direct Contact: Between animals (Ex: BVD)
• Oral: Fecal-oral is the most common transmission of disease (Ex: E. coli, scours)
• Aerosol (Ex: BRD)
• Fomite: Any inanimate object that transmits disease (Ex: boots > salmonella)
• Reproductive (Ex: IBR)