Implementation of basic or routine biosecurity plans involves applying specific tasks and practices in your day-to-day your operations that provide the foundation for protection of animal health and well-being and risk management for your business. Enhanced biosecurity planning includes additional measures to prepare for future foreign animal disease outbreaks such as foot-and-mouth disease. Such an outbreak would result in extraordinary measures taken by federal and state agencies to stop and limit animal movement, determine the extent of the disease in the U.S., stop its spread, and eliminate it from the U.S., if possible.
When a foot-and-mouth disease outbreak is detected in the U.S., business as usual will cease and be replaced by nationwide crisis management for livestock and dairy industries regardless of where the initial outbreak is detected. Mitigating the operational and economic impacts on your business before a crisis occurs is why the continuity of business plans were developed by and for industry. Having contingency plans in place, establishing premises identification numbers (PIN’s) for traceability, and completing an approved enhanced biosecurity plan allows you to obtain livestock movement permits, if your animals are not infected. Enhanced Biosecurity planning could mean the difference between remaining in business or not.
These plans are designed to provide for continuity of business for livestock operators who find themselves affected by movement restrictions during an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease or another foreign animal disease in the United States. Secure Food Supply Plans provide guidance for livestock producers to voluntarily prepare before a foreign animal disease outbreak to limit exposure of their animals. Secure food supply plans were developed with input from industry, state and federal health officials, and academic partners to provide voluntary strategies that support control for infected premises and business continuity for uninfected operations.
How can I prepare?
Producers can prepare now by:
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Having a national Premises Identification Number (PIN) issued by their State Animal Health Official (State Veterinarian in NV)
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Writing an operation-specific enhanced biosecurity plan that can be implemented during an outbreak (go to your species-specific Food Supply Plan website provided below, information in the Producers Tab)
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Developing contingency plans for periods of restricted animal movement
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Keeping movement records of animals, people, equipment and other items on and off your operation (go to your species-specific Food Supply Plan website provided below, information in the Producers Tab)
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Preparing to monitor for foot-and-mouth disease and being able to record observations (go to your species-specific Food Supply Plan website provided below, information in the Producers Tab)
Resources for all of the above can be found on the Center for Food Security and Public Health website: Secure Food Supply Plans
There are three major actions that all livestock operations should implement prior to an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in the U.S.:
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- Designate a biosecurity manager - The biosecurity manager develops the biosecurity plan with assistance from a veterinarian PRIOR TO an outbreak
- Complete a written operation-specific enhanced biosecurity plan
- Establish a line of separation
All of the information needed to complete an enhanced biosecurity plan and/or update your existing plan to enhanced status can be found at the species-specific websites provided below. Although the information provided on enhanced biosecurity planning is focused on foot and mouth disease, once a plan is developed and implemented properly it will help safeguard your operation against other potential foreign animal diseases in addition to diseases endemic to your location. It is better to prepare and prevent rather than repair and repent!
For Producers:
In Nevada, Gary McCuin, Eureka County agricultural & natural resource advisor, and Tracy Shane, state Extension livestock specialist, have been trained in enhanced biosecurity planning by ASI and the Secure Sheep and Wool Supply Program. They are available to help Nevada livestock producers write individualized enhanced biosecurity plans to enable movement permits and continuity of operations during a foot-and-mouth disease or foreign animal disease outbreak. Please feel free to contact either educator to set up an appointment to get training and assistance with writing your plan.
