Prepare and prevent rather than repair and repent

Livestock biosecurity is the set of practices and measures aimed at protecting livestock from infectious diseases, pests, and contaminants. It involves preventing the spread of diseases  on farms/ranches and between farms/ranches, as well as limiting the introduction of pathogens from outside sources. Key aspects of livestock biosecurity include:

• Access Control: Restricting access to farms, minimizing contact between livestock and people or animals that could carry diseases, and ensuring visitors follow strict hygiene protocols.
• Animal Health Management: Monitoring animal health regularly, isolating new or sick animals, and implementing vaccination programs to control disease spread.
• Sanitation and Hygiene: Maintaining clean facilities, equipment, and vehicles to reduce the risk of contamination. This includes proper disposal of manure, using disinfectants, and implementing pest control.
• Feed and Water Security: Ensuring that feed and water sources are free from contaminants that could transmit diseases to livestock.
• Record Keeping: Keeping detailed records of animal health, movements, and vaccination history to quickly identify and address potential biosecurity threats.

Effective biosecurity reduces the likelihood of disease outbreaks, protects animal welfare, supports productivity, and reduces the economic impact of diseases on the agriculture sector.

Importance of Biosecurity to the Beef Industry
National Cattlemen's Beef Association

One of the greatest threats to the U.S. beef industry is the potential introduction of foot-and-mouth disease. Colin Woodall, CEO of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, shares his thoughts on why farmers and ranchers need to prepare for a disease outbreak and the value of producers having a Secure Beef Supply Plan.

Our Mission

We strive to increase producer awareness of the importance of biosecurity to protect livestock from disease, reduce the risk of disease transmission, minimize economic losses, and ensure food safety for consumers. Our efforts will increase producer awareness of the need for enhanced biosecurity measures given the acute risk of Foreign Animal Disease (FAD), including Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD). We will help producers voluntarily prepare for, and defend against an outbreak to provide for continuity of business for the livestock industry in the advent of an FMD outbreak regardless of whether they operate solely on private land or also on public lands.

Vision

We envision livestock industries in Nevada that are prepared to minimize and prevent disease, which will keep livestock healthy and livestock operations productive and economically resilient. This will be made possible through a cross-species secure food supply program established for the State of Nevada that will provide state and federal decision makers with a better understanding of livestock diseases and related operational challenges that arise during livestock emergencies involving public lands.

Objectives

1. Limit exposure of animals through the implementation of biosecurity measures.
2.  Maintain business continuity for Nevada's livestock industries, including producers, haulers, milk trucks, packers and wool processors during an outbreak.
3. Provide a one-stop shop where producers can find references, tools, training and resources that will help them create and implement enhanced biosecurity practices on their operations, regardless of the kind of livestock they raise.
4. Determine the areas in Nevada at greatest risk for transmission of FMD/FAD between livestock and wildlife, identify knowledge gaps regarding animal movements and transmissibility, and evaluate the effectiveness of potential measures to control outbreaks by reducing the likelihood of transmission.