Adopt biosecurity measures to protect your dairy

Since Sept. 11, 2001 and the creation of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. food processing and agricultural sectors have had to rethink the way they view and define "security" and "food chain safety." From farm to plant to market, Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) has also had to revisit its procedures.

As an extension of its 2004 crisis initiative, DFA has launched an information campaign urging its dairy farmer members and employees to understand the Homeland Security's five color alert system (see chart on page 16) and follow recommended procedures that will help to ensure the safety and security of DFA's milk supply from farm to market.

"This past holiday season, we saw the nation go to 'orange status.' According to Homeland Security, that means conditions are high for a terrorist attack," says Agi Schafer, DFA vice president of communications. "We don't want DFA members and staff to be afraid, but we do need them to be especially vigilant about the people and activities going on around our farms and plants. It's all about having a plan and practicing that plan."

Schafer says the dairy industry is asking all members to adopt proactive security and protective measures that "make sense" for their unique operations. In 2001, recomendations were developed by the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) and the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) to help dairy farmers. these guidelines are intended to be the minimum biosecurity measures for on-farm use. Herd owners may want to implement additional protections that are tailored to their specific operations.

On-Farm Recommendations

1. Maintain a healthy herd with proper biosecurity protections. The best biosecurity protection is a healthy, closed herd.
2. Do not purchase any animals from any foreign country or source where cattle may have been exposed to a foreign animal disease such as foot and-mouth disease (FMD). Likewise, do not purchase replacement animals from domestic sources without determining the herd health status, particularly with regard to emerging cattle diseases such as Johne's disease.
3. Do not allow any visitors on the farm if they have been outside the continental U.S. in the past two weeks, unless it can be verified that they have not been in contact with any cloven footed animal for the past five days.
4. If a suspected or confirmed case of an infectious animal disease is identified in the area where member farms exist, visitors should be wearing clean clothing (preferably dry cleaned) or disposable outer coveralls (Cloth or Tyvex) and be required to wear disposable plastic footwear covering. If shoes or boots without disposable boots are worn onto the dairy, they must be washed and disinfected with an EPA approved disinfectant.
5. Implement a quarantine program for all newly purchased animals before introducing or exposing them to any animals in the herd. Develop an appropriate quarantine plan in consultation with your veterinarian.
6. Clean, disinfect and maintain all livestock treatment and handling equipment in a sanitary condition at all times. Milking, veterinary, animal identification and foot trimming equipment should be cleaned and disinfected or sanitized properly between use on individual animals, groups of animals and farms, as the case may be, and as dictated by best management practices.
7. Immediately report to your veterinarian or State Veterinarian any signs of blistering on the nose and/or mouth of any animal, including excessive salvation. Clinical signs of Vesicular Stomatitis or Foot-and-Mouth Disease may also be indicated by detachment of the epithelial surface of the tongue, ruptured blisters on the gum or at the end of a cow's teat. Quick reporting is absolutely essential.
8. Restrict unauthorized visitors and vehicles from entering any animal production related area. Vehicles not a part of the farm operation should be confined away from the herd and animal production areas to avoid spread of disease from other farms or livestock facilities. All visitors should sign in and out and be escorted while visiting the operation.
9. Implement precautions to assure compliance with the FDA Ruminant Feed Ban. Be sure all purchased feed mixes or supplements do not contain prohibited mammalian protein such as meat and bone meal. If you are uncertain regarding a feed source, require a supplier letter certifying compliance with all FDA Feed Ban regulations. If you are mixing feed for other species, dedicate a separate mixer and feed handling equipment for bovine use only. Keep all invoices of purchased feed for a minimum of three years.
10. Implement an active fly, rodent and bird control program. Avoid any feed bunk exposure to wildlife, if at all possible. Prevent urine and feces excrements from dogs and cats from contaminating feed and feed bunks.