Biosecurity in the Beef Cattle Operation D L

Biosecurity in the Beef Cattle Operation D. L. Step, DVM, DACVIM Oklahoma State University Veterinary Medical Hospital Stillwater, OK

Goals n Develop a better understanding of biosecurity n Levels of biosecurity n Herd additions n Human interactions n Potential Disease Threats

Definitions: Biosecurity n Development and implementation of management procedures to reduce or prevent unwanted threats from entering the herd or population n Threats potentially harmful to health and well being of herd n “ 90% of what we’ve started doing we should have been doing anyway” – John Wagner, Colorado Beef, Lamar, Colo.

Value of Biosecurity to Farmer/Rancher n Cash Flow and equity q Unwanted agents can reduce reproductive efficiency q Decrease production as impact weaning weights, daily gain, feed efficiency, days off feed due to illness q PI animals q Loss of marketing options q Liability of selling infected animals q Increase death rates q Reduce marketing options “Slaughter Only” - not music to the ears of a seed stock operator n Improve animal well being

Threats n Genetic problems n Toxins n Parasitic Disease n Violative Residues n Viral, Bacterial, Protozoan, Rickettsial

Risks of Specific Threats n Determine production goals for operation n Identify risks n Determine level of acceptable risk q What is likelihood of this risk occurring in this herd or population? q What is economic impact of that potential problem? n Review risks on a regular basis

Farmer / Rancher must determine: Level of Biosecurity -or- Level of Risk Tolerance

Biosecurity Management Plan n Minimize the factors that increase risk n Maximize the factors that reduce risk

Determine Producer’s Goals n Type of operation (examples) q seedstock producer q commercial cow/calf producer q stocker operator q feedlot operator q order buyer n Determine production goals

Herd Status n Review production records n Review diagnostic tests n Review both clinical and subclinical disease n Identify goals for herd

Identify Facilities n Isolation areas, separate hospital areas n Storage (feedstuffs) n Pastures (quantity, quality) n Dead animal disposal n Processing facilities

Identify Management and Labor n. Resource availability -Management qadequate labor nfamily support nhired or contracted qrecords qmarketing

Quantify Financial Support n. Resource availability (finances) qdebt load qexpansion ? qretirement

Biosecurity---many levels 1. Global 2. National 3. State 4. Your place

Biosecurity – Global level n Office of International Epizootics, OIE q Paris France q established 1924 as a result of Rinderpest outbreak in Belgium q mission – to insure transparency in the global disease situation q need to know – international trade www. oie. int

Biosecurity - National Level Department of Homeland Security (DHS) - Four components 1. Customs and Border Patrol 2. Department of Agriculture q Ag Research Service q Animal Plant and Health Inspection Service (APHIS)

Biosecurity - National Level Department of Homeland Security (DHS) – Four components 3. Department of Health & Human Services 4. National Biodefense Analysis Countermeasures Center q analysis of emerging bio threats to people and agriculture q FBI – forensic analysis of bioterrorism events q joint effort of the above with Plum Island Research

Biosecurity Close to Home

Level of Biosecurity – Most Common “The common disease prevention & control practices employed by the majority of beef herds today are inadequate to meet future demands. They rely on visual observation, regulatory compliance, vaccination, and limited attention to biosecurity of the herds making animal additions. ” J. U. Thompson

SIX Levels of Biosecurity 1 -closed herd [specific pathogen-free (SPF) herd] 2 -no entry or reentry of animals 3 -no entry of new animals but reentry allowed

6 Levels of Biosecurity (cont’d) 4 -entry of new animals (known medical records) and isolation 5 -entry of new animals (known medical records) and no isolation 6 -entry of new animals (no medical records) and no isolation

Producer Determine Level of Acceptable Risk n Stocker operator n Wean at auction market n Commercial operation that retains ownership through the harvest phase n Seed-stock producer or international marketing

HACCP – Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (When do you have control of the hazard? ) n Hazard Analysis q identifies the health risks associated with the age and class of specified livestock n neonate, weaned, replacement heifers, cows, bulls n Critical Control Points q identifies the important POINTS of intervention for reducing risk of disease for the age and class of specified livestock

Herd-Level Critical Control Points purchased products colostrum, feed, etc. purchased animals herd replacements semen, embryos visitors Livestock Herd neighbor’s herd other animals wildlife BEVO – Bird’s Eye View of your Operation

Point of Diminishing Return Relationship of Treatment/Prevention Level and Losses Control Costs $ Losses Control costs A B C Treatment/Prevention Level A= Increase control to reduce losses B= Keep incidence at optimal level C= Control costs outweigh losses

Sources of Threats Consider ALL aspects of operation n Environment n Feed Water n Equipment n People n Animal inputs q Raised replacements q Purchased replacements q Semen, embryos n Wildlife

Environmental Assessment Management By Walking Around n MBWA n Pastures, pens, lots, fences n Working facilities n Isolation areas? n Possible public access q Roads q Shared fence lines n Potential exposure to wildlife

Feed and Water n Purchased vs Home Grown n Storage n Water Supply q Well q Pond q stream n Sources of Potential Contamination

Equipment n Cattle trucks and trailers n Feed delivery and supply vehicles n Rendering trucks n Manure spreaders n Feed buckets n Cleaning brushes n Watering

Equipment (cont. ) n Calf pullers and chains n Needles, syringes n Dehorners n Castration knives n Working chutes

People n Clothing q boots, coveralls, gloves n Visitors q school groups, foreign visitors, tours n n n n Employees Veterinarians Sales representatives Relatives County educators Processing crews Haulers

Biosecurity Considerations ØTraffic ØSanitation & waste management ØHerd Additions

Traffic Specific Suggestions n Controll access to premises q no non-resident vehicles allowed q supply disposable boots q questionnaire

Sanitation and Waste Management n Labor: limited personnel performing many duties n Control wildlife, rodents, and birds n Avoid cross contamination q water, feed: buckets, cleansing brushes q manure, bedding q feeding & mixing equipment q clothing, boots

Protecting Livestock from Terrorism Be Vigilant check livestock more frequently Local Veterinarian State Veterinarian watch your neighbors report suspicious activity Law Enforcement

Herd Additions Specific Suggestions n Known herd status q raise own replacements q prior to arrival q use AI? n Isolation/quarantine q 60 days n Test and/or vaccinate n Parasite control

Herd Replacements n Pre Entry Testing n Isolation n Vaccination n Internal and External parasite control n Strategic placement within the herd

Non-Pregnant Beef Heifer: Pre-entry n Herd of origin information: n Must have good records! qhealth (history of disease, BVDV, Johne’s Disease, Bangs, TB, etc) qvaccination protocol qparasite control measures

Herd Additions Health Inspection n “issuance of a health certificate cannot be considered absolute assurance that the animal(s) is disease free. ” Dr. John U. Thomson, South Dakota State University

Non-Pregnant Beef Heifer - Isolation n Recommend: 60 day period n Strict traffic control n Identify by herd of origin along with your numbering system n Serum for further testing if necessary n Internal and External parasite assessment

Non-Pregnant Beef Heifer n Discuss with your veterinarian: q Vaccinate: pre breeding q Internal and external parasite control

Non-Pregnant Beef Heifer - Assimilation n Turn out with bulls q Virgin or Trichomonas negative bulls q Tested negative for same disease as heifers q Vaccinated for the same disease as heifers q Deemed satisfactory potential breeder by Standardized BSE

Definitions: Biocontainment n Plan or program for controlling infectious agents, diseases, or problems already present in a herd or population

If Outbreak Occurs n Written protocol n Meeting: everyone involved understands n Identify areas of pathogen build up: calving areas, hospital pens, common chute areas q remove cow & calf ASAP q rotate calving areas if possible

If Outbreak Occurs (cont’d) n Necropsy (unless anthrax is suspected) q identify problems q confirm the diagnosis q determine extent of disease q take appropriate samples q dispose of remains accordingly

A Biosecurity Program No One Size Fits All! n ~Insurance policy qhealth qproductivity n Producer and veterinarian develop q adapted for goals & objectives of each herd n Educate all personnel in the operation

Questions? ? ? Contact: Your Veterinarian OSU County Educator Oklahoma Department of Ag

Potential Disease Threats n Anthrax n Foreign Animal Diseases (FAD) q Foot and Mouth Disease ( FMD) q Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE)

Anthrax n caused by bacteria (Bacillus anthracis) n occurs throughout the world (including Oklahoma) n spores: very resistant q decades centuries n all vertebrates are susceptible

Anthrax Clinical Signs n sudden death n fever, difficulty breathing, muscle tremors n terminal convulsions n blood from body openings

Clinical Signs (cont’d) n depression n off feed, no ruminations n drop milk production n diarrhea, dysentery (alimentary form) n edema (swelling) tongue, throat, brisket, perineum, flanks

Anthrax Zoonotic Potential n humans q alimentary form (stomach, gut) q cutaneous form (skin) q pulmonary form (lungs)

“Foreign Animal Diseases” (FAD) “Exotic Diseases” n 50 animal diseases q not currently in the US q 13 have been eradicated from the US q many are zoonotic ZOONOTIC = a disease I can get from an animal n Rabies, Anthrax, Salmonella www. oie. int http: //www. fao. org/ag/a. AGA/AGAH/EMPRES/index. asp

Foreign Animal Disease Potential Losses in: 1. production 2. death 3. markets and marketing 4. tourism – ask the British – ($7. 5 B)

“Foreign Animal Diseases” (FAD) “Exotic Diseases” n listed are 13 FADs that affect cattle – classified as: q Highly Contagious diseases q Non-Highly Contagious diseases q Vector-Borne Contagious diseases n insect involved www. oie. int http: //www. fao. org/ag/a. AGA/AGAH/EMPRES/index. asp

Foreign Animal Diseases – FAD Highly Contagious n Foot & Mouth Disease

FMD Costs n outbreak lasted seven months n ten million (10, 000) animals killed n $4 billion in compensation, cleanup, export losses n $7. 5 billion in lost tourism

FMD - Occurrence n. Countries/Continents • • • Asia So. America Great Britain Europe Africa

FMD - Cause n. Foot and Mouth virus • picornaviridae family • seven major serotypes, plus subtypes • no cross-protection • incubation 3 - 6 days

FMD – Occurrence domestic animals cattle sheep goats pigs llamas wildlife deer elk antelope bison wild hogs

FMD – Clinical Signs n dull, off feed, drool n vesicles (blisters) on lips, gums, tongue, nares, palate • often rupture before examination n vesicles (blisters) between toes and on coronary band, leading to lameness

FMD – Clinical Signs • marked drop in feed intake • lactation ceases • eating resumes in 2 -3 days, but recovery may take 6 months

FMD – Morbidity and Mortality n sickness (morbidity) approaches 100% n death rate (mortality) approximately 1% in adults, as high as 20 -25% in young stock due to “necrotizing myocarditis”

FMD – Transmission n animal to animal by inhalation or ingestion n oral and nasal secretions, milk, urine, semen n infected meat scraps (uncooked) n airborne – up to 150 miles – pigs are most potent excretors of airborne virus and cattle the most susceptible to airborne infections

FMD – Transmission n fumets • • • clothing – 10 -12 weeks infected premises up to 1 year nasal passages of humans – 28 hr feedstuffs tires hides (cont’d)

FMD – Transmission (cont’d) nthrough passive carriage in GI tract of birds and rodents nmeat pickled in brine ndry-cured sausage

FMD - Immunity nimmunity to the infective strain lasts 1 -4 years in cattle, but they remain susceptible to other strains nrecovered ruminants can be carriers for at least two years

FMD - Control n International travel significant threat n Ban import of all uncooked food products n Ban import of all live animals n Ban import of hay, straw, and vegetables n Ban import of semen and embryos

FMD – Control • Strict Biosecurity (con’t)

FMD - Disinfectants n Virkon S (Antec International) at a 1: 200 dilution n Acetic acid (vinegar) 2% solution. Mix one gallon of vinegar (4%) in a gallon of water n Sodium hypochlorite (household bleach). Mix three parts bleach to two parts water n Sodium hydroxide (lye) solution (2 %). Mix a 13 ounce can in five gallons of water

B ovine S pongiform n media term is “Mad Cow” n TSE q scrapie q CWD q TME q CJD, Kuru q nv. CJD E ncephalopathy

Foreign Animal Diseases – FAD Non-Highly Contagious n Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) qslow degenerative central nervous disease qfatal qzoonotic ? questions?

BSE n cause = ? ? ? n theory: q prion q virion q un-identified virus

BSE n Biosecurity q. STRICT avoidance of ruminant protein in ruminant feed q. Avoid imports of live cattle, embryos from BSE countries

U. S. BSE Prevention Strategies Federal government inspects borders FDA banned the use of ruminant proteins Producers ask feed companies FDA requires renderers to separate Packers ask producers to certify