Many of the recommendations for biosecurity plans to prevent FMD would not be required to control a less devastating disease. In addition to individual cattle operation policies designed to limit the risk of FMD, producers should have a written emergency management plan for dealing with an outbreak. This gives clear direction to employees and others of how the disease will be contained and eradicated. Agri Beef, which manages Supreme Cattle Feeders near Liberal, has established a comprehensive plan spelling out how the facility will limit its exposure to FMD and how the feedyard would respond to an outbreak. Each operation requires unique prevention and control strategies, as do the diseases themselves.
Different measures are prudent for a feedyard than for a cow-calf operation.
Reducing risk of disease is not easy. There are no fool-proof lines of defense. Working with a veterinarian to construct a plan unique to each operation provides the producer s best chance to limit exposure and adequately deal with an outbreak. If you want more in-depth analysis and reporting on issues affecting your business, consider joining KLA today.