  BeefTalk:
Biosecurity Issues Affect Beef Industry Production
By Kris Ringwall, Extension Beef Specialist,
NDSU Extension Service
In the origin of all species, natural geographic barriers (like mountains,
rivers, oceans, and forests) limited travel. Through time those barriers in
concert with natural selection produced strains of animals and a multitude of
species.
Those same barriers served to limit the spread and transmission of many
diseases. This isolation, in many ways, was the key to survival for most
species. Competition, co-mingling and general exposure across species tends to
reduce species numbers.
Within the past century, the breakdown of these natural barriers, because of
advanced methods of sharing genetics and transportation, has affected the beef
industry. Herd health and other related issues involving the general health of
individual beef animals have made subsequent impacts on the industry.
A recent exercise among public agencies in North Dakota simulating the
release of a particular pathogen –a "bad bug"– within the cattle industry showed
how such an event could impact us all. This is not an effort to create hysteria
or rush to a technical fix, but rather to focus a simple principle evident in
any natural or artificial disease outbreak.
Isolation restricts the transmission of potentially harmful disease vectors.
In preparation for the future, beef producers need to start thinking of
biosecurity for their individual operations. Over the centuries the cattle
industry has progressively expanded to become global in scope. The shipping of
cattle across regional, national and international boundaries has been applauded
as great marketing progress and expanded opportunity. The price, until now, has
been relatively small.
The North Dakota bioterrorism exercise created a lasting impression. Cattle
herds constantly and frequently transferred from various events or activities
face an increase in odds of being involved in a breach of biosecurity. Much of
this has been known for years. Exposure of cattle without adequate isolation
upon returning to the main herd carries a significant risk.
Other industries, in particular the swine and poultry industries, have
adopted a principle called "all in, all out". Managing these operations in this
manner does not allow for the exposure of potentially harmful disease-carrying
agents. Realizing the beef industry is not a hog barn or a poultry barn, there
still is a lesson we can learn.
It is time for good beef production guidelines to encourage the development
of a biosecurity plan and implement it. Knowing the source of all cattle, buying
from only proven sources, restricting exposure of the herd to other cattle and
restricting access to the premise may be components each producer needs to start
thinking about.
These options have not been high on any beef producer's list of management
tools. However, a real biosecurity breech, the deliberate or accidental
introduction of a "bad bug" into herd, should not be needed to create this
awareness. Good management of a beef operation today should include these
general principles:
- Do not introduce any newly purchased or returning animals directly to the
main herd. Maintain isolation and observation pens to hold animals until your
local veterinarian clears them to be placed in the main herd.
- Be conservative. Err on the side of being safe and avoid bringing animals
back into the herd once they have left.
- Develop strong relationships with your local source of breeding stock, and
make sure the breeding operation has a thorough biosecurity plan.
- Stay local with the importation of new stock, keep good records and
restrict general access to your operation.
These were good practices when "bad bugs" were spread naturally, or at least
unintentionally. Now that the danger from those who would spread biological
agents maliciously is real, these practices are essential.
May you find all your ear tags.
Your comments are always welcome at
www.BeefTalk.com. For more information,
contact the North Dakota Beef Cattle Improvement Association, 1133 State Avenue,
Dickinson, ND 58601 or go to
www.CHAPS2000.com on the Internet. In
correspondence about this column, refer to BT0152.
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Source: Kris Ringwall, (701) 483-2427, kringwal@ndsuext.nodak.edu
Editor: Tom Jirik, (701) 231-9629, tjirik@ndsuext.nodak.edu
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General Principles of a Biosecurity
Plan for Your Beef Operation
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The reality of today's beef business
1. Initiate and enforce the isolation of any
newly purchased or returning animals
2. Restrict general access
3. Keep good records
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