| | What is biosecurity | Defining biosecurity | Why is biosecurity important | How are livestock diseases spread | Biosecurity is everyone's responsibility | Biosecurity is part of everyday business | When is biosecurity important | Pillars of biosecurity | Biosecurity in Alberta | Biosecurity champions | Biosecurity champions newsletter | Biosecurity promotional products | Biosecurity protocols for industry | Brochures | Useful links
What is Biosecurity?
Biosecurity refers to practices designed to prevent, reduce or eliminate the introduction and incidental spread of disease among livestock.
For example, diseases can easily be carried on boots or clothing contaminated by manure, saliva, respiratory and reproductive discharges. Some diseases are easily carried by farm visitors, while other diseases are only transmitted by animals.
Biosecurity practices minimize the risk of disease spread by identifying risks and developing intervention measures to minimize disease-causing agents from entering or leaving a property.
Defining Biosecurity
Biosecurity minimized the introduction and/or transmission of disease on a given farm, between farms and between species.
Why is Biosecurity Important?
Biosecurity practices can:
- prevent the introduction and spread of disease
- protect humans from zoonotic diseases (diseases found in animals that are transmissible to humans and vice versa)
- be indicators of commitment to the health of livestock industries
- provide confidence that risk managers are doing the 'right things'
- elevate awareness of animal health and disease transmission
- be used as a recovery tool if disease incursions occur
- save money spent on disease recovery costs (diseases cost producers, industry, government and marketers hundreds of millions of dollars each year – simple biosecurity steps can be implemented to reduce such costs)
How Are Livestock Diseases Spread?
Livestock diseases are typically spread by:
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Direct contact between infected and healthy animals or humans (through infected replacement stock, humans carrying disease in their respiratory tract). |
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Indirect contact (clothing, boots, bedding, feed, wild birds, pets, rodents). |
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Airborne (carried through the air in certain weather conditions). |
Biosecurity is Everyone’s Responsibility
All animal owners and types of livestock operations, livestock haulers, marketers, feed mills, processors, veterinarians, servicemen, inspectors and farm visitors (public) need to understand and adopt best practices in biosecurity.
Biosecurity is Part of Everyday Business
It is everyone’s role to be informed of biosecurity. Before visiting a farm, ASK the owner about the operations specific biosecurity protocols. Biosecurity protocols will vary from farm to farm and between livestock species, therefore it is important to ask each and every time you visit a farm.
Click here for the biosecurity notes for people visiting farms
Click here for a sample checklist for farm visitors
When is biosecurity important?
Biosecurity is important at all times, though it is especially important when disease outbreaks are occurring nationally or internationally. Under these circumstances there is an elevated level of disease risk.
Today's global environment has the potential to spread diseases rapidly. Air travel has increased the number of people crossing borders on a daily basis and at any one time in Alberta there are approximately 400 trucks hauling livestock.
Pillars of Biosecurity
Many livestock industries have developed or are in the process of developing industry specific biosecurity practices. All are based on three main pillars: managing access to farms; animal health management; managing day-to-day production. Examples of each can include but are not limited to:
Access management
- controlling access of visitors and service people
- changing coveralls
- cleaning footwear
Animal health management
- quarantining new stock
- managing animal movement
- vaccination programs
Production management
- controlling rodents
- limiting exposure to wild birds and other wildlife
- building maintenance
Biosecurity in Alberta
Biosecurity is a vital component of sustainable livestock production. Principles of biosecurity have become the foundation for animal health which has an associated relationship to food safety, control of zoonotic diseases and trade. Biosecurity practices are essential to maintaining market access and preventing the occurrence of Foreign Animal Disease (FAD) in Canada.
Biosecurity Champions
Biosecurity Champions is a self-governing group promoting the principles and practices of biosecurity in Alberta. The group is comprised of producers, farm service representatives, academic and veterinary organizations directly or indirectly involved with animal agriculture and related industries.
Key activities performed by the Biosecurity Champions include: the sharing of information on industry specific biosecurity initiatives, the development and implementation of biosecurity promotional plans tailored to individual organizations and the distribution of promotional material on topics pertaining to biosecurity.
Biosecurity Champions Newsletter
Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development publishes a bi-annual Biosecurity Champions newsletter highlighting current topics, key issues and developments pertaining to biosecurity in Alberta. Below are links to the most recent editions of the newsletter.
Biosecurity Promotional Products
Under the guidance of the Biosecurity Champions, Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development has made available promotional material for producers and industry to assist in the implementation and education of biosecurity practices. Promotional items include: informational brochures, farm gate signs, visitor log books, note pads and pens.
Promotional material can be obtained by contacting ARD at 780-422-6630.
Poster - 11 x 17
Visitor Log Book - 8 1/2 x 11
Horizontal metal entry sign - 24 x 12
Vertical metal entry sign - 12 x 24
Pen
  
Footprint sticky note - 4 x 3 People sticky note - 4 x 3 Small thing sticky note - 4 x 3
Biosecurity Protocols for Industry
All livestock producers should develop biosecurity plans tailored to their specific operation. Producers are encouraged to work with veterinarians and other animal health professionals in developing biosecurity plans. All farm staff need to understand the details and importance of biosecurity protocols. Key portions of biosecurity plans should be posted and visible. Plans need to be reviewed regularly.
Examples of species specific biosecurity protocols can be found by clicking here.
Brochures
Please click on the following brochures for a free download. Alternatively, you may also contact the Animal Health Branch at 780-422-6630.
Biosecurity for Overseas Travelers (78K)
Backyard Birds and Avian Influenza (87K)
Foot and Mouth Disease - Information for Producers (556KB)
Foot and Mouth Disease - Biosecurity Information for Agricultural Sector Travelers (522 KB)
Foot and Mouth Disease poster - 11 x 17 (554 KB)
ABVMA, AB Chicken Producers Biosecurity Brochure (725 KB)
ABVMA, AB Chicken Producers Biosecurity Poster (1027 KB)
ABVMA, AB Beef Producers Biosecurity Brochure (1597 KB)
ABVMA, AB Hatching Egg Producers Biosecurity Fact Sheet (452 KB)
ABVMA, AB Lamb, AB Bison Producers MCF Brochure (675 KB)
ABVMA, AB Egg Producers Parking Sign (265 KB)
ABVMA, AB Pork Producers Biosecurity Signage (480 KB)
ABVMA, AB Milk Johnes Disease Brochure (778 KB)
Useful Links
Office of the Chief Provincial Veternarian
Food Safety and Animal Health Division
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives
Department of Environment Food and Rural Affairs
National Biosecurity Recource Centre
Australian Government
Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
www.agbiosecurity.ca
http://www.aitoolkit.org/Home/Elements/Biosecurity.aspx
http://www.aitoolkit.org/site/DefaultSite/filesystem/documents/Biosecurity_HPAI.pdf
http://www.aasv.org/aasv/PRRSV_BiosecurityManual.pdf
Biosecurity New Zealand
Foot and Mouth Disease Information
The University of Vermont - Farm Assessment and Biosecurity Planning
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