Biosecurity Considerations for Beef Producers Purchasing Animals

Bill Epperson, DVM, MS, Extension Veterinarian, SDSU

Importance of Disease

Should we be worried about disease in our beef herds? After all, disease is really not that common, and our herds spend most of their days in a state that we would call generally healthy. But, when disease hits it can impact us one or more of the following ways.

    1. Death loss and illness with treatment cost
    2. Chronic problems with poor production
    3. Inability to sell breeding stock from our herd
    4. Massive culling, if a disease like Foot and Mouth Disease enters
    5. Loss of consumer confidence, even if the disease does not affect humans

Biosecurity

Biosecurity is a management plan used to control infectious disease in a herd (ie disease caused by a biologic agent, or germ). We can think of controlling disease in the herd in either of 2 ways:

  1. Preventing the introduction of a "new" germ, or
  2. Controlling the spread of a germ (new or old) in our herd.

In general, most diseases of concern to us today enter and spread through the herd through animal-animal contact. Other ways of entering and spreading include through contaminated feed (like BSE, or Mad Cow Disease) or water, or through contaminated equipment, clothing, or facilities.

Isolation

The cornerstone of any biosecurity program is isolation and observation of additions upon arrival. The isolation period should be at least 30, and preferably 60 days. The idea of isolation is to provide a period of time for acute disease to develop if infection was acquired shortly before movement. This is a good strategy for diseases that show clinical signs – like respiratory disease and scours.

During the isolation period, new arrivals should have no contact with the home herd. This includes direct nose – nose contact, contact with feces, contact via contaminated water and/or feed, and contact through contaminated facilities, clothes, and other tools or equipment.

Blood Testing

Testing is useful in a biosecurity program to look for diseases that do not present themselves in the isolation period. Common diseases like this include Johne’s disease and some forms of BVD. The need to test is determined by the producer goals, the type and age of animal being acquired, and the source herd history. Producers should talk with their veterinarian when deciding what tests, if any, are needed.

Shared and Co-mingled herds

Be careful about entering into arrangements for sharing pasture space, wintering space, or otherwise co-mingling herds. In a sense, when you co-mingle herds, you are in fact "introducing" new animals to your herd. In these situations, disease risk is high. Disease risk can be reduced in these arrangements through owner communication and use of coordinated health programs. Too often, such planning is not done, and occasionally disease becomes a problem in one herd.

Minimum Biosecurity Considerations

Class of Cattle

Actions

Foster Calves

HIGH RISK INTRODUCTION OF CALF SCOURS AGENTS

  1. Isolate (with dam) from rest of healthy herd from arrival until summer turnout.
  2. Clearly identify calf, record dam ID in written records
  3. Make sure calf appears totally normal (normal growth, normal manure, normal respiration, etc) before turnout with rest of herd.
  4. Do not retain this calf in herd for breeding purposes

Replacement Heifers (Bred or Unbred)
  1. Isolate (see above)
  2. Identify, record identity, date arrived, and source
  3. Blood test for BVD, Brucellosis (if necessary)
  4. Vaccinate. I suggest vaccinating twice, at least 2 weeks apart to try and assure a good immune response.

Cows (Bred or open)
  1. Isolate
  2. Identify and record identity, date arrived, and source
  3. Blood test according to your veterinarian’s advice. Consider Johne’s disease, BVD, and Brucellosis.
  4. Vaccinate. Again, I suggest considering vaccinating twice, at least 2 weeks apart to try and assure immunity.

Bulls
  1. Isolate
  2. Identify and record identity, date arrived, and source
  3. Blood test according to your veterinarian’s advice. Consider Johne’s disease, BVD, and Brucellosis. Reccomendations will vary according to the producer and age of bull. Check Johne’s status of source herd, if not already done. Is the source herd monitoring for Johne’s ? If not, how can they be sure they do not have Johne’s disease?
  4. Consider Trichomoniasis testing. This is probably not necessary for virgin bulls.
  5. Vaccinate. You want to vaccinate against all the diseases you vaccinate against in the cowherd. Again, consider giving 2 vaccinations at least 2 weeks apart. In bulls, also consider vaccination for footrot.