Cattle Biosecurity

Overview of cattle operations

• cattle production is a very diverse industry and biosecurity will depend upon the operation and products

  • dairy production

  • beef production

• raising of replacements (~2 years to become productive)

  • on farm

  • off farm or purchased

• reproduction

  • artificial insemination

  • natural service

What products are sold from/leave the farm?

• dairy cattle farm

  • milk, calves, heifers, cows, market cows

• cow-calf ranch

  • calves, bulls, cows, heifers

• feedlot operations

  • market beef

• veal production

  • market veal (bob, white, rose)

• manure

• feed

• water

• carcasses

• bull calves to auction

• cows/heifers to shows

What federal disease programs exist for cattle?

• brucellosis

• tuberculosis

What foreign animal diseases are of concern for cattle?

• FMD

• Pleuropneumonia

What respiratory diseases may cattle encounter?

• IBR

• parainfluenza

• BVD

• BRSV

• mycoplasma

• pasteurella

• manheimia

What enteric diseases may cattle encounter?

• BVD

• rotavirus

• coronavirus

• E. coli

• salmonella

What reproductive disease may cattle acquire?

• BVD

• trichomoniasis

• neospora

• leptospirosis

BVD

• bovine viral diarrhea - a major disease in cattle

• endemic in the US

• hard to get rid of

  • the virus can cross the placenta and become recognized as self in the fetus → persistent infection via vertical transmission

• control is based around handling persistently infected cattle and preventing exposure of pregnant cows to BVD

• administration of the MLV prior to puberty in females is another method of control

High risk areas on cattle farms

• calving/maternity areas

• hospital area

• nursing calves

• fresh cow pens

• quarantine

• holding areas

• milking parlors

Lower risk areas on cattle farms

• late lactation groups

• growing heifers

• non-lactating cow groups

High risk visitors

• vets

• hoof trimmers

• AI technicians

• other cattle producers

• nutritionists

• animal transporters

• milk and feed haulers

High risk activities

• animal purchases

• hoof trimming

• animal treatments

• animal transportation

• milking

• vaccinations

External biosecurity

• limit animal purchases

• disease screening

• quarantine areas

  • new animals (3-4 weeks)

  • returning animals

• control visitor access

  • boot washes

  • coveralls

Internal biosecurity

• good nutrition

• vaccination programs

• appropriate housing, ventilation

• workflow - young to old

• all in/all out grouping

• disease control records

• age-based grouping

• limit access to high risk areas

• treatment and milking protocols

Biosecurity practice ranking

1. veal production

2. dairy milk production

3. beef feedlots

4. cow-calf production

What does ideal calf housing look like in terms of biosecurity?

• group housed calves are at higher risk of disease transmission

• hutches

  • should not allow nose-to-nose contact

  • solid barriers

  • adequate bedding to prevent movement of manure between pens

  • ventilation