| | "Albertans are friendly people, but uncontrolled visitors can pose serious risks to livestock on farms and ranches," says Dr. Gerald Hauer, assistant chief provincial veterinarian with Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, Edmonton. "Bacteria, viruses and other disease-causing pathogens can be carried on boots, vehicles and equipment. So we need to be careful with objects that can carry disease."
Practices that can minimize the risk to Alberta livestock:
- Limit access to certain zones on the farm or ranch. Friends, relatives and visitors should park away from the livestock and not travel on foot or in their vehicles to areas where livestock are located. This is particularly important if visitors have their own stock, have visited other producers or have been to facilities that house livestock. Some friends and family might want to visit the animals, but will no doubt understand when the threat unnecessary contact poses to the animal health and the farm livelihood is explained. If producers wish to take people through the livestock area, provide them with a pair of boots or disposable booties and a clean pair of coveralls.
- Ask feed, pharmaceutical, equipment, and veterinary suppliers for their biosecurity procedures. Businesses that travel from farm to farm should ensure that disease cannot be spread through their vehicles, boots, equipment and clothing.
- Post signs on gates and doors reminding people that access to the barn is restricted and that only authorized people are allowed entry.
- Lock the doors to barns so that people cannot walk through unannounced and unsupervised.
- Keep a visitors' log that records dates and names of visitors to the farm, what farm they came from, and what farm they are travelling to. If there is a disease outbreak in the area, it will help track the movement of people and equipment.
"Most businesses have areas that are off-limits to the public," says Dr, Hauer. "No customer would think of walking into the kitchen of a restaurant, onto the floor of a manufacturing business, or saunter through a construction zone. Farming and ranching is business too. Producers have a right, and a responsibility, to practice good biosecurity - it is simply good business practice."
For more information on biosecurity, visit the Alberta Agriculture website..
Contact: Dr. Gerald Hauer, DVM (780) 427-3448 |
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