| | "The way new stock is handled can make a difference," says Dr. Gerald Hauer, Assistant Chief Provincial Veterinarian. "A producer can spend a great deal of time and effort making sure their animals are healthy, only to lose a year's profit or some of their animals from one mistake."
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While most producers are extremely careful that new stock are healthy before they arrive on the farm, there are some things that help ensure that diseases are not accidentally introduced to livestock:
- consider all-in/all-out policy for pastures or buildings where appropriate
- consider improving stock through artificial insemination as an alternative to introducing live animals
- make sure new stock is bought from a reputable source
- get assurance of health from a veterinarian
- ask the seller for proof of disease free status or at least ask about the occurrence of important diseases on his/her farm
- keep new animals separate from existing stock and from areas where existing stock may be for at least 30 days (ideally, six weeks)
- use separate equipment, including boots and clothing, when handling quarantined animals
- wash hands thoroughly after working with quarantined animals, and certainly before touching existing stock
- keep all vaccinations up to date in all animals
- get new stock caught up on their vaccinations before they enter the main herd
."Biosecurity is well established on some farms in Alberta, but is not followed as strictly on some of the others," says Hauer. "Livestock owners who are willing to spend money on new animals should make the effort to protect the animals they already have. A mistake can cost much more than the expenditure for new animals."
For more information on biosecurity, visit the biosecurity webpage on Alberta Agriculture's website at www.agric.gov.ab.ca/biosecurity.
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