Holding the Line with Daily and Enhanced Biosecurity

Introduction

Meet Joe. His veterinarian has just told him that only 15% of his herd is pregnant. He is anguishing over what to do next: figure out what caused this reproductive loss and how to continue the operation or liquidate and get out of livestock farming.

As a veterinarian and livestock producer, I empathize. A herd biosecurity program might have “held the line” against the potential pathogen that caused Joe’s situation. But we were both too busy to bother with practicing daily biosecurity, like isolating that newly purchased stud from another state or administering vaccinations; and besides, everything seemed fine.

Now, imagine it is another Tuesday morning. As Susan wraps up chores and heads in for coffee, a neighbor five miles down the road has reported a suspected Foreign Animal Disease (FAD). By noon, the state has issued an area quarantine order. Even though Susan’s animals appear healthy, her operation is impacted as depending on the disease, specific animal and animal product movements may be restricted. When Stop Movement Orders are issued, the routine tools used in a daily biosecurity plan aren’t enough. Enhanced biosecurity plans and premises biosecurity maps are needed. ↗️

Preparing for Both Daily and Enhanced Biosecurity

Biosecurity is often discussed in abstract, academic terms, but in a crisis, it requires a physical, tactical strategy. For livestock farmers, biosecurity means taking measures to protect animals from living organisms (i.e., viruses and bacteria) that can cause disease. It has two components:

1. Bioexclusion—keeping pathogens from entering a farm 
2. Biocontainment— preventing the spread of pathogens around and from an affected farm

The greatest risk to a farm is from novel diseases that the livestock are not immune to. As in Joe’s case, risk was most likely due to commonly known organisms that cause reproductive failure. The detection of a FAD, such as African Swine Fever, Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, Foot and Mouth Disease, or a parasite such as New World Screwworm adds a new dimension; requiring regulatory action since these diseases jeopardize the regional, state and nation’s agricultural economies. 

When an outbreak occurs, regardless of whether it’s one farm’s response to its own issue or a response to a FAD, “holding the line” is no longer a catchphrase. A biosecurity plan and premises map are critical defense mechanisms and living blueprints for managing both common and extraordinary disease threats. Planning how and visualizing the movement of people, animals, and equipment, provides strong tools to protect the operation.

Two Essential Tools: Plan vs. Map

A biosecurity plan and a premises map are not the same, but they complement each other. The biosecurity plan outlines the actions taken to prevent and control disease, while the premises map visually shows where and how those actions apply to the farm. Together, they form the foundation of both daily and enhanced biosecurity. During times when enhanced biosecurity is needed, both are the regulatory keys that provide reasonable assurance to animal health officials that animals and animal products can move safely from the farm without spreading a catastrophic pathogen.

Six Key Takeaways

Takeaway 1: All Farms May Be Affected

A common misconception is that in the event of a FAD, a quarantine will only affect the farm where a disease is detected. In reality, FAD investigators may establish zones restricting movement of susceptible animals and animal products. Movements from farms in the Control Area may stop even if animals appear healthy. 

The biosecurity plan and premises map allow officials to issue movement permits. A prepared biosecurity plan and map may help to fast-track permit approvals. Farms in the surrounding Surveillance Zone are contacted for additional monitoring.

Takeaway 2: The Plan Provides Data for Investigators

First and foremost, the plan helps the operation achieve biosecurity. When DATCP receives a report of a potential Foreign Animal Disease, a Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostician (FADD) is assigned to determine if an investigation is needed.  They will look to the  plan for critical information, including:

• Premises Information: contact details, PIN, and GPS coordinates. 
• Animal inventory and housing management and a history of all animal movements. 
• Logistics: visitor logs, staff info, and equipment movement records.
• Waste Management: carcass disposal/pickup locations and manure hauling.
• Property details: including maps of other owned/rented facilities.

This information will be important for the FADD in completing required epidemiologic investigations. 

Takeaway 3: Mapping Lines of Separation

Lines of Separation (LOS) are the core pieces of a biosecurity map. These lines separate off-farm traffic that enters or crosses on-farm areas. The goal is to control movements, i.e., footsteps, wheel traffic, equipment, and animals that could carry or spread pathogens. This requires a mental shift from managing animals to managing movements. It’s not about fencing a property; it is about controlling every entry point across the LOS.

While daily bioexclusion practices, like clean boots and visitor awareness are critical for controlling entry points across the LOS, a FAD outbreak demands enhanced biosecurity. More intensive vehicle cleaning and disinfection (C/D) stations may be needed to control entry points across the LOS during a FAD. Planning your map in advance may help to minimize reliance on these labor-intensive measures.

Takeaway 4: The Premises Map is a Living Document

Preparing a premises map should never be a one-time exercise. It should evolve with the operation and is anchored by the Premises Identification ↗️ Number (PIN).  Maps are typically not required until a quarantine or permitting process begins, but having a map created ahead of time can reduce stress during an outbreak and may save time in getting approval for permitted movements. Keeping the map current shifts it from paperwork to protection.

Takeaway 5: Creating Legible Premises Maps

Creating a map does not require an advanced graphic design degree. Approaches used for creating the map vary and any method can work as long as the resulting map clearly illustrates the operation’s movement strategies. A hand-drawn map with a clear legend is acceptable.  Digital maps using PowerPoint (or similar tools) or Online tools like Premises Mapper ↗️ allow for easy updates. Secure Food Supply Plan resources ↗️ also provide templates to build both your daily and enhanced biosecurity plans.

Takeaway 6: Daily vs. Enhanced Biosecurity

The biosecurity plan and premises map help identify daily measures, such as:

• Establishing designated parking areas
• Maintaining visitor logs
• Enforcing clean, farm specific clothing and footwear
• Using boot and hand wash stations
• Following a chore order
• Implementing animal isolation and vaccination protocols

Enhanced biosecurity measures, like strict LOS enforcement and vehicle C/D stations are activated during an FAD event. 

In a crisis, ‘business as usual’ ends. To resume movement, containment must be demonstrated using a written biosecurity plan and a biosecurity map of the animal premises. Preparing for this transition, from daily habits to enhanced biosecurity before an outbreak occurs makes the operation more prepared for potential economic impacts. 

How to Start

Before mapping, make a complete inputs and outputs list. Look at what routinely crosses the farm gate; feed trucks, fuel delivery, garbage pickup, and manure or dead animal removal are some examples. Ask: How often does this happen? When stop movements are issued, how long can the operation go without this movement? This analysis determines where to place LOS and access points. The goal is to reduce disease risk while minimizing the need for resource intensive interventions like C/D stations.