16 NEBRASKA CATTLEMAN March 2024 movement to the point of putting producers out of business while eliminating the virus from the U.S.,” Dudley adds. Biosecurity Some operations may have existing biosecurity plans that can be used to prevent normal endemic diseases like BVD or trichomoniasis, but FMD requires heightened biosecurity measures. During an FMD outbreak, it is the producer’s responsibility to keep their animals from becoming infected, focusing on what they can control on their premises. “Biosecurity is expensive and inconvenient; however, if we are going to control the spread of FMD, everyone needs to understand biosecurity and what is required to keep the FMD virus from spreading,” Dudley says. There are three major concepts that all cattle operations should implement prior to an outbreak: 1. A biosecurity manager (one person in charge of monitoring biosecurity on your premises). 2. A written, operation-specific, enhanced biosecurity plan. 3. A line of separation or LOS (a clearly identified boundary around or within a premises to separate off-farm traffic from on-farm movements of vehicles, items, people and animals). Developing a Secure Beef Supply Plan There are four steps to developing your SBS Plan: 1. Request a National Premises Identification Number (PIN) from your state animal health official. Having a PIN facilitates requesting movement permits during an outbreak. A PIN is linked to the geospatial location reflecting the actual location of the animals on the premises. This includes a valid 911 address and a set of matching coordinates (latitude and longitude). A PIN is required for both the premises of origin and the premises of destination. 2. Implement your enhanced operation-specific biosecurity plan. Biosecurity checklists, enhanced biosecurity plan templates and materials for educating individuals who work on the operation (in English and Spanish) are available on the SBS website. 3. Designate and train personnel on the cattle operation to monitor for FMD and potentially collect samples. Animal caretakers should be trained to observe animals and recognize abnormal findings and record their observations. All abnormal observations should be reported during an outbreak. 4. Keep movement records for traceability. Premises in a control area will be required to provide information at the beginning of an outbreak to identify potential exposure to the disease. Maintaining accurate records of animal movement, feed, supplies, equipment, personnel and visitors enables producers to provide accurate information for tracing backward and forward. Drinnin was able to get started on his plan with the involvement of his veterinarian, the Nebraska Department of Agriculture and seeing examples of work done from the Kansas Department of Agriculture. Since then, many resources have been added to the SBS website that gives producers resources and guidelines of where to start. “Certainly, we want to be here as a resource for producers,” Dudley adds. “We can help work through plans, and we also encourage producers to work with their veterinarians to have them help with planning.” Drinnin encourages producers to develop a plan for their business and review that plan at least on an annual basis. “We have our plans in place, but it helps all of us to remember to review our plans as certain things change in our feedyard that could affect our original plans,” Drinnin says. “To be honest, this is a subject that nobody wants to talk about, and we don’t want to have to deal with it,” Drinnin articulates. “But heightened awareness of Secure Beef Supply Plans and having them in place in facilities across our state, and all other feeding areas in the United States, will be one of the most progressive, industry-wide ways to prepare and resume to full commerce and restore our foreign markets.” For more information on FMD disease, visit FMDinfo.org. For more information on Secure Beef Supply Plans, visit securebeef.org. ~NC~ HAVING A PLAN CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15
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