Preparing livestock producers for a foreign animal disease
Animal Science
David Stender
Swine Field Specialist
Iowa State University
CHEROKEE
Abstract
Producers should learn about foreign animal disease for several reasons and to address several issues: Ability to identify a foreign disease immediately will potentially limit the spread. A limited disease would save millions because a wide-spread disease is estimated to cost over 10 billion dollars. Pre-learning how to effectively contain and eradicate the disease will also potentially limit the spread. Additionally, producers should learn about what records are necessary to help slow the spread, including the tracking of all pig, people, feed, mortality and equipment movements. To increase the chance of the operation’s financial survival through a foreign animal disease crisis, the livestock producers should think about some emergency management issues ahead of the outbreak. They should learn about movement shutdown and develop an emergency response secure plan. Depending on their situation, the producer should know how to implement: approved mass euthanasia that is a right fit, an enhance biosecurity plan and a mass disposal plan that reduces the risk of releasing the deadly virus off the site or into the environment. The producer should think about inactivating the pathogen before moving the carcasses off site, again to limit spread and to reduce the risk of reinfection. Finally, how to continue the business during the outbreak is another issue that should be learned before the crisis. Movement permits for quarantined herds will be essential for financial survival. A plan for average daily gain reduction may be necessary. Feed rationing with limit feeding strategies may need to be implemented. Secure movement plans should be understood and developed before the crisis. As African Swine Fever is rapidly spreading around the globe, most recently within 100 miles of the US, it is time to prepare and educate producers. The Iowa Pork Industry Center team has responded and is continuing the response. So far, 20 workshops were held for over 300 participants and 4 webinars reaching more than 600 have addressed all the issues listed above. More workshops are planned for this summer. Impact documented from a six-month post meeting survey reported changes implemented as result of the trainings: several related to more effective employee entry onto farms and implementing a clean dirty line technology and/or an entry bench. Additionally, participants started developing a Secure Pork Supply plan and implemented a biosecurity manager. Comments from workshop participants included: ‘Helped me understand how important biosecurity is. Good hands on training.’ Another comment reported that they learned ‘How incredibly easy it is to track pathogens.’ As a result of this effort producers were assisted, helping them focus on foreign animal disease preparation. The materials developed and used for these trainings are available and ready for application in other states.
Authors: David Stender
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David Stender Swine Field Specialist, Iowa State University Extension, Iowa, 51012-2203