Suggestions to Protect Your Livestock Operation

It is imperative that livestock producers use every precaution possible to ward off all types of diseases that might possibly enter their livestock operation.

Restrict Human Traffic to Farmstead (Post Sign)

Display a sign at the farm gate that individuals are not to enter the livestock operation without being accompanied by someone from the farm.
Provide a means of contact between farm entrance and livestock buildings. This might include posting the farm and/or residence phone number on the entrance sign or ask individuals to honk before getting out of their vehicle.
Maintain the highest standard of hygiene for all movement on and off the farm.
Supply a tub of disinfectant, a brush for scrubbing footwear. Keep the disinfectant solution clean, free of organic matter and renew as needed.
If visitors are to come onto the farm, provide plastic boots and coveralls or other outerwear.
In livestock production “hands” have more contact with animals than anything else. Thus have individuals visiting and viewing animals wash their hands.
Clothes and footwear to be worn while away from the farmstead should be washed, cleaned or disinfected if they come in contact with other animals. This is vitally important when delivering animals to market.

Restrict vehicles from entering farmstead

Stop all non-essential vehicles from entering the farm and arrange whenever possible for collection and delivery of supplies to take place at farm boundary.
If a vehicle must enter the farmstead make sure that prior to entry their wheels are sprayed with disinfectant.
Livestock haulers should clean, disinfect and let dry as long as possible between loads.
Identify an off-farm site for the livestock farm delivery and commercial pickup of animals for rendering. It is best if the entrance into the site does not cross with the exit by the rendering truck.
Keep a record of all deliveries. In the event of a disease being confirmed this may help in identifying the source.

Keep record of stock movement onto and off the farm

New stock entering the herd should be quarantined for 30 days from other animals and tested as suggested by your veterinarian prior to entry into the herd. Additions of new animals during the time of breeding or calving are not advised.
Ensure you have complete records of all stock movement onto and off the farm.
Each farm must be treated as a separate unit. Thus animal movement between units should be recorded.
Avoid contact of your farm animals with those of your neighbors.

Keep dogs, cats, birds, wild game and vermin under control

Since other animals and birds can serve as a source of disease entering the herd it is vitally important to make every effort for their elimination or control.

Report to your veterinarian any unusual signs of animal sickness or death

Since control of any disease outbreak is greatly assisted by early detection and prevention of animal movement, it is imperative that livestock producers report unusual sickness or death to their local practitioner.

	If you have any questions or comments please contact us at Illinois-TRAILL@uiuc.edu

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