Farmers should not wait until foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) breaks out in their area before introducing strict biosecurity measures – you can’t close the gate to keep the horses in if they have already bolted.

By Alani Janeke, senior journalist at African Farming and Landbouweekblad

This was the message from Dr De Wet Barnard, veterinarian and technical specialist for ruminants at MSD Animal Health, during a biosecurity workshop held in Malmesbury in December, where he addressed farmers directly.

Although vaccination is important, it can give farmers a false sense of security, he warned, stressing that biosecurity must be applied consistently, regardless of vaccination status.

“You can’t stop a tick from entering your farm, but with good biosecurity you can largely keep herd diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) off your farm,” he said.

Three pillars of biosecurity

According to Barnard, strict biosecurity rests on three pillars:

1. Paperwork

Accurate and complete information on every animal on a livestock farm is critical, particularly for traceability.

“Keep all laboratory results for your herd, and ensure veterinary reports and declarations are up to date and easily accessible – especially vaccination and treatment records.

“Anyone who is unwilling to provide the mandatory documentation for FMD has something to hide.”

Barnard explained that a veterinary declaration confirming animals are free of foot-and-mouth disease is valid for only 48 hours. This declaration merely indicates that no clinical signs were observed at the time of examination. The incubation period of the virus can be as short as 1,7 days.

Paperwork should also include a checklist at the farm gate, recording visitor details and whether vehicles have been disinfected. It should also indicate whether trucks entering the farm have been properly washed and sprayed.

“It is important to ensure that visitors do not park near livestock. For example, foreign vehicles should not be allowed to park close to a milking parlour,” he said.

2. Barriers

Fencing and physical barriers play a crucial role.

“Don’t assume people outside your farm are applying biosecurity – you must do it yourself,” Barnard said.

Barriers should force vehicles to stop so that biosecurity procedures can be implemented.

New animals brought onto the farm must be quarantined for 28 days and kept at least 100 m downwind from existing livestock.

“All tests conducted before the animals arrived must be repeated after 28 days before they are introduced into existing camps. As we have seen this year, veterinary signatures can be forged.”

Farmers should closely monitor animals for lesions, particularly in the mouth and on the hooves.

“If you notice any lesions, do not move the animals. Isolate them immediately and have them tested.”

Also read: FMD | Practical biosecurity advice from North West vets

3. Hygiene – people, vehicles and the environment

Hygiene is a critical component of biosecurity.

Workers’ overalls and boots must be disinfected, and they should not wear these garments at home. Some workers keep livestock at home, and the virus can survive on clothing and be spread in this way.

Where possible, business meetings and appointments should be handled off-farm. When visitors such as veterinarians do need to come onto the farm, provide them with clean overalls and boots, and where necessary, protective glasses and masks.

“The virus can survive in the nasal passages of a person for up to 48 hours and can be transmitted to animals,” Barnard said.

Farmers should insist on photo or video proof that trucks entering their farms have been thoroughly cleaned of mud and manure before departure. Vehicles should also be disinfected again before entering the farm.

“Foot-and-mouth disease can survive in animal manure for up to six months.”

Barnard warned that disinfectants available on the market may not penetrate thick layers of mud or manure effectively. Farmers should question service providers about the products they use and ensure these are registered for the effective control of FMD.

“They should also know how far products can be diluted. Trying to ‘stretch’ disinfectants for economic reasons can seriously compromise biosecurity.”

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