Producers warned on need for biosecurity measures
US - Proper management is the key to good cattle biosecurity measures, according to Dr. Jason Banta, professor and Extension beef cattle specialist.Banta listed several foreign diseases livestock owners should be aware of: bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), foot-and-mouth disease, rift valley fever, exotic newcastle and rabbit hemorrhagic disease. Other emerging or endemic diseases include bovine tuberculosis, brucellosis, bovine paratuberculosis, anthrax, rabies, and trichomoniasis.
Management practices can decrease the risk of these diseases, in most cases, according to Banta. He noted factors of several diseases that should be taken into consideration when making decisions.
In recent years foot-and-mouth disease has been a global concern. Banta noted the federal government has taken several steps, including issuing an import ban on live animals from foot-and-mouth host countries, in order to lower the risk of a disease outbreak in the United States.
Source: Country World News