Biosecurity Recommendations

It is important that livestock trailers and calf pens be properly cleaned before the disinfectant is applied. If the calf pen and livestock trailer are not properly cleaned; the disinfection step is much less effective at killing disease causing microorganisms. High pressure washing should not be used because of the risk of cross-contamination of the environment and more importantly livestock owners and managers should understand that while high pressure washers do remove gross soils such as dried fecal material it does not consistently remove biofilms. Biofilm removal is an essential and vital component of proper cleaning. The following is a simple cleaning and disinfection protocol that is widely used in livestock operations in the United States.
1. Remove

It is important that livestock trailers, maternity and calf pens and other areas suspect of being contaminated with Salmonella be properly cleaned before the disinfectant is applied. If these areas are not properly cleaned, the disinfection step is much less effective at killing pathogens. High-pressure washing should not be used because of the risk of cross-contamination of the environment and aerosalization of contaminated material, which can cause human and animal infection. Importantly, livestock owners and managers should understand that while high-pressure washers do remove gross soils, such as dried fecal material, it does not consistently remove bacterial biofilms. Biofilm removal is an essential and vital component of proper cleaning. The following is a simple cleaning and disinfection protocol that is widely used in livestock operations in the United States.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (Bird Flu) has been found in wild birds in North America. This virus can also infect poultry commonly found in backyard flocks. The strains were identified as H5N8 and H5N2 and typically do not cause disease in most wild birds but will cause severe disease in gallinaceous birds (domestic poultry and game birds). The strains are described as highly pathogenic because of rapid spread and high mortality in domesticated poultry

Outbreaks of infectious disease have shown that it pays to be conscientious about preventing and controlling infectious
disease on livestock operations. This concept is known as biosecurity. Biosecurity refers to management practices that
reduce the chances infectious diseases will be carried onto the farm by animals or people. Biosecurity also reduces the
spread of infectious disease on farms.