Getting Started with Biosecurity

The best way to keep your animals healthy is by taking measures to keep disease away in the first place. That is the practice of biosecurity. Disease causing agents can be brought onto a premises by human activity, fly and tick vectors, new animals, shared equipment, flooding, birds, vermin, and many other means. Some of these diseases are zoonotic (transmissible between people and animals).

Biosecurity 

Essential practices to control the introduction and spread of diseases include:

Sourcing animals

• Obtain animals from reputable sources.
• Avoid purchasing animals from a livestock auction or online classified advertising if you plan to breed them.
• Conduct species-specific pre-purchase laboratory testing and examination.
• Consult your veterinarian for recommendations of sources of healthy, high-quality animals.

Housing

• When indoors, house animals on a surface that is impermeable and can be disinfected.
• Double fence pastures to avoid direct contact with wildlife and neighboring animals.
• Separate animals by age post-weaning.

Isolate new animals or animals returning from a show or event

• Isolate new and returning animals in a separate area for 30 days before allowing contact with main animal group.
• Designate one person to care for isolated animals OR designate separate clothing, footwear, and equipment for the two groups.
• Care for your main herd before interacting with isolated animals.

Best Practices for Caretakers

• Wear protective clothing (coveralls and boots that can be disinfected) when handling animals and wash afterwards.
• Have separate footwear for indoors and around animals.
• Wash your hands before and after handling or caring for animals and between groups.
• Prevent or at least control visitor access to your animals.
• Handle young animals first, then healthy adult animals, then new or quarantined animals, then any sick animals.

Clean and Disinfect Equipment

• Cleaning
  • Remove all visible organic debris from items to be disinfected (cages, feeding equipment, waterers, footwear, etc.).
  • Wash items thoroughly with soap and water; rinse well and let dry.
  • Allow prolonged exposure to sunlight when possible.
  • Items made of wood are best discarded or burned.
• Disinfection
  • Saturate by submersion or spray with 10 percent bleach (sodium hypochlorite) or 1% Virkon^®S (DuPont).
  • Allow 10 minutes contact, then rinse and let dry before allowing animal contact.

Control potential disease carriers

• Flies, rats, cats, dogs, birds, etc. can move pathogens around on their feet or body, so control or prevent their access to animal areas.
• Fence out scavengers and wildlife, including birds.

Feeding

• Do not feed animals on the ground. Use an elevated feeder, bunk, or rack.
• Do not allow animals to use hay or feed for bedding.

Animal Health

• Monitor animals closely for poor appetite, looking limp or depressed, or behaving differently in any way.
• Call your veterinarian ASAP if signs of illness are observed.
• Implement a vaccination program recommended by your veterinarian.
• Do not rely solely on vaccination for disease prevention but continue biosecurity practices daily.
• Minimize stress for your animals by providing a clean environment, plentiful high quality food, fresh air, clean water, and enough space for all animals.
• Report any unusual illnesses or deaths to your veterinarian or the State Veterinarian's Office at ahealth@agr.wa.gov or 360-902-1878. 
• By state law, certain animal diseases must be reported to the State Veterinarians Office. The full list is identified in WAC 16-70-020 of the state's Administrative Code. Reports can be made online at the WSDA Reportable Diseases webpage.