Optimizing health on the farm is the responsibility of all and communication is the key. The new National Farm-Level Biosecurity standard is full of useful information to help you create a biosecurity plan specific to your farm.
A biosecurity sign appropriate for use on a farm to protect health of horses and other animals.
Identify your biosecurity goals then use the information from the farm specific biosecurity plan to identify the challenges and risks that could impact your horses health.
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Your plan will help protect the health of your horses by examining the details of how you can minimize risks of disease transmission. It should include the training of staff, expectations from service providers, visitors and boarders. Your plan should also address access, traffic control, separating new arrivals, pasture management, disinfection routines and more.
Once committed to paper; make sure it is not left to collect dust on a shelf. When it comes to biosecurity, there will always be a cycle of activity:
Horse Care Info Sheet
- Assessing—review your biosecurity risks on an ongoing basis
- Planning—your written plan will form the base of training and will address the risks
- Implementing—addressing biosecurity risks
- Monitoring—early detection and monitoring of disease includes keeping records of illnesses and treatments. Gather disease and pest information to evaluate the plan and identify new risks.
- Reassessing the risks—Just as every farm will have a different biosecurity risk; every farm will go through change which will impact their plan.
Work with your veterinarian and industry experts to help develop your infection control plan.
Learn all about the six steps needed to develop Your Farm-Specific Biosecurity Plan.
Press release by Equine Guelph