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Reviewing biosecurity plan more important than ever

An animal disease researcher says producers should consider additional animal health and farm biosecurity measures.

Keith Poulsen with the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory tells Brownfield a certificate of veterinary inspection helps track exactly where the animal is coming from and its overall health before shipping.

Poulsen says there are other practices that are not as easy to promote. “It’s great to have biosecurity screening testing and surveillance. I haven’t been very effective at getting farms to buy into that. Some do when they have a problem.”

Poulsen says it’s easy for producers to skip some biosecurity steps. “When you don’t see that problem right in front of you, other problems that are right in front of you tend to take over, especially if milk price drops.”

With the threat of HPAI, New World Screwworm, and other health risks, Poulsen says reviewing the farm’s biosecurity plan is more important than ever.