This presentation was given at the 2015 Lambing & Kidding School held at North Harford High School in Pylesville, Maryland. The presenter was Sara Meagher BhaduriHauck.

1. Sara BhaduriHauck, University of Maryland Extension – Harford County

2. What is Biosecurity?
• “Security” – the state of
being protected from harm,
things done to make people
or places safe
• “Bio-” – indicating or
involving life or living
organisms

3. Why should you care?
• Good biosecurity practices
reduce the risk of disease
in your herd
– Healthier animals
– Better production/yield
– Higher profit
• …and reduce the risk of
disease to you (zoonoses)

4. What’s the biggest risk?
NEW ANIMALS are
the biggest threat to
biosecurity!

5. BIOSECURITY PRACTICE 1:
Control Vectors and Fomites
• Clean and disinfect items returning from
shows, other farms, etc.
• Clean and disinfect trailers and tires
• Have designated boots for off-farm use, wash
clothing
• Control insect populations

6. BIOSECURITY PRACTICE 1:
Control Vectors and Fomites
• Limit visitors and vehicle
traffic
– Provide visitors with boot
covers and coveralls
– Keep trailers near farm
entrance or clean and
disinfect

7. BIOSECURITY PRACTICE 2:
Bring In Healthy Animals
• Buy from a reputable source
– Buy from a closed flock if possible
– Buy from flocks that are OPP-free, CAE-free, scrapie-free
– Ask questions about management and disease
• Examine animals before purchase
– Check for lameness, abscesses, soremouth, ringworm,
and other signs of disease
– Check udders of ewes, testicles of rams
• Ask for health records and CVI (required if out of
state)

8. BIOSECURITY PRACTICE 2:
Bring In Healthy Animals
• Upon arrival at your farm:
– Clip feet, use footbath of zinc sulfate
– Perform worm control
• Know deworming history of farm of origin
• Conduct Famacha exam, deworm, run fecal
• Vaccinate to your herd’s protocol
• Don’t bring in animals when your herd is most
susceptible (pregnancy, lambing and kidding)

9. BIOSECURITY PRACTICE 3:
Quarantine New Animals
• Quarantine animals returning from shows
• Keep new animals separated for 21-28 days
– 100 feet recommended, 14 feet minimum
– Use less-visited end of barn
– Downwind and downslope
– Not on pasture

10. BIOSECURITY PRACTICE 3:
Quarantine New Animals
• Take care of healthy animals first
• Monitor behavior, feed/water
intake, behavior, general health
daily
• Have dedicated equipment
• Wear dedicated shoes and
coveralls
• Wash hands

11. BIOSECURITY PRACTICE 4:
Practice Preventative Management
• Keep a closed flock
– Once established, keep replacement females and only buy
males
• Vaccinate
– Clostridium perfingins type C and D (overeating disease) and
tetanus
– Other vaccines only if disease is already present on the farm
• Deworm
– based on FAMACHA scores
– Test fecals to determine which products work best on your
farm

12. BIOSECURITY PRACTICE 4:
Practice Preventative Management
• Clean and disinfect instruments between animals
– Especially shearing equipment
• Properly dispose of carcasses and placentas
• Manage farm dogs
– Don’t allow them to visit other farms
• Keep feed clean
– Don’t feed on the ground
– Don’t overgraze
– Prevent cats from accessing stored feed

13. BIOSECURITY PRACTICE 4:
Practice Preventative Management
• Examine animals regularly
– Keep track of weight,
abortions, disease, etc.
• Keep track of sick animals,
treatments, etc.
• Know what’s normal so you
recognize problems early
• Cull susceptible animals
• Necropsy dead animals

14. BIOSECURITY PRACTICE 5:
Treat Smartly
• Isolate sick animals
• Treat in isolated, cleanable areas
– Dispose of contaminated water
properly, too

15. Prevent Zoonoses
• Wear gloves when handling
sick, dead, or birthing animals
or vaccines
• Wash hands in warm, soapy
water
• Have a current tetanus vaccine
• Pregnant women should avoid
assisting with births and
contacting placentas,
newborns, or products of
abortion

16. Biosecurity Faux-Pas
• “Messy” quarantine
practices
• Using a shared ram or
buck without
quarantining
• Getting an animal right
before you need it

17. Establish a Plan for Your Farm
• Brainstorm threats and
decide how you will
reduce each
• WRITE DOWN your
plan and implement it
• Review and revise your
plan periodically

18. References
Schoenian, Susan and Jeff Semler. “Sheep and Goat Health, Part I:
Biosecurity.” 2014 Winter Webinar Series, University of Maryland
Extension. <www.slideshare.net/Schoenian/biosecurity-30672738>
Schoenian, Susan. “Biosecueity on sheep farms.” Sheep 201: A Beginner’s
Guide to Raising Sheep. <www.sheep101.info/201/biosecurity.html>
Van Rooyen, J.A. “Biosecurity for Small Ruminant Flocks.” Grootfontein
Agricultural Development Institute, Republic of South Africa Department of
Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries. <gadi.agric.za/Agric/Vol11No1_2011/
biosecurity.php>

19. Questions?
Sara BhaduriHauck
University of Maryland Extension – Harford County
PO Box 663, 2335 Rock Spring Road
Forest Hill, MD 21050
410-638-3255
sbh@umd.edu