Biosecurity in Ontario: the foundations of disease prevention
As a third-generation veterinarian, I have seen a lot of changes over the years in Ontario’s animal agriculture. But one constant is that animal disease prevention is a top priority for farmers.
Ontario livestock and poultry farmers do excellent work every day to maintain recognized biosecurity standards. With the spread of foreign animal diseases throughout the world, this is critical. As with human health, new threats to animal health continually arise, with the potential to significantly impact farm animals, the economy and even public health.
Foreign animal diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease, African swine fever and highly pathogenic avian influenza carry the potential to significantly harm Ontario’s agriculture industry. These diseases, and others like them can have negative impacts on animal health and welfare and often result in economic consequences including disruptions to trade and market access. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs works closely with livestock and poultry organizations to minimize the risk of any diseases on Ontario farms.
Biosecurity best management practices on farms are key to preventing disease from entering, spreading or being carried off. Examples of good biosecurity practices include:
- Working with younger animals, who are more susceptible to disease, before moving to older animals
- Separating sick animals from healthy ones
- Handwashing between caring for different groups of animals and before leaving the barn
- Changing into dedicated boots and coveralls anytime you enter a different barn or work with a sick animal
- Having clearly defined animal housing and traffic areas
- Establishing a hygiene barrier between dirty and clean areas
- Ensuring any visitors to a farm are provided with uncontaminated boots and coveralls when entering premises
- Maintaining a visitor log and discussing appropriate biosecurity practices with visitors to the premises
Biosecurity best management practices are a foundational pillar of disease prevention and not to be taken lightly.
It’s a shared responsibility among the government, farmers, agribusiness and anyone entering a farm to protect the health of animals.
—Cathy Furness, DVM, Chief Veterinarian for Ontario