agrosecurity – DAIReXNET

August 16, 2019August 16, 2019

Livestock Biosecurity

What Is It and Why Should I care?

Biosecurity refers to strategies and management practices that lessen biological risk. On a farm, attention to biosecurity is the most important measure to reduce and prevent the introduction of diseases or pests of animals and plants. Biosecurity practices also minimize the spread of diseases or pests within a farm system. Many aspects of biosecurity are common sense, but if these strategies and practices are not enforced consistently, there is a greater risk …

August 16, 2019August 16, 2019

Is foot and mouth disease (FMD) the same as mad cow disease (BSE)?

No, they are completely different diseases.

Foot and mouth disease (FMD) is a highly contagious viral disease of cloven-hoofed (split-hoof, such as cattle) animals. It does not have human health significance. The FMD virus is fragile and easily killed by disinfectants. FMD was last seen in the United States in 1929.

Mad cow disease, technically known as bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), is believed to be caused by a protein called a prion and affects the central nervous system of cattle. …

August 16, 2019August 16, 2019

What diseases cause ulcers, blisters, or vesicles in the mouths of livestock?

Many disease agents can cause ulcers, blisters, or vesicles in animals’ mouths. Examples include:
• Bovine viral diarrhea virus can cause ulcers in the mouths of cattle as well as other problems.
• Vesicular exanthema of swine virus is not present in the United States and affects only swine.
• Foot and mouth disease virus affects all cloven-hooved animals and is not present in the United States.
• Swine vesicular disease virus affects only swine and is not present in …