Biosecurity
Alberta Elk Ranchers’ -
Commitment to Excellence
BIOSECURITY ON ALBERTA ELK FARMS – Alberta elk producers are committed to protecting their farms and animals by putting in place Biosecurity protocols that provide effective protection from biological risks. Biosecurity protocols in the elk industry are simple things, done correctly, every day.
Biosecurity can be thought of as ‘security’ as it relates to biological risks. The point behind paying attention to Biosecurity on a farm is to reduce the risk of introducing diseases (plant or animal) to the farm.
Biosecurity on a farm can encompass a wide range of topics including product movement, people movement, equipment and vehicles, and pests and weeds. This sheet will focus on people and equipment. Incoming people and equipment can potentially bring disease causing pathogens onto the farm. Examples
of pathogens are viruses (Foot and Mouth Disease; Bovine Viral Diarrhoea Virus – BVDV) and bacteria (Brucella abortus – brucellosis; Mycobacterium paratuberculosis – Johne’s Disease).
People visiting your farm can unintentionally bring diseases or weeds to your farm on their footwear. Soil, burrs, seed pods and manure are effective carriers of diseases and weeds. To minimize this risk provide visitors with the supplies needed to wash their boots, or provide them with boots to wear while on your premise. This is particularly important when visitors are going to areas where animals have access too. Never assume that visitors know the appropriate biosecurity measures for your property so be sure to let them know on their first visit.
Producers themselves need to ensure the clothing and footwear they wear is thoroughly cleaned after visiting other farms, events or auction sites (particularly if contact with livestock or barnyards has occurred).
Equipment can also carry soil, seed pods, and manure in its tires or other parts. Before equipment from another farming operation enters the crop or livestock production area of the farm, insist on washing (if there is caked-on mud and soil) and sanitizing tires and other relevant parts of equipment. It is also important to ensure that any rented equipment used on your farm is clean prior to entering your premises.
Controlling access to your farm and specifically to all animal handling/living areas is an important part of ensuring your farm is secure. Having locks on exterior gates is recommended in the Elk and Deer Procedures manual for the Alberta Livestock Industry Diversification Act
Commitment to Excellence
Our commitment is to maintain the healthiest domestic elk and elk products in North America. View the following document to learn more about how the AEC is monitoring disease.