“Biosecurity” is about preventing infectious diseases from spreading to and from livestock. Good biosecurity can help protect not only your herd, but also your business and the consumer’s food supply.

Federal agencies work to keep new animal diseases from entering the country. The USDA, USFDA, Montana Department of Livestock, and Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks work to protect animals and humans from contagious animal diseases.

Biosecurity is not just a matter for government agencies. Measures you take can prevent highly infectious animal diseases in your livestock:

Know who is on your farm at all times.

Limit access of nonessential people.

Keep things clean.

Require livestock and feed haulers to clean and disinfect their vehicles before hauling livestock or feed to or from your operation.

Provide disinfectant and appropriate disposable footwear.

Keep disease away.

Develop and enforce a policy for family members and employees who visit other livestock facilities.

Be careful when you buy livestock. Isolate new stock for observation.

Be careful where you buy feed and equipment.

Use separate equipment for healthy and sick animals. Prevent contact between healthy animals and those suffering from illness.

Keep dogs, cats, and other animals confined to the farm. Do not feed or encourage wildlife to come onto your farm.

Control rodents and insects.

Keep livestock away from raw household waste, bones or swill.

- Call your veterinarian immediately if you observe unusual disease symptoms in livestock. Your veterinarian and state or federal veterinarians can help diagnose and prevent a disease from spreading.