Biosecurity at Home and on the Road PDF

Biosecurity at Home and on the Road Dr. Betsy Greene Extension Equine Specialist University of Arizona  What is Biosecurity? What are three things that you could do (or your barn could do) to practice Biosecurity?  The Importance of Biosecurity Practices and procedures tha...

Biosecurity at Home and on the Road Dr. Betsy Greene Extension Equine Specialist University of Arizona  What is Biosecurity? What are three things that you could do (or your barn could do) to practice Biosecurity?  The Importance of Biosecurity Practices and procedures that reduce the risk of infectious disease. Benefits Healthier horses Fewer vet bills Client and employee safety Environmentally sound The bottom line = prevention Lots of great resources in your hands…and beyond!  Evaluating Your Current Practices Every horse facility is unique – effective biosecurity plans should be tailored to your needs. extension.arizona.edu/horse The first thing you can change…  Protocols for Equine Day-to-day Transportation routine Disinfecting your farm Manure handling The Disinfecting Medical Care Process Vaccinations New additions On the road  Day-to-Day Routine Establish sanitation standards Check feed storage bins regularly Eliminate standing water Refresh water buckets every 24 hours Sharing equipment If shared between horses, clean between uses Establish a cleaning routine Disinfect once a month Disinfect if there is a change in the horse’s status  Medical Care Quarantine House/group horses by need and physiological state. Establish a vaccination routine. Take into account: Area Time of year Activity/use level of horses AAEP guidelines (available online) https://aaep.org/news/updated-biosecurity-guidelines- available-aaep-website New Additions to the Barn Quarantine New animals should always be quarantined for at least 3 weeks and closely monitored during this time. History Know the animal’s history and buy from reputable seller. Exam Have a vet check the new animal at the first sign of a problem.  On the road…and back again Pre-travel Check your horse prior to travel. It is never wise to transport a sick animal. Make sure vaccines are current for diseases that can spread at shows/events Stay Separate If possible, do not house your horses with other animals or in unsanitary conditions.  Don’t Share Germs If possible, do not allow your horse to use shared water or feed buckets Equipment Bring your own equipment  Transportation Keep your trailer clean Clean and disinfect after each use Don’t forget the wheels! Find out what is “out there” http://equinediseasecc.org/alerts/outbreaks  Disinfecting Your Farm Disinfectants work best on clean surfaces Make sure disinfectant is horse-safe Follow labeled instructions for use NEVER mix chemicals Can create toxic gases, cause fires, or become more toxic to people  Disinfectant Guide Phenols & Cresols (Prosovet, Osyl) Works well in the presence of organic materials Chlorines & Hypochlorites Inactivated by organic material (Bleach) Quaternary Ammonium (Clinicide) Inhibited by hard water Iodophors/Iodine (Betadine) Inactivated by sunlight and organic material Chlorohexidines (Nolvasan-S) Not effective against spore-forming bacteria Formaldehydes/Gluteraldehydes Extremely toxic, used for sterilization of instruments Sulphates (Virkon-S) Effective against many germs Sodium Hyroxides (Lye) Highly caustic Alcohols (Isopropyl alcohol) Used mainly as a surface disinfectant Visitors: Stranger Danger!!  General Guidelines Controlled entry Parking Clearly marked, central Maintain parking area away from entrance/exit controls manure and feed lanes traffic flow Hand/Boot Washing Visitor log Locate near exit Keeps record of visitation Staff Signs Present and available for questions Make sure off-limits areas are clearly marked and Dogs enforced Either disallow or have strict guidelines  Visitor Levels Low Risk Do not own horses and rarely visit farms Clean outerwear and footwear, hand- washing Example: school field trip Medium Risk Make regular visits to farms but don’t have contact with horses Feed delivery personnel, repairmen High Risk Make regular trips to horse farms and have close contact with animals Vets, farriers, inseminators, trainers, international visitors  Wildlife Control General Guidelines Store feed in tightly closed, durable containers Protect your water source Use proper garbage disposal Feed pets indoors Keep work and storage areas clean Cut down on weeds The sooner you spot a problem (and deal with it), the less chance a disease can spread to your horses Off and Running… And the after…  Is there something that you “already do” that you didn’t realize was good Biosecurity practice?  What could you do to improve your horse biosecurity practices?  Quick Tips Quarantine (new or sick) Enforce proper biosecurity methods No SHARING of anything Treat/care for sick horse last Disinfecting footwear, clothing etc. What are you jumping into?? West Nile Virus Questions?