SP691-Biosecurity for the Beef Herd

Biosecurity incorporates those management practices aimed at keeping new diseases off the farm and keeping diseases from spreading from group to group on the farm. Biosecurity is the cheapest and most effective method of disease control, since vaccinations cannot eliminate disease and treatment can only reduce losses. Most cattle diseases are spread by cattle blood, saliva, manure, urine or exhaled air. Special attention must be paid to reducing contact from animal-to-animal or animal-toobject- to-animal. This is best done by a combination of animal isolation and control of movement onto and around the farm, as well as cleaning and disinfection.