DOCSLIB.ORG

Environmental Biosecurity at JCU Contents

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Environmental Biosecurity at JCU Contents Environmental Biosecurity at JCU Contents James Cook University 1 Environmental Biosecurity at James Cook University 1 PREVENTION/RISK ANALYSIS Social, Behavioural, Economic and Governance Aspects of 3 Biosecurity Practice Modelling Invasive and Native Species’ Distributions and Dispersal 3 Advancing Biosecurity Systems through Seasonal Climate 4 Forecasting and Data Mining Methods Diagnosis and Control of Pathogens and Parasites 4 CASE STUDY – Automatic image recognition systems 5 Veterinary Preventive Medicine 6 MONITORING AND SURVEILLANCE Identification of Invasive species 8 CASE STUDY – Detecting and understanding the ecology 9 of new invasive plants Survey and Monitoring of Invasive Species 10 CASE STUDY – Applying ant ecology to the battle against 11 yellow crazy ants Environmental DNA – Detecting Invasive Species 12 Remote Sensing and Spatial Science 12 Aquatic Animal Health 13 Tropical Mosquito Research 13 OUTBREAK RESPONSE Invasion Biology and Pest Management 15 Insect Biological Control 15 Soil-borne Pathogens: detection and control 16 Controlling Infectious Diseases using a One Health Approach 17 CASE STUDY – Invasive amphibian detection and control 18 Research Centres at JCU 19 Contacts Back Page James Cook University James Cook University (JCU) is a world class, research-intensive institution with a strategic intent focused on discoveries and graduates that make a difference in the tropics worldwide. JCU is defined by its tropical locations and is focused on meeting the knowledge needs for the grand challenges in the tropics. Our three tropical campuses (Townsville, Cairns, and Singapore) are complemented and extended by regional and remote study centres and research stations. Research at James Cook University aims to provide knowledge that will ensure sustainable communities, industries and livelihoods into the future. Environmental Biosecurity at James Cook University Effective biosecurity measures are essential to protect our $32 defined as a biosecurity hotspot, JCU strives to meet the billion agriculture and aquaculture industries as well as safeguard present and future environmental biosecurity challenges for our unique flora and fauna and growing population. However, this region, as well as nationally and globally. JCU provides environmental biosecurity is under increasing pressure due to expertise and capacity in the areas of invasive species prevention, a number of ecological, climatic, demographic and behavioural monitoring, and outbreak response. Tropical North Queensland changes occurring globally. Major outbreaks of exotic diseases, is a high risk region for Australia, due in part to its proximity to pests and weeds in Australia can cost billions, and unfortunately neighbouring countries, its high diversity of wildlife reservoirs, most expenditure on biosecurity is reactive rather than and its environmental characteristics. JCU is ideally situated to preventive. work with industry, communities and all levels of government to ensure cost effective environmental biosecurity to meet our JCU is focused on meeting the knowledge needs for the grand needs for now and into the future. challenges in the tropics. With Tropical North Queensland | 1 Prevention/Risk Analysis 2 | www.jcu.edu.au Social, Behavioural, Economic and Modelling Invasive and Native Species’ Governance Aspects of Biosecurity Practice Distributions and Dispersal Overview Prevention of biological invasion requires effective development and implementation of biosecurity policy. However, an understanding of the social and human factors that may influence effective implementation and adherence to these policies is also necessary. Successful engagement in biosecurity practices requires a bottom- up approach to policy development to ensure that stakeholders recognise the need for biosecurity management and that the benefits of the recommended practices outweigh the costs of engagement. To address this issue, biosecurity research at JCU includes researchers from across social and behavioural sciences, business, governance and economics to explore the underlying mechanisms of successful adoption of biosecurity practices that have measurable outcomes for industry, community and government. Overview Understanding invasive species’ potential to spread across the Research and Development landscape is crucial for prevention, impact mitigation, containment, Current research activities focus on biosecurity policy, practices and eradication. Researchers at JCU are at the forefront of innovative and issues in primary industries, such as livestock and aquaculture. and novel approaches to identify where species are and where they A current challenge for biosecurity management across these might be. High quality species distribution and dispersal models help industries is to communicate key policy messages appropriately to us assess where species are, where they could potentially spread to, on-the-ground stakeholders. A lack of communication can result in and how they interact with native species. The modelling approaches inconsistencies in adherence to recommended biosecurity practices. developed at JCU (i) are broadly applicable to all taxa, (ii) draw on Research within the livestock industry suggests that key social and internal expertise on geographic information systems, information contextual factors may explain this gap between policy and practice. technology, high performance computing, and ecology, and (iii) These factors include low trust between stakeholders and policy already provide decision making tools to many external stakeholders. communicators; accessibility issues due to isolation from services; and cost-benefit imbalance whereby the cost of time and potential Facilities financial ramifications outweigh the benefit of implementing a JCU has the computing and storage capacity to carry out extensive practice that may not be effective. modelling using JCU High Performance Computing capabilities and the eResearch storage facilities. Industry Engagement The research team has strong existing relationships with stakeholders Research and Development within diverse industry groups, multiple levels of government and Identifying the locations and spread of species is vital to a wide range a range of community organisations and individual enterprises. of research including invasive species. Much of the work at JCU looks Existing industry group relationships include those with livestock, at spatio-temporal modelling of species and how they might change sugar, horticulture and aquaculture industries. The research team over daily to evolutionary time periods, across meters to continents. also has working relationships with local water management groups, The research team is currently working on improving the methods workforce and regional development officers and local farmers and to better model distributions and dispersal mechanisms while producers. The research team is conscious of the importance of understanding the impact of a wide range of risks and threats, such working collaboratively with these groups to engage in projects that as climate change, land use change, fire, urban expansion, and novel are stakeholder driven. communities of species. Team Industry Engagement A range of academic profile staff from across multiple disciplines have Researchers at JCU collaborate with many local, state and federal active research interests and experience in: biosecurity policy evaluation; government agencies, natural resources management groups biosecurity governance at a national, state and regional levels; effective (NRMs), other Australian Universities and industry stakeholders. communication of biosecurity practices to stakeholders; mechanisms These include the Australian Department of the Environment, of behavioural engagement in biosecurity practices; and health Northern Territory Department of Land Resource Management, economic evaluation of cost of implementing verses not implementing Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife, Queensland biosecurity maintenance and prevention measures. Disciplines include Department of Environment and Heritage Protection, multiple Environmental Sciences, Psychological Sciences, Health Economics, northern Australian NRMs, the Atlas of Living Australia, BirdLife Business and Governance and Social Marketing. Australia, and the Wet Tropics Management Authority. Engagement with these stakeholders has resulted in many outputs that are widely Contact used for conservation decision making and pest species management Dr Connar McShane, Social and Human Factors and range from open access data and publications, reports and [email protected] custom built web and map interfaces (e.g., climas.hpc.jcu.edu.au). +61: 7 4781 6879 Contact Dr Emily Callandar, Health Economics Dr Jeremy VanDerWal [email protected] [email protected] +61 7 4781 6106 +61 7 4781 5570 | 3 Advancing Biosecurity Systems through Diagnosis and Control of Pathogens Seasonal Climate Forecasting and Data and Parasites Mining Methods Overview Climate is a major driver of pest and disease outbreaks in primary industries. Understanding our climate and predicting future climates is important for advancing Australia’s biosecurity systems for primary industries. We also develop and apply sophisticated pattern recognition methods that can detect early outbreaks of pests and disease from satellite imagery. Research and Development Our research focuses on working in partnership with industry to identify the key climate trigger
Load more

Recommended publications
  • SUSTAINABLE FISHERIES and RESPONSIBLE AQUACULTURE: a Guide for USAID Staff and Partners
    SUSTAINABLE FISHERIES AND RESPONSIBLE AQUACULTURE: A Guide for USAID Staff and Partners June 2013 ABOUT THIS GUIDE GOAL This guide provides basic information on how to design programs to reform capture fisheries (also referred to as “wild” fisheries) and aquaculture sectors to ensure sound and effective development, environmental sustainability, economic profitability, and social responsibility. To achieve these objectives, this document focuses on ways to reduce the threats to biodiversity and ecosystem productivity through improved governance and more integrated planning and management practices. In the face of food insecurity, global climate change, and increasing population pressures, it is imperative that development programs help to maintain ecosystem resilience and the multiple goods and services that ecosystems provide. Conserving biodiversity and ecosystem functions are central to maintaining ecosystem integrity, health, and productivity. The intent of the guide is not to suggest that fisheries and aquaculture are interchangeable: these sectors are unique although linked. The world cannot afford to neglect global fisheries and expect aquaculture to fill that void. Global food security will not be achievable without reversing the decline of fisheries, restoring fisheries productivity, and moving towards more environmentally friendly and responsible aquaculture. There is a need for reform in both fisheries and aquaculture to reduce their environmental and social impacts. USAID’s experience has shown that well-designed programs can reform capture fisheries management, reducing threats to biodiversity while leading to increased productivity, incomes, and livelihoods. Agency programs have focused on an ecosystem-based approach to management in conjunction with improved governance, secure tenure and access to resources, and the application of modern management practices.
    [Show full text]
  • Apocalypse Now? Initial Lessons from the Covid-19 Pandemic for the Governance of Existential and Global Catastrophic Risks
    journal of international humanitarian legal studies 11 (2020) 295-310 brill.com/ihls Apocalypse Now? Initial Lessons from the Covid-19 Pandemic for the Governance of Existential and Global Catastrophic Risks Hin-Yan Liu, Kristian Lauta and Matthijs Maas Faculty of Law, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected] Abstract This paper explores the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic through the framework of exis- tential risks – a class of extreme risks that threaten the entire future of humanity. In doing so, we tease out three lessons: (1) possible reasons underlying the limits and shortfalls of international law, international institutions and other actors which Covid-19 has revealed, and what they reveal about the resilience or fragility of institu- tional frameworks in the face of existential risks; (2) using Covid-19 to test and refine our prior ‘Boring Apocalypses’ model for understanding the interplay of hazards, vul- nerabilities and exposures in facilitating a particular disaster, or magnifying its effects; and (3) to extrapolate some possible futures for existential risk scholarship and governance. Keywords Covid-19 – pandemics – existential risks – global catastrophic risks – boring apocalypses 1 Introduction: Our First ‘Brush’ with Existential Risk? All too suddenly, yesterday’s ‘impossibilities’ have turned into today’s ‘condi- tions’. The impossible has already happened, and quickly. The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, both directly and as manifested through the far-reaching global societal responses to it, signal a jarring departure away from even the © koninklijke brill nv, leiden, 2020 | doi:10.1163/18781527-01102004Downloaded from Brill.com09/27/2021 12:13:00AM via free access <UN> 296 Liu, Lauta and Maas recent past, and suggest that our futures will be profoundly different in its af- termath.
    [Show full text]
  • Managing Biosecurity Across Borders, 237 DOI 10.1007/978-94-007-1412-0, © Springer Science+Business Media B.V
    Glossary of Biosecurity Management† A Abiotic stress (Cekaman abiotik) [Bio] Outside (nonliving) factors which can cause harmful effects to plants, such as soil conditions, drought. Absorbed dose (Dosis terserap) [Bio] Quantity of radiating energy (in gray) absorbed per unit of mass of a specified target. Action research (Penelitian tindakan) [Soc] (1) Kind of research methods that aims to contribute both to the practical concerns of people in an immediate problematic situation and to the goals of social science by joint collaboration within a mutually acceptable ethical framework; (2) a flexible spiral process which allows action (change, improvement) and research (understanding, knowledge) to be achieved at the same time. Action research is concerned to enlarge the stock of knowledge of the social science community. It is this aspect of action research that distinguishes it from applied social science, where the goal is simply to apply social scientific knowledge but not to add to the body of knowledge. †The compiler of the Glossary of Biosecurity Management is Professor Sang Putu Kaler Surata, one of the team members involved in authoring this book. The Glossary was prepared as a stand-alone publication in both English and Bahasa Indonesian languages in response to the lack of international clarity, consistency and information about terms related to biosecurity. The process and a great deal of detail about the Glossary and its preparation are contained in Professor Surata’s Chap. 7 of this volume, and additional detail regarding translation aspects is found in Ms Jayantini’s Chap. 8. Due to its cross-disciplinary and often contested nature, the Glossary of Biosecu rity Management draws on a wide range of sources.
    [Show full text]
  • Balancing Bioenergy and Biosecurity Policies: Estimating Current and Future Climate Suitability Patterns for a Bioenergy Crop
    GCB Bioenergy (2014) 6, 587–598, doi: 10.1111/gcbb.12068 Balancing bioenergy and biosecurity policies: estimating current and future climate suitability patterns for a bioenergy crop D. J. KRITICOS*,† ,H.T.MURPHY‡ , T. JOVANOVIC*, J. TAYLOR§ ,A.HERR*,J.RAISON* and D. O’CONNELL* *CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences, GPO Box 1700, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia, †EH Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW, Australia, ‡CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences, PO Box 780, Atherton, QLD, Australia, §CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences, Box 312, Clayton South, VIC, 3169, Australia Abstract In an apparent paradox, bioenergy crops offer potential benefits to a world adjusting to the challenges of climate change and declining fossil fuel stocks, as well as potential ecological and economic threats resulting from bio- logical invasions. In considering this paradox it is important to understand that benefits and threats may not always be apparent in equal measure throughout the potential range of each candidate biofuel species. In some environments, a species could potentially produce valuable biological materials without posing a significant invasion threat. In this study, we develop a bioclimatic niche model for a candidate biofuel crop, Millettia pinnat- a, and apply the model to different climatic and irrigation scenarios to estimate the current and future patterns of climate suitability for its growth and naturalization. We use Australia as a case study for interpreting the niche model in terms that may be informative for both biofuels proponents and biosecurity regulators to plan management programmes that reflect the invasive potential in different areas. The model suggests that suitable growing conditions for M.
    [Show full text]
  • Australia's Biodiversity and Climate Change
    Australia’s Biodiversity and Climate Change A strategic assessment of the vulnerability of Australia’s biodiversity to climate change A report to the Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council commissioned by the Australian Government. Prepared by the Biodiversity and Climate Change Expert Advisory Group: Will Steffen, Andrew A Burbidge, Lesley Hughes, Roger Kitching, David Lindenmayer, Warren Musgrave, Mark Stafford Smith and Patricia A Werner © Commonwealth of Australia 2009 ISBN 978-1-921298-67-7 Published in pre-publication form as a non-printable PDF at www.climatechange.gov.au by the Department of Climate Change. It will be published in hard copy by CSIRO publishing. For more information please email [email protected] This work is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced by any process without prior written permission from the Commonwealth. Requests and inquiries concerning reproduction and rights should be addressed to the: Commonwealth Copyright Administration Attorney-General's Department 3-5 National Circuit BARTON ACT 2600 Email: [email protected] Or online at: http://www.ag.gov.au Disclaimer The views and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Australian Government or the Minister for Climate Change and Water and the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts. Citation The book should be cited as: Steffen W, Burbidge AA, Hughes L, Kitching R, Lindenmayer D, Musgrave W, Stafford Smith M and Werner PA (2009) Australia’s biodiversity and climate change: a strategic assessment of the vulnerability of Australia’s biodiversity to climate change.
    [Show full text]
  • Enacting Shared Responsibility in Biosecurity Governance: Insights from Adaptive Governance
    Copyright © 2021 by the author(s). Published here under license by the Resilience Alliance. Rawluk, A., R. Beilin, and S. Lavau. 2021. Enacting shared responsibility in biosecurity governance: insights from adaptive governance. Ecology and Society 26(2):18. https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-12368-260218 Insight Enacting shared responsibility in biosecurity governance: insights from adaptive governance Andrea Rawluk 1, Ruth Beilin 1 and Stephanie Lavau 1 ABSTRACT. Amidst an increasingly complex global environment of trade and travel, with heightened concerns for the unintended or deliberate spread of species and diseases, biosecurity is a key policy goal in many parts of the world. In Australia, there is concern that invasive species (plants, animals, and diseases) enter, spread, and establish, threatening local industries such as agriculture, as well as human health and biodiversity. Shared responsibility for biosecurity is a recent policy direction that has gained great traction but requires improved conceptual and practical clarity in how local citizens are co-opted into or experience biosecurity programs. In this paper, we interrogate the framing and enactment of shared responsibility for biosecurity, propose a repositioning informed by attributes of adaptive governance that involves a clearer structuring of partnerships, and illustrate this through a case example of network-based, passive surveillance. This repositioning is organized around four pillars, where biosecurity is a part of dynamic cosmopolitan territories; enacted through diverse
    [Show full text]
  • Climate-Related Transboundary Pests and Diseases
    HLC/08/BAK/4 CLIMATE-RELATED TRANSBOUNDARY PESTS AND DISEASES TECHNICAL BACKGROUND DOCUMENT FROM THE EXPERT CONSULTATION HELD ON 25 TO 27 FEBRUARY 2008 FAO, ROME CLIMATE CHANGE AND PEST DISEASES The movement of plant pests, animal diseases and invasive alien aquatic organisms across physical and political boundaries threatens food security and creates a global public concern across all countries and all regions. Countries allocate large resources to limit the spread and control of transboundary pests and diseases 1 such as avian influenza, foot-and-mouth disease and locust. They also adapt animal and plant health services and activities and cooperate regionally and globally for prevention, early warning and control. There is clear evidence that climate change is altering the distribution, incidence and intensity of animal and plant pests and diseases such as Bluetongue, a sheep disease that is moving north into more temperate zones of Europe. Cannon (see Annex 1) found examples of plant pests whose distribution is shifting in the United Kingdom and other parts of Europe, most likely due to climatic factors. For example, migrant moths of the Old World bollworm ( Helicoverpa armigera) had a phenomenal increase in the United Kingdom from 1969-2004 and there have been outbreaks at the northern edge of its range in Europe; cottony cushion scale ( Icerya purchasi) populations appear to be spreading northwards perhaps as a consequence of global warming; and cottony camellia scale ( Pulvinaria – Chloropulvinaria – floccifera) has become much more common in the United Kingdom, extending its range northwards in England and increasing its host range in the last decade or so, which is almost certainly in response to climate change.
    [Show full text]
  • Placing Global Biosecurity Engagement Programs Under the Umbrella of Global Health Security
    FAS Issue Brief May 2014 Placing Global Biosecurity Engagement Programs under the Umbrella of Global Health Security Michelle Rozo Federation of American Scientists FAS ISSUE BRIEF Author Michelle Rozo, Ph.D. Candidate, Cell, Molecular, Developmental Biology and Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University. About FAS Issue Briefs FAS Issue Briefs provide nonpartisan research and analysis for policymakers, government officials, academics, and the general public. All statements of fact and expressions of opinion contained in this and other FAS Issue Briefs are the sole responsibility of the author or authors. This report does not necessarily represent the views of the Federation of American Scientists. About FAS Founded in 1945 by many of the scientists who built the first atomic bombs, the Federation of American Scientists (FAS) is devoted to the belief that scientists, engineers, and other technically trained people have the ethical obligation to ensure that the technological fruits of their intellect and labor are applied to the benefit of humankind. The founding mission was to prevent nuclear war. While nuclear security remains a major objective of FAS today, the organization has expanded its critical work to address urgent issues at the intersection of science and security. FAS publications are produced to increase the understanding of policymakers, the public, and the press about urgent issues in science and security policy. Individual authors who may be FAS staff or acknowledged experts from outside the institution write these reports. Thus, these reports do not represent an FAS institutional position on policy issues. All statements of fact and expressions of opinion contained in this and other FAS Issue Briefs are the sole responsibility of the author or authors.
    [Show full text]
  • Download Global Catastrophic Risks 2020
    Global Catastrophic Risks 2020 Global Catastrophic Risks 2020 INTRODUCTION GLOBAL CHALLENGES FOUNDATION (GCF) ANNUAL REPORT: GCF & THOUGHT LEADERS SHARING WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ON GLOBAL CATASTROPHIC RISKS 2020 The views expressed in this report are those of the authors. Their statements are not necessarily endorsed by the affiliated organisations or the Global Challenges Foundation. ANNUAL REPORT TEAM Ulrika Westin, editor-in-chief Waldemar Ingdahl, researcher Victoria Wariaro, coordinator Weber Shandwick, creative director and graphic design. CONTRIBUTORS Kennette Benedict Senior Advisor, Bulletin of Atomic Scientists Angela Kane Senior Fellow, Vienna Centre for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation; visiting Professor, Sciences Po Paris; former High Representative for Disarmament Affairs at the United Nations Joana Castro Pereira Postdoctoral Researcher at Portuguese Institute of International Relations, NOVA University of Lisbon Philip Osano Research Fellow, Natural Resources and Ecosystems, Stockholm Environment Institute David Heymann Head and Senior Fellow, Centre on Global Health Security, Chatham House, Professor of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Romana Kofler, United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs Lindley Johnson, NASA Planetary Defense Officer and Program Executive of the Planetary Defense Coordination Office Gerhard Drolshagen, University of Oldenburg and the European Space Agency Stephen Sparks Professor, School of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol Ariel Conn Founder and
    [Show full text]
  • Vote Agriculture, Biosecurity, Fisheries and Food Safety
    Vote Agriculture, Biosecurity, Fisheries and Food Safety APPROPRIATION MINISTER(S): Minister of Agriculture (M2), Minister for Biosecurity (M7), Minister for Food Safety (M33), Minister for Oceans and Fisheries (M102) DEPARTMENT ADMINISTERING THE VOTE: Ministry for Primary Industries (A14) RESPONSIBLE MINISTER FOR MINISTRY FOR PRIMARY INDUSTRIES: Minister of Agriculture The Estimates of Appropriations 2021/22 - Primary Sector B.5 Vol.9 1 Vote Agriculture, Biosecurity, Fisheries and Food Safety Overview of the Vote Overview of the Vote Vote Agriculture, Biosecurity, Fisheries and Food Safety contains appropriations of just under $963 million for the 2021/22 financial year. The Minister of Agriculture is responsible for appropriations in the Vote totalling just under $360 million including: Just over $186 million mainly for: • administration of government approved schemes, grants and assistance to the sector, including the Future Fibres Fund • education and enforcement intended to improve animal welfare in New Zealand • obtaining science, research, technology, capacity and capability in climate change • providing recovery assistance and support to the sector following adverse natural events, and • departmental capital expenditure. Just under $174 million which provides for policy advice, the implementation of it and ministerial servicing for the Minister of Agriculture, the Minister for Biosecurity, the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries and the Minister for Food Safety and for facilitating international trade in, and market access for, primary products. The Minister of Agriculture is also responsible for a capital injection of just over $56 million to the Ministry for Primary Industries. $25 million relates to a cash injection to maintain essential border capacity. $31 million relates to assets, including Forestry departmental capital assets.
    [Show full text]
  • Biosecurity on the Farm
    David W. Snively Associate Director Biosecurity on the Farm Biosecurity refers to those measures taken to keep diseases out of populations, herds, or groups of animals where they do not currently exist or to limit the spread of disease within the herd. The responsibility for farm-level biosecurity belongs to the producer or herd owner. A successful biosecurity plan must address isolation of new animals brought to the farm, isolation of sick animals, regulation of the movement of people, animals, and equipment, and procedures for cleaning and disinfecting facilities. The Greatest Risk - Animals New to the Farm Bringing new animals to your farm usually presents the greatest risk of introducing infectious disease. Producers should purchase animals from sources with a sound herd health program. In addition, producers should: !" Isolate new animals and animals returning from situations where they were exposed to other animals (fairs or shows) for a minimum of two weeks, preferably one month. Isolation should be in a facility separate from other animals if possible. If complete isolation is impossible, use a separate pen or pasture that does not permit nose-to-nose contact or shared feed/water supplies. Boots and coveralls worn while caring for quarantined animals should not be worn while caring for other animals. Have new animals tested before mixing them with your existing herd. !" Work with your veterinarian to develop a health program that includes parasite control and vaccination for diseases most likely to be a problem in your operation. !" Isolate animals showing signs of disease. Contact your veterinarian for appropriate tests and treatment.
    [Show full text]
  • Importance of Biosecurity Biosecurity, the Practice of Protecting Ranch And
    Importance of Biosecurity Biosecurity, the practice of protecting ranch and farm animals from disease, has become a major concern with the worldwide threat of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and other diseases. Effective biosecurity requires several components including isolation, traffic control, and sanitation that aim to reduce exposure to bacteria, viruses and other organisms that may infect animals with disease. Alaskan producers are encouraged to maintain a high sense of awareness for unusual occurrences of animal diseases in their communities. Producers need to initiate an appropriate level of biosecurity on their ranches and farms. A good biosecurity program helps to lower the risk of pathogens being transferred from farm to farm. Informed veterinarians, livestock producers and animal owners are the first line of defense against foreign and other animal diseases. General Potential Signs of Animal Diseases of Concern • Sudden, unexplained death loss in the herd or flock. • Severe illness affecting a high percentage of animals. • Blistering around an animal’s mouth, nose, teats or hooves. • Unusual ticks or maggots. • Staggering, falling or central nervous system disorders. • Abortions or still births Control Access to Your Property • Have only one combined entrance and exit to your farm. • Keep property gates locked at all times. • Make sure all visitors check with you prior to entering your property or visiting you animals. • If you have a large number of visitors, keep track of who visits your farm. Make sure all visitors sign in at arrival and sign out at departure. • Only allow essential vehicles and visitors to enter the farm and keep these vehicles in a separate area.
    [Show full text]