This webpage contains links to references and sites with guidance on implementing dairy biosecurity programs. Biosecurity is an inclusive term typically applied to practices which prevent disease agents from making access to a farm or flock, and/or practices which limit or control disease from spreading within a herd or flock.

The term is applied broadly and includes a wide variety of practices ranging from sourcing addition for trusted sources, testing and isolation of incoming animals, sanitation & disinfection and vaccination.

Biosecurity programs can be generally divided into:

  1) “Everyday Biosecurity,” those practices which are always in use

  2) “Enhanced Biosecurity,” those more robust practices implemented during an emergency

Getting Started on HPAI Biosecurity

CDQAP’s 9 Things You Should Be Doing Now About HPAI – This short article includes a checklist on the third page about which biosecurity practices will return the biggest “bang for your buck” regarding biosecurity practices. It’s an excellent starting point for producers that are just beginning to implement enhanced biosecurity measures for HPAI.

CDQAP’s Biosecurity for Dairy Visitors – Producers set the rules regarding the biosecurity practices they expect visitors to follow, especially now during an outbreak. This article includes a checklist (on the 2^ndpage) producers can consider. As described in the article, CDQAP brought together biosecurity experts from CDFA, USDA, UCD and DeLaval for a webinar to share ideas about visitor biosecurity. The webinar was recorded and is available for viewing here.

Dairy Cattle: Biosecurity for H5N1 – The National Milk Producer’s Federation (NMPF), the National FARM Program (FARM) and the American Association of Bovine Practitioners (AABP) this short 2-page fact sheet provides a quick, understandable review of good practices for HPAI.

Guidance for Everyday Biosecurity Plans

NMPF’s Everyday Biosecurity – All enhanced biosecurity plans have to start with the foundation “everyday” biosecurity practices. Now is a good time then to review your regular biosecurity practices and then add those enhanced procedures as advised by your veterinarian. The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) convened a national panel of biosecurity experts to review existing literature and pool their experiences. The national FARM welfare program published this 64-page booklet that’s broken down into easily accessible chapters with plenty of full-color graphics and links to more information. It’s the most comprehensive and understandable review of everyday biosecurity available.

Guarding Against the ‘Trojan Horse’: Practical Biosecurity Measures for Dairy Farms – If you’re looking for just the highlights for day-to-day biosecurity, this short (2-page) summary may be your best bet. Written by Dr. Dale Moore of Washington State’s vet school biosecurity program, the article provides a concise checklist with actionable advice.

CDQAP’s Dairy Farm (Bio)Security Video – Produced back in 2005 this 12-minute video provides a fun introduction to preventing disease and theft on dairy farms. Dairyman Ted talks with his veterinarian about the basics of biosecurity and draws parallels between his farm and a medieval castle. The video is a collaboration between the California Dairy Quality Assurance Program, the California Department of Food and Agriculture and USDA.

CDQAP’s Dairy Biosecurity & Your Bottom Line – For producers interested in what kind of the economic return-on-investment everyday biosecurity offers, CDQAP produced this webpage. Produced long before the HPAI outbreak, it contains cautionary examples of real-life biosecurity train wrecks on California dairies, summaries of research papers examining ROI for some biosecurity practices and some advice on how to get started with an everyday biosecurity program.

Guidance for Enhanced Biosecurity Plans

Enhanced Biosecurity for H5N1 – The National Milk Producer’s Federation (NMPF), the National FARM Program (FARM) and the American Association of Bovine Practitioners (AABP) produced this, perhaps the shortest (8-page) and most understandable guide on developing an enhanced biosecurity dairy plan.

National FARM Program’s Enhanced Biosecurity Prep Guide – During this current HPAI outbreak, or during other livestock outbreaks, producers may be asked to implement enhanced biosecurity practices which are more aggressive and typically used only during emergencies like a Foot and mouth disease outbreak. Located on NMPF’s enhanced biosecurity homepage, this relatively short (14 pages) guide assists producers in the development on an enhanced plan using understandable language and full color graphics.

On-line Biosecurity Training – For producers wanting a interactive on-line introduction to dairy biosecurity, the National Dairy FARM program offers on-line training. Link here to register.

Secure Milk Supply (SMS) Biosecurity Checklists & Manuals – Originally focused on Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), the Secure Milk Supply (SMS) is a state-federal program designed to help prepare producers to develop and implement enhanced biosecurity programs during a Foreign Animal Disease outbreak. Of all the webpages dealing with enhanced biosecurity, the SMS biosecurity webpage may be the best organized and easiest to use. Producers will find links to biosecurity checklists and manuals, customizable templates, plan examples, signage & forms, disinfectants and a wide variety of videos etc. Many of the documents are in both English and Spanish.

CDFA’s Dairy Enhanced Biosecurity Template – By completing this 61-page template, a producer will have developed a written, premises-specific Enhanced Biosecurity plan that meets the requirements of the California Secure Food Supply (SFS) program which are more rigorous then routine daily biosecurity practices. Once approved by CDFA during a Foreign Animal Disease (FAD) outbreak like Foot & Mouth if the dairy is within a Control Area it will be eligible to receive a Product Movement Permit (PMP) for the movement of animals or animal products.

CDFA’s Dairy Enhanced Biosecurity Plan Manual – The exhaustive companion piece to the dairy template above, this 35-page manual explains how to develop an enhanced dairy biosecurity plan and complete the template.

USDA’s Dairy Farm Biosecurity: Preventing the Spread of H5N1 – This 2-page flyer is part of USDA’s Biosecurity Homepage. This webpage also includes guidance on worker safety, biosecurity for fairs and exhibitions as well as biosecurity for other species such as poultry, horses swine, sheep & goats and zoos.