Agricultural News
okPORK Executive Director Roy Lee Lindsey Shares His Top Tips for Improving Biosecurity on Your Farm
Fri, 28 Jun 2019 11:58:10 CDT
Roy Lee Lindsey, executive director of the okPORK, visited with junior livestock exhibitors in Stillwater, Okla. this week during the 2019 Oklahoma Youth Expo Summer Spectacular All-Species Show Clinic about the importance of biosecurity. Lindsey offered a few suggestions that exhibitors can practice on their farms and in their barns to monitor and maintain the health of their livestock and prevent the outbreak and spread of diseases, as was seen at the Oklahoma Youth Expo this year.
"We did have some issues with PEDv at the stock show this spring, but I think those are behind us. We've not heard of anything that was significant that came out of that other than the issues during the show itself," Lindsey said. "So, this was all about looking down the road and how do we do a better job next time."
Lindsey broke down his tips for exhibitors into three segments, outlining measures that can be taken before, during and after a show. Topping that list is simply to ensure that all your animals are well and healthy before taking them to a show. To this end, Lindsey says exhibitors should keep a close relationship with their veterinarian and not to take any risks.
"If you've got an animal that looks sick - leave it at home. Just don't bring it and run the risk of taking whatever you might have and spreading it to everybody else at the show," he remarked. "That's a good place to start."
In addition, Lindsey says exhibitors should get in the habit of:
- cleaning and disinfecting their equipment before and after a show
- Only taking the amount of feed they will need during the show and discarding any extra left over
- Changing shoes at the barn to keep from tracking pathogens into your vehicle or back home
- Quarantining animals returning from a show for 1 to 4 weeks for observation
- Telling someone if you notice symptoms of illness in your livestock
"You can manage those things yourself," Lindsey said, "and it will give everyone a little more security, a little more peace of mind that we're preparing at home for dealing with a health issue."
You can listen to Lindsey offer more of his tips for improving biosecurity on your farm, by clicking or tapping the LISTEN BAR below to hear his complete conversation with Radio Oklahoma Ag Network Associate Farm Director Carson Horn.
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