UNR Extension Urges Nevada Livestock Producers to Prepare for Disease Outbreaks

Dec. 9, 2024

Extension urges Nevada livestock producers to prepare for disease outbreaks
Recent virus outbreak in dairy cows highlights the need for increased livestock biosecurity efforts

RENO, Nev. – Last Friday, Dec. 6, the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service issued a new federal order pertaining to the testing and surveillance for the H5N1 variant of the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in all U.S. dairy herds. The recent outbreak of the virus in dairy cows across 16 states, including Nevada, has highlighted the ongoing and increased need for livestock biosecurity efforts.

Nevada livestock producers practice routine biosecurity daily, from changing boots between barns, to handwashing, cleaning and disinfecting equipment, and quarantining new animals coming onto the farm and ranch. However, new federal orders require infected herds to comply with enhanced biosecurity planning, including movement controls, contact tracing and additional testing. Enhanced biosecurity plans should comply with guidance found in the Secure Milk Supply Plan. Increased surveillance and testing of U.S. dairy herds is paramount when it comes to reducing both the spread of this virus in dairy cattle and the risk of transmission to farm workers. The public is reminded that pasteurized dairy products and food supplies purchased from retailers are safe for consumption.

In order to help Nevadans prepare and update their livestock biosecurity protocols, University of Nevada, Reno Extension has launched a new livestock biosecurity website that directs Nevada livestock producers and local and county emergency responders to important resources for getting prepared and will be helping producers to navigate the steps they need to take. Extension is leading this collaborative effort to minimize the negative impacts of an outbreak, in coordination with the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, the Nevada Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management and other state agencies.

Livestock producers are urged to evaluate and update their biosecurity plans and learn about completing enhanced biosecurity plans to prepare for this virus and other foreign animal diseases, such as foot-and-mouth disease.

U.S. likely to experience a foot-and-mouth livestock disease outbreak

Foot-and-mouth disease is an extremely contagious viral disease that can spread quickly among cloven-hoofed animals including cattle, sheep, pigs, goats and cervids, such as deer and elk. While the disease is not a public health risk to humans (it is not transmittable to humans and is not related to the human hand-foot-and-mouth virus), a detection in the U.S. could drastically impact U.S. livestock industries, reducing movement for a large percentage of the country’s livestock, increasing vaccine costs, and ultimately increasing the cost of meat and milk to consumers.

The disease was eradicated in the U.S. in 1929, but it is now once again in more than two-thirds of countries worldwide, making a reoccurrence in the U.S. highly likely. In response, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is encouraging each state to prepare for an outbreak of food-and-mouth disease or other foreign animal diseases ahead of time to minimize negative impacts.

One of the most important initial steps in getting prepared for an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease or other foreign animal diseases is understanding the procedures the USDA and the Nevada Department of Agriculture will take if an outbreak occurs anywhere in the U.S. A 72-hour stop-movement order would be issued, and depending upon the location of the outbreak, movement could be stopped for an extended period of time. Stopping livestock movements in Nevada could be very challenging for livestock producers, particularly in the spring and fall when cattle typically ship out of state to new pastures and feeding locations.

Livestock producers can limit the impact of a foot-and-mouth disease outbreak on their operations by completing an enhanced biosecurity plan in advance. These enhanced biosecurity plans can be reviewed and approved ahead of time by the Nevada Department of Agriculture state veterinarian. Once approved, livestock producers would be able to apply for movement permits, even if there is a stop-movement order in place.

“Advanced planning is the best thing you can do for yourself and your operation,” said Nevada Department of Agriculture Director J.J. Goicoechea, doctor of veterinary medicine. “During a foreign animal disease outbreak, those with enhanced plans and accurate records can and will be released for movement first. It is imperative that all Nevada producers work to be prepared before action is needed to protect their own livestock and the entire industry.”

Extension specialists trained in enhanced biosecurity planning ready to help

Extension specialists Tracy Shane and Gary McCuin have been trained by the American Sheep Industry in the procedures for completing enhanced biosecurity plans through the Secure Sheep and Wool Supply Plan, and are leading Extension’s efforts to help producers in the state prepare for an outbreak.

“We can’t emphasize enough how important it is for our state’s producers to prepare for livestock disease outbreaks, including the current virus affecting dairy cows, foot-and-mouth disease and other foreign animal diseases,” Shane said. “There are steps they can take now to help protect their livestock from disease, reduce risk of disease transmission, minimize economic losses, and ensure continuity of business and availability of livestock products for consumers.”

Shane says the guidelines for enhanced biosecurity planning have been set forth through collaborations between USDA, state veterinarians and livestock industry representatives. The links to the procedures and plans for each livestock industry (cattle, milk, sheep and wool, and pork) are available on the new Extension website, and Shane and McCuin are ready to help guide producers through the processes.

In addition to the website, McCuin says Extension will be hosting workshops for producers and have booths at local events, such as livestock shows and county fairs, to provide producers with information and assistance. Extension is also aiming to help coordinate efforts among state, county and local emergency response agencies in the event of a livestock disease outbreak, and encourages emergency responders to visit the website and become familiar with the possible threats associated with an outbreak. The website also contains information for livestock show organizers and youth livestock exhibitors, pointing them to USDA-sponsored training programs. But for now, the emphasis is getting commercial livestock producers to prepare.

“Tracy and I stand ready to help producers start the process of completing an enhanced biosecurity plan,” McCuin said. “We can provide technical assistance and help speed up the learning process and get more plans into review with the Department of Agriculture.”

Contact Shane at tshane@unr.edu or 775-934-5646, and McCuin at gmccuin@unr.edu or 775-237-6134.