Biosecurity Standards and Practices For Ag-Professionals and Service Providers
DOWNLOADDecember 9, 2025 Elizabeth Ferry, Michael Metzger, Jerad Jaborek, Casey Zangaro
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EmailThe prevention and control of livestock disease outbreaks is a shared concern across agricultural communities, especially those who visit farms regularly (e.g., Extension personnel, consultants, inspectors, delivery personnel and veterinarians). Employing biosecurity practices that reduce the risk of disease transmission helps protect farms and animals from viruses, bacteria, parasites, and other pathogens. This is especially critical when highly-consequential diseases such as Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) are present and with the potential threat of African Swine Fever (ASF), or Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) spreading from other countries.
Diseases can spread in many ways: including direct contact from animal to animal, human to animal, indirect contact with fomites such as tools, equipment, footwear, clothing and vehicles and through aerosol droplets. Negative outcomes from clinical disease outbreaks include illness in people and animals, animal death, and loss of farm revenue.
Many farms have incorporated biosecurity protocols focused on protecting animal health into their management plans. This includes standard operating procedures focused on reducing disease from entering the farm. In some cases, small or lifestyle farms may not have developed a biosecurity plan. As a stakeholder in agriculture, it is critical that you, as a visitor, follow basic protocols to avoid inadvertent disease spread, even if instruction is not given from the host farm you were visiting.
Ag-professionals who travel between farms have a responsibility to practice biosecurity standards when visiting farms. This not only protects animal health but also demonstrates professionalism and awareness of the economic importance of disease prevention in the livestock industry.
