General Farm Hygiene:

Good farm hygiene is the responsibility of all the staff on the farm, make sure that all employees know the farms bio security policy and explain the policy to all visitors. It is necessary to draw up a written Bio security plan for your holding:

• Operate a foot dip policy between farms, buildings and ensure disinfecting facilities are available for consultants, veterinary surgeons and other visitors.
• Insist that all staff and visitors use foot dips. Put up signpost if necessary.
• Keep the milking parlour and associated facilities clean and hygienic at all times.
• Clean and disinfect buildings after each batch of stock, especially after a disease outbreak.
• Clean and disinfect vehicles and trailers after transporting stock - however short the journey may be.
• Wear clean overalls and footwear each day if at all possible.
• Park visitors vehicle out side the premise. Avoid unnecessary visitors to the farm.
  

• Poor feed facilities encourage birds and vermin, which can and do spread disease.
• Keep feeding stuffs dry and clean.
• Rotate stocks to ensure that the oldest deliveries are used first.
• Dispose of old or contaminated feed carefully and securely.
• Clean out feed bins, water troughs regularly (wash out and disinfect)
• Ensure no livestock have access to feed storage facilities.
• Ensure clean water supply. If necessary test bore hole or well water before allowing its use.
• Fence of ponds and boggy areas.
• Clean out and disinfect feed troughs and feeding stances on a regular basis, remove rejected feed and dispose of responsibly.
  

• Eliminate contact with neighbouring farms and holdings, using good fences and secure gates.
• Ensure you have isolation facility available (to keep sick animals) and that these are easy to clean and hygienic.
• Isolate all newly brought in stock, know the signs of diseases and look out for them. Run these animals through a footbath and de-worm and vaccinate where required as per guidance of your veterinarian.
• In the milk parlours, Milk isolated diseased animals at the last and disinfect the place after use.
• Morning observation of each animal is must and isolates sick and diseased animals as soon as possible before being treated by vet.
  

• Disease causing agents can survive in slurry and farmyard manure, ensuring these products are stored before sale or use in a responsible manner can go some way to prevent disease spread.
• If you are using the produced farm manure / slurry, store them for at least 4 months before application if at all possible.
  

• Ensure you have adequate rodent control facility.
• Keep animals and birds away from feed stores.
• Dispose of all feed waste in a secure and responsible manner.
• Keep buildings in good repair so that birds and vermin cannot gain access.