Biosecurity for Canadian Dairy Farms - Dairy Farmers of Canada

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Biosecurity for

Canadian Dairy Farms National Standard

Dairy Farmers of Canada

Annual General Meeting

July 18, 2012

St. John’s, Newfoundland

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Purpose

• Briefly discuss the National

Standard

• Review the next steps

• Consider the desired

objectives of moving forward

Source:www.wcfin.ca

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Background

• Funding was provided to CFIA under the Growing Forward Agreement over a period of 4 years for activities related to National Biosecurity Standards Development for a minimum of 6 commodity sectors

• The dairy sector was designated as an immediate priority by a FPT Biosecurity Committee of officials

• Letter from the Dairy Farmers of Canada indicated their support in developing a National Biosecurity Standard that will be useful for improving the health status of the Canadian dairy herd

▫ Focus should be on managing existing disease issues

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The CFIA - Biosecurity

“Is a strategic and integrative approach that encompasses policy and regulatory frameworks for

analyzing and managing relevant risks to human, animal and plant life health and associated risks to the

environment.”

Source:www.canadiangrocer.com

•Work across the biological sectors •Focus on the whole continuum

•One Health Approach

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CFIA – Animal Health Transformation

• Currently re-organizing the Animal Health Directorate ▫ Looking at the future directions of the animal health program

▫ Our changing role and mandate (assurance systems)

▫ Role of private standards

• Regulatory Modernization ▫ Reportable disease list is under revision

• Future changes - disease prevention (biosecurity), anti-microbial resistance, zoonoses and climate change issues

• Impact of the changes ▫ Modernization of roles and responsibilities ▫ Greater collaboration

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The CFIA – National Standard

• Compensation maybe tied to investment in disease mitigation activities

• Provide a foundational basis for future programming activities

• Farm-level biosecurity will be seen as an important part of the prevention, preparedness and response plans for reportable animal diseases

Source:www.producer.com

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Our Approach To Developing The

Standard

• One of collaboration

• Hired a consultant to lead in the development

• Prepared under the guidance of an advisory committee and scientific review panel

• Looked to DFC/dairy producers to lead throughout the process

• Consultation with stakeholders throughout the process

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Guid

ing P

rincip

les

The Dairy Biosecurity Standard is…

1. Farm-based, providing a set of Strategies and Best Practices that Dairy producers can apply on all types of farms across Canada.

2. Dairy-farm specific, with biosecurity best practices that are compatible with recognized production practices used in the industry.

3. Flexible, so that producers can identify their own risk profiles and address them in a manner that suits their operation.

4. Designed to address both endemic and emerging diseases.

5. Science-based; built on current knowledge of disease-transfer risks, and designed to develop specific practices to reduce them.

6. Based on risk assessments of farm practices, farm layouts and specific diseases of concern.

7. Complementary to such existing industry programs as CQM, the National Traceability Program, and the Codes of Practice.

8. Cost effective – designed to drive benefits both at the farm and for the industry.

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Format of the Standard

Biosecurity Control Areas (4)

Target Outcomes

Strategy

Best Practice

Best Practice

Strategy

Best Practice

National Standard

Producer Planning Guide

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Four Control Areas

• Animal Health Management

• Animal Additions and Movement

• Premises Management and Sanitation

• Producers/employees, visitors, vehicles and equipment

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Priority Control Area Dairy Biosecurity

A Guide to a Biosecurity Plan for Your Dairy Farm

Animal Additions and Movement

Limit Occurrence and Number of

Sources

Determine Health Status and Respond

Segregate and Isolate

Record Location and Movement

Manage Movement within the

Production Unit

Premises Management and Sanitation

Provide Materials, Equipment and

Instruction

Clean and Disinfect Equipment and

Vehicles

Clean and Maintain Production Facilities

Manage Manure, Waste, Deadstock

and Pests

Producers and Employees, Service Providers and

Visitors

Control Access

Use Clean Clothing and Footwear

Control Movement of Vehicles and

Equipment

Animal Health Management

Work with a Veterinarian

Observe, Record and Evaluate

Manage Feed and Water

Recognize Susceptibility and

Maintain Separation

BCAs

Strategies

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Priority Control Area 2:

Animal Additions and Movement Target Outcome: Cattle and other species are

purchased and moved in a manner that

minimizes the risk of spread of infectious disease

• Limit purchases and Number of Sources

• Know the Health Status

• Segregate and Isolate

• Monitor, treat and vaccinate

• Manage cattle leaving and returning

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About The National Standard

• Breaks down the concept of biosecurity into understandable and simple steps that can be applied at the farm level

• National Standard: ▫ A set of measures to risk mitigate infectious disease

▫ Applied all types of dairy production operations

▫ A set of minimum requirements for Canada

▫ Goal - standardization or consistency of implementation across Canada

▫ Strive for continuous improvement and to encourage a higher level of care

• Measures outlined in the Standard are not all inclusive but they are indicative for diseases across the board

• The Standard does not guarantee that a farm operation will be protected from all potential diseases

• It is recognized that many of the practices outlined in the Standard are currently undertaken, in part or in whole by dairy producers.

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Why Biosecurity?

• Preventative approach to herd health

▫ Integral part of good herd health planning

• Reduce the herds risk for contracting or spreading disease

▫ Absolute data to demonstrate measurable benefits

• Often requires only management changes, not capital

investment ▫ Don’t have to be cumbersome, confusing or expensive

▫ Requires commitment

Source:http://1.bp.blogspot.com/

Source: www.agf.gov.bc.ca

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Why Should A Producer Care?

• Infectious diseases cost producers production and profit

▫ New and emerging diseases

• We are seeing increases in antibiotic resistance, making diseases harder to treat

• Producers are in the food business

▫ Food safety is an industry principle

Source: www.cbc.ca

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Benefit – Producers

• Increased production, productivity and profit

• Provides consumers and buyers with confidence

• Improved animal health and welfare

• Reduced use of medication

• Protect/enhance value of the herd

• Wholesome and high quality products

Source: www.grobernutrition.com

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Benefit - Dairy Industry

• Decreased economic losses from diseases like Johne’s that cannot be treated or controlled using vaccinations

• Control the spread of disease from region to region

▫ Within and between farms

• Early recognition of emerging/reportable disease threats

• Prevent zoonosis (essential element of food safety)

• Supports the management of business, policy and market drivers

• Negotiate more favourable global trade conditions and polices by minimizing disease-oriented barriers

Source: http://avc.upei.ca/news/media/

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Consultation Process • Attained an acceptable draft of the

National Standard and approval to consult with National/Provincial organizations

• Met with DFC and 10 provincial boards between March 27th and June 14th, 2012

• Solicited and requested feedback from each group ▫ Four questions

• Consolidated the comments and suggested changes to the Standard

Source: www.omafra.gov.on.ca

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What We Heard

• National/Provincial organizations expressed appreciation for the collaborative work taken in

producing the Standard ▫ Provided with the opportunity to review, discuss and

provide comments throughout the process

• Organizations recognized the importance and value of having a National Standard ▫ “In the best interest of the entire industry”

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What We Heard - Consensus

▫ “Four control areas appear to address the important risk areas for the dairy herd”

▫ “Targeted outcomes and strategies seem to be practical enough and commonsense”

▫ “That the Standard would be useful in improving the health status of provincial/Canadian dairy herd when fully implemented”

▫ “Should be flexibility at the producer level to implement practices accordingly to the acceptable level of risk for each dairy operation”

▫ “Strategies are consistent with those identified in the CQM, Johne’s disease initiative etc.”

▫ “Most well-managed dairy operations already incorporate in part or in whole these practices”

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What We Heard – Concerns Raised

▫ “Owe our producers the most efficient and effective program design, development and delivery model”

▫ “The timing and introduction across the country will be the biggest challenge of this initiative (would not support a CQM type implementation approach)”

▫ “Reserve judgement until a national delivery and monitoring policy is developed and agreed to by all 10 provinces”

▫ “Ask that DFC take the lead in coordinating the development of such a national delivery and monitoring plan so that producers across Canada can benefit equally from a National Standard”

▫ “Keep dairy and beef producers closely linked to the program during implementation and evaluation”

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What We Heard – Concerns Raised

Cont’d ▫ “The range of innovative management tools currently available or

soon to be introduced to Canadian dairy producers such as CQM; Johne’s disease initiative; traceability; biosecurity; and animal welfare codes”

▫ “Need a wholly integrated approach to implementing these management tools including nationally-coordinated and locally delivered education and extension, promotion and marketing, technical support, roll out, monitoring and ongoing program upgrades as necessary”

▫ “Will require considerable dialogue between DFC and the provinces”

“Very interested in the next steps and what role our organization will play in the successful launch of the National Standard”

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Moving Forward • The challenge will be the

transition to implement farm-level standards in a nationally consistent manner

• Growing Forward II provides an opportunity to build on the existing foundation (systems development) and address systems implementation, conformity assessment/adherence

• Represents an up-front burden

▫ Administratively

▫ Financially

Source: www.urbancowboy.ca

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Strategic Considerations

• Role of Industry and FPT Governments

• Funding (communications, education and training)

• Package and Branding the initiatives

▫ Whole farm system approach

▫ Measures to streamline programming could accelerate uptake

• International considerations

▫ Red Tractor Assurance in the UK

▫ Dairy Farm Assurance in Australia

Source: http://genomealberta.ca

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Next Steps 1. Preparing the final versions of the National Standard–

both official languages (July/August)

2. Present revised version at DFC September 2012

meeting and discuss publication/distribution details

3. Prepare a collaborative press release

4. Publish and distribute National Standard

5. Publish and distribute Producer Planning Guide

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Biosecurity for Canadian Dairy Farms National Standard