Planning is the hallmark of effective emergency management. Be it a natural disaster or disease outbreak, there are measures that can be done to minimize the impact and we all have a role to play in preparing and responding to emergencies. It is important for producers to have an understanding of industry risks and potential impacts of various emergency situations, be prepared in order to equip your operation in the case of such an emergency, and be able to respond. To assist producers in understanding more about emergency management, and how to prepare and respond in the event of an emergency, a number of resources are provided below.
Biosecurity
Biosecurity refers to the management practices that enable producers to prevent the movement of foreign and/or established diseases from coming onto and/or off your farm. There are many measures that can be taken to reduce biosecurity risks.
- If you are interested in obtaining biosecurity signage for your farm, please contact the BFO office.
- For more biosecurity resources refer to the Ontario Livestock and Poultry Council website here.
- Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs information on biosecurity for livestock facilities can be found here.
- Canadian Food Inspection Agency information on animal biosecurity can be found here.
Foot and Mouth Disease
Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a severe and highly contagious disease of cattle. It also affects swine, sheep, goats, deer and other cloven (split) hoofed animals, and it is considered one of the most contagious animal diseases. It is not a risk to human health, but is easily spread by people, animals, objects and equipment. FMD has not been found in Canada since 1952. Currently, FMD is present in a number of countries in Africa, Asia and South America. To learn more about foot and mouth disease, refer to the resources below.
Livestock Transport Rollovers and Emergencies
For livestock transporters or producers who transport their own cattle, being aware of potential emergencies while transporting livestock is important and transporters have a responsibility to have contingency plans in place. A Livestock Transportation Emergencies Information Manual has been created by Farm and Food Care Ontario to provide livestock transporters, first responders and other relevant personnel who might be involved in livestock transport related emergencies with information on roles and responsibilities, assessing the situation, extrication of animals from a rolled over livestock truck, templates and more.
Additional Information
Animal Health Emergency Management
Animal Health Canada: Case studies on emergency management and preparedness, biosecurity, and surveillance and disease monitoring
Farm and Food Care Ontario