Iowa groups host livestock biosecurity meetings
US - In the state of Iowa, the livestock industry is a multi-billion dollar industry. The beef and pork industry collectively provide over 100,000 jobs and a total economic activity of over $17 billion.
9 February 2007
1 minute read
The thought of losing this industry to an agroterrorism event should provide enough incentive for every producer across the state to implement a biosecurity plan on their operation.
The Iowa Beef Industry Council, Iowa Farm Bureau and the Iowa Pork Producers Association will be holding biosecurity basics for livestock producers conferences at several different sites across the state in February and March.
"An outbreak of foot and mouth disease, which affects both cattle and swine would represent about $65 billion worth of potential lost value to U.S. producers," said Patrick Web, veterinarian for the National Pork Board and speaker at the conferences. "The fact that a single determined individual or small group could bring all U.S. beef and pork exports to a halt, underscores the need for increased defense against this threat."
Webb will discuss biosecurity at the producer level. The conference will also include incident command and an animal disease disaster demonstration by Bruce Spence with Training with Toys.
Source: High Plains Journal
