Nip Livestock Disease in the Bud: Create Your Own Contact Tracing Program
Photos by Donna Coffin
Time and species choice:
- October 7, 2020, 12:15 PM: Swine
- October 14, 2020, 12:15 PM: Sheep
- October 21, 2020, 12:15 PM: Goats
- October 28, 2020, 12:15 PM: Beef
Co-sponsored by the University of Maine Cooperative Extension and the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry – Animal Health Division (DACF) to help livestock producers lay a strong foundation for disease control ahead of any infection that may be introduced or imported to your herd or flock of swine, sheep, goats, or beef.
Veterinarians and livestock staff from the UMaine Extension and DACF will go over the basic elements of livestock biosecurity, introduce suggested record-keeping and official animal identification systems, and demonstrate these tools in action using a hypothetical livestock disease event. Straightforward explanations and practical application of federal rules will be presented along with useful resources for future reference.
Speakers include:
- Anne Lichtenwalner, DVM, UMaine Extension Veterinary Diagnostic Lab
- Carolyn Hurwitz, DVM, State Assistant Veterinarian
- Donna Flint, DACF, Poultry Health Technician
- Carol Delaney, DACF, Livestock Specialist
Expect a thirty-minute presentation followed by a 15-minute opportunity for robust Q&A. You will leave this presentation with an understanding of the importance of the USDA Animal Disease Traceability program, the principles of which you will recognize from the human experience during this COVID-19 response. You will learn what you need to do to implement a farm-level program not only to prevent disease but to prepare for verification of your livestock’s health if there is an animal disease outbreak in your region.
The workshop is free; registration is required online.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
For more information or to request a reasonable accommodation, contact Anette Moulton at 207.564.3301; anette.moulton@maine.edu.
