By Scout Nelson
At the recent Stockmanship and Stewardship event in Watertown, South Dakota, the SDSU Extension Beef Team participated in a vital training session on the Secure Beef Supply (SBS) Plan. This plan is designed to help beef producers maintain business continuity in the event of a foot and mouth disease (FMD) outbreak in the U.S. livestock industry.
The team members, including Erin DeHaan, Assistant Professor and SDSU Extension Beef Specialist, and Madison Kovarna, SDSU Extension Beef Nutrition Field Specialist, worked together with others to deliver the training.
The SBS Plan offers resources for cattle producers and industry partners to maintain operations in the face of disease outbreaks. It helps guide the management of infected herds while ensuring continuity for unaffected herds. The goal is to minimize disruption and ensure producers can continue their business during challenging times.
The Train-the-Trainer Workshop discussed various biosecurity measures that producers should implement in case of an outbreak. Biosecurity plays a crucial role in protecting cattle from diseases like FMD. The workshop covered essential strategies and options for beef producers to ensure effective biosecurity practices are followed across all sectors of the industry.
Spreading awareness about biosecurity measures and having a solid plan in place is vital to protecting herds. As part of the SBS initiative, the SDSU Extension team encourages producers to prepare for potential disease outbreaks and to stay informed.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-pamwalker68
Categories: South Dakota, Livestock, Beef Cattle