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Animal Emergencies Illustrate Need for Disease Traceability System
MADISON, WI (May 2, 2007) Recent cases of pseudorabies in Wisconsin swine and a weather emergency in Colorado have demonstrated in real life how premises registration can protect livestock producers, their animals and the livestock industry. Until now, the benefits of premises registration have been “what if?” scenarios. This is no longer the case. The need for producers to participate in premises registration is more evident in light of these recent events. “During the pseudorabies investigation, farms that were registered could be directly contacted and the animals were quickly tested,” explains Dr. Robert Ehlenfeldt, Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) state veterinarian. “We had to go door to door to locate animals at unregistered premises, which slowed down our ability to test for the disease. Ultimately, this only delays getting those farms back in operation.”
As part of the Wisconsin Premises Registration Act, livestock owners in Wisconsin have registered over 56,000 premises. The goal of the system is to have a comprehensive database of names, phone numbers and species locations to provide animal health officials with a tool to rapidly locate and contact owners of affected premises that may have been exposed to a contagious disease. Mike Salter, a pork producer from Black Creek, WI, says the system is having a positive impact on his industry. “Pork producers appreciated the direct notification about pseudorabies,” he explains. “It shows us that the premises registration program is doing what it was intended to do – protect our $120 million pork industry here in Wisconsin.” Premises registration is generating positive results in other states. During snow storms this past winter, Colorado officials used premises data to locate and contact livestock owners in areas affected by the blizzards. Emergency responders were then able to quickly find out who needed help and what help was needed. According to Terry Quam, a beef cattle producer from Lodi, WI, livestock owners want to protect their animals. “Premises information helps to both protect animal
health and allow producers to get back to doing normal business faster should an emergency arise,” he says.
Premises information provides value to owners of both food and non-food livestock animals. Last year, premises information was used by DATCP to inform horse owners of a potential West Nile virus threat. “We appreciated the notification and it was well-received because it provided accurate information about the disease and also suggested precautions horse owners could take to limit exposure,” states Calvin Larson of the Wisconsin Horse Council.
“Wisconsin’s livestock industry and producer organizations realize that, in order to protect their livelihood and the economic viability of the state’s livestock sector, it is important to implement safeguards to protect from the accidental or deliberate introduction of a foreign animal disease,” explains Dr. Paul McGraw, DATCP’s assistant state veterinarian. “For dairy producers in particular, a highly contagious disease such as foot and mouth disease could mean immediate shut-down of their daily milk shipments and threaten their ability to stay in business. The faster a disease can be identified and contained, the faster normal business can commence.”
Consumers also benefit from a premises registration system. “Consumers want a safe and uninterrupted food supply. The premises registration system allows the Wisconsin livestock industry to quickly address an animal disease situation and assure consumers that the impact on their food supply is minimized,” concludes Robert Fourdraine, chief operating officer of the Wisconsin Livestock Premises Registration Consortium (WLIC).
WLIC has been designated as DATCP’s agent for premises registration. This includes collecting the premises address, the species of livestock housed at that address and contact information for the livestock caretakers. Premises registration does not include the number of animals, individual animal identification or ownership information.
Premises registration applies not only to large farms but also to any rural or city residence housing any type of livestock species, regardless of number. Anyone who keeps, houses or co-mingles livestock must register with the DATCP. Premises are defined as: farms and hobby farms; veterinary clinics; stables, livestock markets; livestock trucker and dealer premises where animals are kept; slaughter and rendering facilities; livestock exhibitions; and any other location where livestock are kept.
Premises registration is free, fast and simple. Register online at www.wiid.org or call 1-888-808-1910 for more information.
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