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Considerations for Management of Livestock during an Infectious Animal Disease Incident as an Alternative to Massive Carcass Disposal using Foot-and-Mouth Disease in Beef Cattle Feedlots as an Example

Published by the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, St. Joseph, Michigan www.asabe.org

Citation:  International Symposium on Air Quality and Manure Management for Agriculture Conference Proceedings, 13-16 September 2010, Dallas, Texas  711P0510cd.(doi:10.13031/2013.32701)
Authors:   Robert E DeOtte, Jr., Robert E DeOtte, III
Keywords:   KEYWORDS disease management, carcass disposal alternatives, stamping out, limited depopulation, premises modeling, vaccination, livestock harvest, foot and mouth disease, FMD

The long-standing USDA policy to an outbreak of a highly infectious animal disease such as foot-and-mouth disease has been stamping out, primarily through depopulation and carcass disposal. That strategy appears to be under reconsideration. The problem is simply that for large numbers of animals, perhaps 30,000 or more, depopulation and disposal are not feasible. Carcass disposal workshops and emergency response exercises have demonstrated the futility of such a policy. In a 2007 regional animal disease exercise, depopulation of a 70,000 head beef cattle feedlot required 4.5 days and burial took 11.5 days with trenches covering 37 hectares (90 acres). Others modeling animal disease spread indicate that the single most important factor in limiting disease spread is early detection. Time from infection to presentation of clinical signs is variable but can range from 4 to 11 days, providing ample opportunity for disease transmission. Depopulation can represent only part of a comprehensive strategy that must include early detection, within premises disease transmission modeling, animal isolation, selective vaccination, and appropriate harvesting of infected and non-infected animals. This paper will consolidate research findings with results of animal disease exercises and other activities involving the authors, and consider the implications of state and federal policy on the magnitude of required carcass disposal and discuss possible combinations of strategies mentioned. Alternative management strategies are proposed to reduce the number of carcasses needing disposal while still limiting disease spread.

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