Disease. It's out there ready to strike and rob beef producers of profits. Producers have two key tools, however, to help keep disease at a minimum: comprehensive vaccination programs and biosecurity measures.

Dr. Mike Moore of Novartis Animal Vaccines, Inc. points out that feedyards are particularly vulnerable to disease, as cattle, people and feed are constantly entering feedyards. Plus, pests - mice, raccoons and the like - and birds can be everywhere.

"Diseases can come from a variety of sources: new cattle, feed and pests as well as people," notes Dr. Moore. "It is a feedyard's responsibility to limit exposure and decrease the risk of infection.

"As a basic step to control disease, cattle should be vaccinated against all endemic disease, including Type I and Type II BVD, IBR and Clostridial disease. After that, it's a matter of implementing biosecurity measures and seeing that they are followed."

Here's a checklist of biosecurity measures. By studying these items and making a few changes in management practices, diseases can be kept to a minimum. ©