Helena, Mont. - The Montana Department of Livestock (MDOL) has announced 10 meetings across
Montana to introduce Montana’s cattle producers to the biosecurity principles of Secure Beef Supply
(SBS) Plans. SBS plans are a vital tool to help producers re-enter commerce following a severe disease
outbreak such as Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD).
SBS Plans outline specific measures that ranches can employ to minimize the risk of either contracting
or spreading infectious disease. In the past decade, Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, Porcine
Epidemic Diarrhea Virus, and the human coronavirus have disrupted agricultural markets and affected
grocery prices in the U.S. When highly infectious diseases like these strike new populations, we cannot
eliminate all risk of infectious disease transmission. However, conscientiously executed SBS Plans can
minimize such risk.
“Livestock owners and consumers depend on the uninterrupted movement of livestock,” said State
Veterinarian Marty Zaluski, “This program will teach producers how they can document that their herd
is low risk and will help them move animals quicker during a disease event.”
MDOL will host these meetings to familiarize ranchers and their veterinarians with the format and
development of individualized SBS plans, and disease control measures to protect operations. The
meetings will start mid-morning with a series of presentations that describe FMD as an example of a
disease that will devastate trade if it enters the U.S., and what response to a large-scale disease
outbreak will look like. After lunch, group discussion applying these principles using models to
represent layouts of livestock operations will finish midafternoon. Dates and locations for the meetings
are below:
Tuesday February 28 th 10:00-3:30 Lewistown Lewistown Livestock (tent.)
Wednesday March 1 st 10:00-3:30 Malta Great Northern
Thursday March 2 nd 10:00-3:30 Shelby Comfort Inn
Friday March 3 rd 10:00-3:30 Ronan Ninepipes Banquet Room
Tuesday March 7 th 10:00-3:30 Miles Custer County Event Ctr.
Wednesday March 8 th 10:00-3:30 Sidney Richland Co. 4-H
Thursday March 9 th 10:00-3:30 Billings Yellowstone Co. 4-H
Tuesday April 4 th 10:00-3:30 Dillon Beaverhead Co. 4-H
Wednesday April 5 th 10:00-3:30 Three Forks Headwaters Livestock
Friday April 7 th 10:00-3:30 Great Falls Great Falls College G-4546
MDOL has funding to help offset the cost for up to 20 producers to develop individualized SBS plans for
their operations.
• Producers who attend these sessions are eligible to work with a veterinarian at no cost to complete
on-farm biosecurity assessments.
• Producers can work with an MDOL contract veterinarian or with their own veterinarian.
• Veterinarians who have attended at least one tabletop exercise will be eligible for payment for
completed an on-farm assessment for their client specific client operation.
Veterinarians specifically contracted by MDOL will also be available to help producers who may not
have a private veterinarian available for SBS plans. Please contact Dr. Brad De Groot
([email protected]) with questions or sign up for an upcoming session at
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/D99TPH5.
The mission of the Montana Department of Livestock is to control and eradicate animal diseases,
prevent the transmission of animal diseases to humans, and to protect the livestock industry from
theft and predatory animals. For more information on the Montana Department of Livestock, visit
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