The Kansas Secure Beef Supply Plan (KS SBS Plan) is a voluntary tool for the Kansas cattle industry to be implemented when moving animals from uninfected farms during a foot-and-mouth (FMD) outbreak in North America. The movement of animals following the protocols described in this document will help to sustain the economic viability of the Kansas cattle industry during an outbreak.
The goals of the KS SBS Plan are to:
- Support the economic viability of the Kansas cattle industry during and after an FMD outbreak
- Provide for efficient and effective response to minimize disease spread
- Support a continuous supply of beef to consumers
- Provide guidance to reduce disease spread throughout livestock sectors once stop movement orders are lifted
- Communicate biosecurity standards between state officials to allow for animal movement across state borders during an FMD outbreak
KS SBS Plan Document
Biosecurity
Existing biosecurity plans for feedlots may offer protection against endemic diseases but heightened precautions are needed for FMD. Enhanced biosecurity recommendations are outlined in the Kansas Cattle Feedyard Biosecurity Guide and the Self-Assessment Checklist for Enhanced Biosecurity based on the known exposure routes for FMD. These documents emphasize three concepts that all feedlots should be ready to implement in the event of an FMD outbreak in the U.S.:
- Identification of a biosecurity manager,
- A written operation-specific biosecurity plan
- The demarcation of a Line of Separation (LOS)
Guidance
Kansas Cattle Feedyard Biosecurity Guide
Checklist
Self-Assessment Checklist for Enhanced Biosecurity for FMD Prevention
Operation-Specific Plan Template
Operation-Specific Plan Template with Blanks
Video
Implementing Enhanced Biosecurity During an FAD Outbreak
Surveillance
Surveillance in the KS SBS Plan is the ability to demonstrate a lack of evidence of FMD infection in order to request a movement permit. Other producers, and those managing the disease outbreak, will require evidence that the cattle are not infected and able to spread FMD.
Training
Participants in the Kansas Secure Beef Supply Plan project are required to train employees on general disease reporting, biosecurity principles and practices, and FMD surveillance. Employees must be trained on an annual basis and training records must be maintained by the operation to be eligible for official plan participation and potential emergency animal movement permits.
Auditing
Participants in the Kansas Secure Beef Supply Plan will be required to pass an annual audit completed by the Kansas Animal Health Commissioner or his designee. Audit requirements will be made available for each participating operation prior to audit completion.
Communication
Should an FMD outbreak occur in the U.S., it will be critical to educate and inform consumers, media and other stakeholders about FMD. It is recommended that each operation create a Crisis Communication Plan to address an FMD outbreak, or any number of other potential hazards that could affect an operation. Guidance for creating a Crisis Communications Plan can be found at the following site:
Movement Permitting
KDA will set up an online information sharing center and provide public information news releases for producers, stakeholders and the public at the start of and during an outbreak. There will be multiple ways for producers to request a movement permit for animals: via telephone, through an internet link to access an online form, or by contacting the animal health field personnel providing service to that premises.
Producers should be prepared to have the following information available upon request prior to issuance of movement permit:
- A completed copy of the Enhanced Biosecurity Checklist and the site-specific enhanced biosecurity plan.
- Completed and approved Kansas Secure Beef Supply Plan Audit (pre-event).
- Laboratory results from samples tested, if required for movement.
- A completed copy of the Kansas Emergency Animal Movement Permit and supporting documentation for submission.
- Information demonstrating normal health status for the animals on the production site involved (e.g., herd health monitoring documents and/or certificate of veterinary inspection signed by an accredited veterinarian)
- Premises logs recording movement of people, animals and equipment for past 2 weeks
- Additional supporting documentation illustrating biosecurity practices implemented since the Kansas Secure Beef Supply Plan Audit (training, logs, etc.)
Cattle producers and operations across Kansas are encouraged to participate in the voluntary Kansas Secure Beef Supply Plan process. Those wishing to start a plan or simply learn more about the process are encouraged to contact Emily Voris, Animal Health Planner, Kansas Department of Agriculture, at Emily.Voris@ks.gov or 785-210-7741.
Process Steps
- Contact the KDA SBS specialist to begin the process of working on a plan.
- Schedule an employee orientation with key operation personnel and a KDA representative to discuss the purpose of the plan and to answer any questions that operation management may have.
- Designate an operation-specific biosecurity manager and key contact to work with KDA personnel.
- Work with KDA personnel or interns to develop an operation-specific biosecurity plan.
- Submit the draft operation-specific biosecurity plan to KDA for review and initial approval.
- Begin training employees to meet plan training requirements.
- Make any operational changes or purchases needed to comply with operation-specific biosecurity plan.
- Exercise your plan through a site-specific drill, tabletop exercise, or through participation in the annual KDA IMT functional exercise.
- Request an official plan audit by KDA.
- Prepare to enact the operation-specific biosecurity plan in the event of an FMD outbreak.
Timeline
It is expected that the total timeline, from initiating a plan until full plan compliance and completion, will likely take the average operation working with KDA personnel between 3 and 9 months.