Livestock Producer Information

If you are a livestock producer, being prepared and informed is essential in keeping your farm and the U.S. livestock industry free from foot and mouth disease (FMD). By knowing the facts and what to look for, you can protect the health of your livestock.

In this section, you will find information on what to expect in an FMD outbreak, including tips on how to protect your livestock, symptoms of FMD and what you should do if you suspect FMD.

• What to Expect in an FMD Outbreak
• Protecting Your Farm
• FMD Symptoms
• What to Do if You Suspect FMD
• Government Response Strategies
• Resources and Links

Foreign Animal Disease Testing and Surveillance  

As a livestock producer, you should immediately report any suspicious signs of a foreign animal disease to your local veterinarian, state animal disease control officials, federal animal disease control official or county agricultural agent.

Upon receiving a report of a potential case of foreign animal disease, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) will initiate an investigation and begin testing the potentially affected herd.

In the event of a suspected foreign animal disease case, the following chain of events could be expected during the APHIS investigation:

1. APHIS dispatches specially trained foreign animal disease diagnosticians to collect tissue and blood samples from affected animals and establish quarantines.
2. Samples are sent to the Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (FADDL) within APHIS.
3. Initial diagnostic results, often available within 24 hours of sample collection. are analyzed.
4. If tests results confirm the presence of a foreign animal disease, APHIS works with state animal health officials to immediately research the source and trace all animals that may have come into contact with the disease.
5. Officials provide continual updates to state and federal agencies on the investigation and may initiate emergency response efforts.
6. Emergency response efforts may be implemented, which could include ensuring the biosecurity of the affected site, establishing and maintaining animal movement quarantines and alerting officials in neighboring states.

Livestock Producer Roles
As a livestock producer, you, your family and your employees play an important role in preventing an FMD outbreak. If an outbreak would occur, your participation would also be vital to contain and prevent the spread of the disease.

In the event of an FMD outbreak, your role would include:

• Protecting your farm by diligently examining your livestock daily for signs of FMD.
• Contacting a veterinarian immediately if any signs of FMD are present. Immediate reporting is crucial to containing an outbreak.
• Controlling animal and human access to your farm, including automobiles or farm equipment. This reduces the risk of introducing the virus to your farm.
• Cleaning and disinfecting vehicles and equipment.
• Closely monitoring official reports and notices from state and federal authorities.
• Complying with authority requests, including requests to inspect your farm or collect samples from your animals. 
• Referring questions from friends and family to www.footandmouthdiseaseinfo.org, where they can find information and situation updates.