Assess the Risks on Your Farm - Biosecurity Checklist

This checklist will help you to identify areas of potential risk on your farm. The approach will be different on each farm and not all questions are equal in terms of the risks they address.

After completing this checklist you will have a better understanding of your 'at risk' areas. These can be discussed with an animal health expert. Together you can then develop or modify an existing biosecurity plan that addresses the risks that are particular to your farm.

Basic principles of biosecurity

Access management

Designate distinct zones

Is the premises surrounded by a fence?	Yes	No
Is there a gate that can be securely closed and locked?	Yes	No
Does the premises have a single entrance?	Yes	No
Is the entrance identified with signage?	Yes	No
Are there "biosecure zones" (zones with different levels of protection) identified on the premises?	Yes	No
Are the biosecure zone boundaries clearly identified with signs and/or markers?	Yes	No
Do all biosecure zones have controlled entry/exit points?	Yes	No
Are different levels of protection established by:	Yes	No
a "Controlled Access Zone" (CAZ), an outer biosecure zone?	Yes	No
a "Restricted Access Zone" (RAZ), an inner biosecure zone?	Yes	No

 

Control movements into and between designated zones

Is the animal loading facility located outside of the Restricted Access Zone (RAZ)?	Yes	No
Is the animal loading facility located outside of the Controlled Access Zone (CAZ)?	Yes	No
Is there a designated location for vehicles to be cleaned and/or disinfected before entering a biosecure zone?	Yes	No
Does each production unit entrance have a transition area or an ante-room?	Yes	No
Is hand sanitizer or facilities for hand washing available at the entrances and exits for each production area?	Yes	No
Are employees:	Yes	No
required to wear designated clothing?	Yes	No
required to wear designated footwear or foot coverings?	Yes	No
required to wash their hands when entering each barn or production unit?	Yes	No
required to wash their hands when exiting each barn or production unit?	Yes	No
Is visitor access to your Controlled Access Zone (CAZ) controlled?	Yes	No
Is visitor access to your animals and the Restricted Access Zone (RAZ) controlled?	Yes	No
Is a visitors log maintained?	Yes	No
Are visitors:	Yes	No
required to wear designated clothing?	Yes	No
required to wear designated footwear or foot coverings?	Yes	No
required to wash their hands when entering each barn or production unit?	Yes	No
required to wash their hands when exiting each barn or production unit?	Yes	No

Animal health management

Manage animal movements

Are new animals purchased from suppliers with established disease control programs in place?	Yes	No
Are animal introductions and removals recorded?	Yes	No
Are new animals isolated before introducing them to the the farm population?	Yes	No
Are new animals tested for diseases before introducing them to the farm population?	Yes	No
Is the frequency of new animal introductions minimized, to reduce the risk of transmitting disease?	Yes	No
Is the number of new animals being introduced minimized, to reduce the risk of transmitting disease?	Yes	No
Are animals that are returning from fairs, show and exhibitions isolated before rejoining the rest of the farm population?	Yes	No

 

Monitor animals for signs of disease

Do you regularly consult with a veterinarian on the health of your animals?	Yes	No
Do you have a disease prevention or herd health management program in place?	Yes	No
Are animal health records kept up to date?	Yes	No
Are sick animals isolated?	Yes	No
Do you have established triggers to initiate an animal disease investigation?	Yes	No
Do these triggers include	Yes	No
loss of appetite?	Yes	No
weight loss?	Yes	No
abnormal behavior?	Yes	No
unexplained death?	Yes	No
diseases found or suspected in neighbouring premises, areas and regions?	Yes	No
Are investigations into animal deaths routinely performed?	Yes	No

 

Establish response plans for potential disease situations

Do you have a written disease response plan?	Yes	No
Are your employees familiar with disease response procedures?	Yes	No
Do you have established triggers for using a disease response plan?	Yes	No
Do these triggers include:	Yes	No
large numbers of animals showing signs of disease?	Yes	No
a significant decrease in production?	Yes	No
a lack of response to routine treatments?	Yes	No
unanticipated death rates?	Yes	No
loss of appetite or a decrease in feed consumption?	Yes	No
Do you have contact information for your herd veterinarian displayed in a place where everyone can find it?	Yes	No
Do you have contact information for your provincial veterinarian displayed in a place where everyone can find it?	Yes	No
Do you have contact information for your district veterinarian (Feferal) displayed in a place where everyone can find it?	Yes	No
Does your disease response plan address plans for limiting the movement of:	Yes	No
animals or animal by-products?	Yes	No
vehicles, equipment and materials?	Yes	No
people?	Yes	No

Operational management

Properly dispose of deadstock

Do you have a written plan for disposing of deadstock?	Yes	No
Are deadstock records kept?	Yes	No
Do deadstock records include diagnostic tests performed and test results?	Yes	No
Are provincial, municipal and environmental guidelines followed for deadstock disposal?	Yes	No
Are procedures in place for removing carcasses from the production area?	Yes	No
Are carcasses temporarily stored outside of the Restricted Access Zone (RAZ) prior to disposal?	Yes	No
Are carcasses temporarily stored outside of the Controlled Access Zone (CAZ) prior to disposal?	Yes	No
Are temporary deadstock storage areas and deadstock disposal areas managed to prevent scavengers and insects from accessing the carcass?	Yes	No

 

Safely manage manure

Do you have a written manure management plan?	Yes	No
Are provincial, municipal and environmental guidelines followed in the storage handling and disposal of animal waste?	Yes	No
Is manure regularly removed from the production units?	Yes	No
Is manure storage contained by a barrier or a bunker?	Yes	No
Is there sufficient distance between your on-site facilities and the manure storage site?	Yes	No
Is there sufficient distance between the manure storage site and the perimeter of your property lines?	Yes	No
Are storage sites equipped to contain run-off from open lots?	Yes	No
Do you have a manure application strategy to reduce erosion and pollution?	Yes	No
Is manure injected into the soil?	Yes	No
Is manure applied topically?	Yes	No
If the manure is intended for sale or further processing, is it moved directly off of your farm?	Yes	No
Is the manure produced on your farm applied only to your own fields?	Yes	No
Are records kept of:	Yes	No
treatments of manure?	Yes	No
sales of manure?	Yes	No
movements of manure?	Yes	No
final location or placement of manure?	Yes	No

 

Keep the premises, buildings, equipment and vehicles clean

Before entering the premises, are equipment and vehicles cleaned and disinfected?	Yes	No
Is there a designated cleaning area for equipment and vehicles entering the premises?	Yes	No
Are barns and other buildings cleaned according to a fixed schedule?	Yes	No
Are production areas and equipment cleaned regularly?	Yes	No
Is farm equipment shared with or borrowed from another site?	Yes	No
If farm equipment is shared or borrowed is it:	Yes	No
cleaned and disinfected prior to use?	Yes	No
cleaned and disinfected after use?	Yes	No
Are all zones equipped with cleaning and disinfecting equipment and products?	Yes	No
Are all cleaning and disinfecting equipment and products properly maintained?	Yes	No
Are facilities allowed acceptable amounts of downtime between groups of animals?	Yes	No
Are water lines flushed and cleaned routinely?	Yes	No
Are animal drinkers cleaned routinely?	Yes	No
Are feeders cleaned routinely?	Yes	No
Are all equipment and vehicles exiting the farm cleaned and disinfected?	Yes	No
Is there a designated cleaning area for equipment and vehicles exiting the farm?	Yes	No

 

Maintain the facilities in a state of good repair

Do you have a facility maintenance program?	Yes	No
Do you have a schedule that includes regular maintenance of buildings and mechanical equipment?	Yes	No
Are visual inspections routinely performed to identify damage(s)?	Yes	No
Are driveways and roadways in good condition?	Yes	No
Are the fences surrounding the premises in need of repair?	Yes	No
Is the premises free of standing bodies of water (puddles, ponds)?	Yes	No
Are all waterlines into the production area checked and maintained regularly?	Yes	No
Are all buildings in good repair?	Yes	No

 

Obtain production inputs from a reliable source

Is water sourced from a municipal supply?	Yes	No
If water is derived from another source, is it treated?	Yes	No
Is drinking water routinely tested for disease-causing organisms?	Yes	No
Does drinking water meet the standards for animal consumption?	Yes	No
Is feed purchased from suppliers that practice good manufacturing procedures?	Yes	No
Is bedding purchased from reputable suppliers?	Yes	No
Is feed stored in a designated area away from wildlife and pests?	Yes	No
Is bedding stored in a designated area to prevent contamination?	Yes	No
Is bedding material replaced after each production cycle?	Yes	No

 

Control pests

Is overgrown vegetation cut/controlled near animal housing areas to discourage pests and wildlife?	Yes	No
Do entry points to animal housing areas, pens and barns close securely?	Yes	No
Are there measures in place to prevent birds from nesting in barns?	Yes	No
Are insect control measures in place?	Yes	No
Are rodent control measures in place?	Yes	No

 

Plan and train

Is there a written biosecurity plan in place on the farm?	Yes	No
Have you developed your biosecurity plan in consultation with:	Yes	No
a veterinarian or an animal health expert?	Yes	No
your employees?	Yes	No
Are employees trained on how to move between zones and within the facility?	Yes	No
Does your plan include working with a veterinarian on a regular basis?	Yes	No
Does your plan include ways to keep up-to-date on animal health developments (locally, regionally, nationally and internationally)?	Yes	No
Does your plan include being in communication with neighbours, industry associations and government officials?	Yes	No
Have staff been trained on how to implement your biosecurity plan?	Yes	No
Are training sessions held regularly with staff members to review biosecurity protocols?	Yes	No