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Livestock, poultry farmers should prepare for animal diseases

University specialists say livestock and poultry producers need to prepare for animal diseases that can result in big expenses and months of lost income.  University of Missouri swine veterinarian Dr. Corrine Bromfield says every outbreak is a reminder that steps need to be taken to maintain biosecurity.

“We do need to keep in mind that whenever we do see something it’s better to be proactive than reactive,” Bromfield told Brownfield Ag News at a workshop in Sedalia, “and I think that we’ve learned that with a number of our outbreaks.”

University of Missouri agriculture economist Dr. Ray Massey says not all producers recover financially from disease outbreaks.  But he says recovery is more likely if contingencies are in place.

“So I encourage farmers to actually have a financial plan in case a disease outbreak occurs,” said Massey, “and take that to their banker and ask for a line of credit that is only going to be accessed if, in fact, a disease hits.”

Massey and Bromfield are among those teaching a series of workshops in Missouri on preventing and recovering from disease outbreaks.  Recent highly pathogenic avian flu cases have hit poultry operations in Tennessee.  Suspected cases of a less severe strain of the disease have been reported in Wisconsin and Alabama.

AUDIO: Corrine Bromfield (7 min. MP3)

AUDIO: Ray Massey (5 min. MP3)

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