POSTER PRESENTATION: Addressing Biosecurity Challenges to Mitigate Disease and Maintain Business in New England Milk Plants

The goal of this work was to assess current biosecurity practices and future biosecurity capabilities in commercial milk plants receiving raw milk throughout New England. The United States dairy industry has developed Biosecurity Performance Standards (BPS) to mitigate a Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak. Practices are not based on the New England dairy industry and may be difficult for plants to meet. However, addressing these challenges may mitigate disease spread and maintain continuity of business for the dairy industry. This study was a convenience sampling with interviews and observational tours of six milk plants in New England. Drawing out several BPS practices, results show that biosecurity protocols vary between plants. Pertaining to ability for enhanced cleaning and disinfection, three plants have receiving bays with two-way flow traffic, three plants use a single weight scale for tankers before and after unloading, and all plants have trucks entering and leaving travel on the same road. Three plants routinely have haulers helping receiving area employees with equipment on their own and other tankers, creating possibility for contamination crossover of farms on separate milk routes. Additionally, some face foot traffic challenges with three having employees enter the raw receiving area through the processing area and two with laboratory access that requires travel through processing areas. More research needs to be done in raw milk transportation and handling to determine which biosecurity practices New England milk plants are able to meet and address shortfalls to protect the industry against possible future disease outbreaks.