Learning Module 4: Biosecurity Strategies - Healthy Farms Healthy Agriculture

By the end of this module you will be able to:

Identify actions that can reduce biosecurity risk.
Develop a biosecurity action plan for a farm.
Select the most cost effective strategies

How to use this module

Learning module 4 screenshot There are no scrollbars like in Module 1. Click on the Next and Back links in the bottom right corner of the module to move forward and back.

The "pages" in this module are numbered. Look in the top right corner for the page number.

There are activities on some of the pages that might ask you to type in an answer, rearrange words, listen to stories and more. You will need to complete the activity before moving to the next page.

Click the Glossary link in the top right corner of the module to read the definitions for biosecurity terms used in this lesson.

Technology Requirements

The learning modules require a desktop Mac or PC computer/laptop to view and interact with. They were not designed for smartphones or tablets. Some features will work on smartphones and tablets, but not all.

The modules will not expand to full screen. Use the web browser zoom in or out options to enlarge or reduce the screen size, and click the F11 keyboard button to remove the browser navigation bar at the top of the screen.

Also, it is highly recommend that a printer be available for printing worksheets and summaries. This is especially true for the final module where students will be creating their own presentations.

Slide	Learning Module 4 Teaching Ideas: Biosecurity Strategies = Explore \| = Apply \| = Play \| = Share	B	I	A
Slide	B = Beginner \| I = Intermediate \| A = Advanced	B	I	A
3	Put each phrase on a 3x5 card and hand one to each student. Have them mingle, then line up to put the phrase in the correct order. For older students, have them think of alternative definitions and do the same activity.	X	X	X
6	Look through magazines, newspapers, or other sources to find other photos representing each transmission category.		X
7	Be a reporter; interview a friend pretending to be a farmer to explain a strategy for each situation to reduce risk.		X	X
8	Have youth play charades and act out all the strategies they can. Let younger children use the list.	X	X	X
8	Put each strategy on a 3x5 card and give one to each youth. Have them sort themselves into the appropriate category.	X	X
9	Go on a tour of a real dairy farm. Learn as much as you can about how the farm operates, then focus on biosecurity.	X	X	X
10	Use Google Maps/Earth to see a birds-eye-view of a dairy farm. Print it and identify areas of disease transmission risk.		X	X
11	Look up the cost of a new skid steer.		X	X
11	List the advantages and disadvantages of both buying and selling animals at a livestock auction.		X	X
12	Using a farm play set and model animals, set up farm scenes depicting each of these transmission risks.	X	X	X
13	Investigate the most common diseases that can be carried by apparently healthy-looking livestock of each species. What can be done to keep them from bringing disease into a herd?		X	X
15	Conduct handwashing effectiveness experiments using Glo-Germ^TM lotion and a UV light.	X	X	X
20	Practice cleaning and disinfecting various objects, i.e. water buckets, foot trimmers, boots. (Follow with Glo-Germ^TM).	X	X	X
22	Notice other areas of the farm not addressed in this module? Identify disease transmission risks for some of them.		X	X
	Take note of people’s footwear at various events. How dirty are they? How much disease risk does that pose there?	X	X	X
	Create an educational poster about the importance of clean footwear for display at a fair or other event.	X	X	X
28	Make a list of all the people who visit a dairy farm in a month, such as veterinarians, students, etc. Rate each one regarding the level of disease transmission risk they could pose to a dairy.			X
28	How would you use a visitor log? In what circumstances would one be important?		X	X
29	Investigate various disinfectants; read their labels carefully to compare them. What pathogens is each effective against? What is the required contact time for effectiveness? How should used disinfectant be discarded? What is the proper concentration? How much does each one cost by the gallon and by the use?		X	X
31	Make an appointment to visit a veterinary clinic; try on personal protective equipment (gloves, coveralls, mask, etc.).	X	X	X
31	Decide what you would say to a good employee if you owned a chicken farm and they kept pet chickens at their home. You want to keep this good employee, but you also want to keep your birds healthy!			X
32	Examine labels of various vaccines and medications (go to a feed store for examples). Learn about proper storage, expiration dates, whether or not meat and milk from treated animals can’t be used for human food for a certain amount of time, and other important information on the labels.		X	X
36	It is very hard to keep livestock feed and water clean! What design can you come up with that might work?		X	X
37	Create other matching activities like this for other biosecurity topics such as pathogens and their types; diseases and their signs; vaccines and the diseases they prevent; etc.		X	X
40.2	Investigate the process of composting carcasses properly. What could you use as the carbon source in your area?		X	X
40.2	Learn about USDA cost-sharing programs in your area to help manage manure properly and keep waterways clean.			X
58	Recreate the dairy farm investigation but feature a different species of livestock.		X	X

Biosecurity Learning Modules Teaching Guide

Download the printable version of the learning modules teaching guide and screenshots of learning module content, in PDF format. Click on the links below to download the documents.

Biosecurity learning modules teaching guide

Certificate of Achievement

Download, print and fill out a certificate that club and group leaders can award to students who complete one or more learning modules.

Learning module certificate of achievement

Learning Modules Home Page

Link to home page

By the end of this module you will be able to:

How to use this module

All Learning Modules

Module 1: What is Animal Biosecurity

Module 2: Routes of Infection

Module 3: Finding Sources of Transmission Risk

Module 4: Biosecurity Strategies

Module 5: Public Speaking for Biosecurity Advocates I

Module 6: Public Speaking for Biosecurity Advocates II

SCRUB Kits for Biosecurity Education

Learning Modules Home Page