USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has published criteria for evaluating livestock compartments.
Compartmentalization is a tool animal health officials use to protect against disease spread and support continued trade during a disease outbreak, according to APHIS.
Livestock or poultry within a compartment are managed with strict biosecurity and health practices and kept separate from other populations of animals. This will decrease the chance of disease spread.
“This will help our farmers and ranchers by maintaining export markets, which reduces the overall impact of the outbreak to our agriculture industry,” the agency said.
The evaluation criteria are: the scope of evaluation requested; veterinary control and oversight of the compartment; disease history and vaccination practices; movement and traceability; separation from potential sources of infection; disease surveillance; diagnostic laboratory capabilities; and emergency preparedness and response capabilities.
The rule will become effective in late March.
