Bio-Security
in 4-H Animal Science Projects

4-H Animal Science projects are potential bio-security risks. In most cases, 4-H members house their animals at home or in shared facilities, meet collectively as a group once or more monthly, and convene in larger groups on field days and at county or state fairs. Because backyard flocks and herds serve as potential vectors of disease, it is important to assess risk factors and the importance of disease monitoring and surveillance.
In any situation or environment, there is always the chance of being infected with a disease. This is considered the disease transmission risk. Infectious diseases can be spread in a variety of ways. One means is through direct contact, which involves physical contact between an ill animal and a healthy animal. A brief moment of contact can allow pathogens to travel form one animal to the next. Indirect contact refers to when an uninfected animal or person touches the contaminated surface of an inanimate or non-living object. For humans, this might be door knobs, table tops or hand rails; for domesticated animals, this could be a food dish, a water dish or contaminated housing i.e. bedding. Any inanimate object i.e. clothing, vehicles, shoes, equipment can transmit a disease from one animal to another.
Please use the “Risk Management Tool for Project Animals” below to examine the risk factors and how you can lower these risks.
This information is part of the “Bio Security in 4-H Animal Science Curriculum” being developed by UC Davis Veterinary Medicine Extension and has been pilot-tested in Tehama and Glenn counties.

Risk Assessment Tool for Project Animals