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Protect your farm from foot and mouth disease
Foot and mouth disease (FMD) is a nightmare for every dairy-, calf-, goat- or pigfarmer. On average, the signs are more severe in cattle and intensively reared pigs than in sheep and goats. New preventive measures have been in place since January 2025 due to the finding in Germany of FMD.
In this article you will read what exactly FMD is, how it spreads, what symptoms you recognize and - more importantly - what you can do to protect your farm. View our tested and registered products against FMD here.
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What is foot and mouth disease?
Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) is a highly contagious viral pathology affecting domestic cloven-hoofed animals (cattle, swine, goats, and sheep). It manifests as vesicular lesions located on the oral mucosa, interdigital spaces, and teats. These blisters develop into painful erosions, causing severe hyperthermia, lameness, and a sudden drop in milk yield or weight gain.
While this condition is not considered a major zoonosis (posing a negligible risk to humans), it is among the most strictly regulated animal diseases in the world. The detection of an outbreak mandates radical sanitary measures: quarantine zones, livestock movement bans, and preventive sanitary culling to limit the economic impact at the national level.
How does foot and mouth disease spread?
The pathogen is present in high concentrations in the excretions and secretions of infected animals: saliva, respiratory mucus, urine, feces, and milk. In a confined environment, a single carrier is sufficient to contaminate an entire livestock building through direct contact.
The spread also occurs via three critical vectors:
- Airborne Route: The virus travels via aerosols over several kilometers, depending on climatic conditions.
- Indirect Transmission (Fomites): Contaminated clothing, boots, hands, and tools act as passive vectors.
- Mobile Vectors: Vehicles moving between holdings constitute a major risk for virus transport.
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What are the symptoms of foot and mouth disease?
Recognizing FMD begins with observing your animals. Pay particular attention to:
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- Blisters and wounds in the mouth or tongue
- Difficulty eating or chewing
- Blisters and wounds on teats
- Reduced milk production
- Blisters and wounds on claws or between legs
- Fever and lethargy
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How can you protect your animals from foot and mouth disease?
Hygiene is your best weapon against FMD. Maintaining good biosecurity on your farm is important to keeping the virus at bay. Limit the number of visitors. Ensure that staff follow strict hygiene protocols, such as wearing clean clothing and footwear and using disinfecting mats and hand-washing stations. Clean all vehicles and machinery thoroughly before they enter the premises, paying close attention to tires and wheels. Isolate new animals from the herd for a few weeks to minimize the risk of disease transmission. Additionally, make it a routine to disinfect stables and equipment regularly with a tested and registered disinfectant like MS Megades Novo & MS MegaDes Oxy.
3 Steps to Limit Spread by Visitors
The control of human and material flows is the central pillar of external biosecurity. To neutralize any risk of accidental virus introduction, follow this security protocol::format(webp))
Registry and Access Control
The systematic registration of all visitors, technicians, and suppliers is mandatory. No access to production areas should be granted without prior authorization and full traceability of the visitor's history.:format(webp))
Decontamination of Material Vectors
Install a disinfection station at the farm entrance. Every vehicle, tool, or professional equipment must undergo a strict protocol of cleaning and virucidal spraying to eliminate viral particles lodged on inert surfaces.:format(webp))
Frequently asked questions about foot and mouth disease
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