The role of vulnerability assessments in USA agricultural animal operations

Abstract

Major disaster events such as hurricanes, floods, fires, earthquakes and tornadoes pose significant challenges to agricultural production every year. Commercial livestock and poultry operations are highly dependent on favourable environment, weather conditions and infrastructure to thrive. Adverse conditions during extreme weather events and other emergencies can result in significant loss of animals and commodities due to disruptions in utilities and critical services, facility damage, contamination of feed and water supplies, environmental extremes and biosecurity lapses. The effects on production can be long lasting and cumulative. Being able to identify, assess and mitigate potential vulnerabilities that lower risk helps organisations to prepare for and recover from these events. This paper provides an overview of the vulnerability assessment process in the United States that focuses on general and better practices that should be considered when applying these principles to commercial livestock and poultry operations. This approach has broad advantages for all countries where livestock and agriculture are exposed to these risks.