APPLIED ANIMAL DISEASE TRACEABILITY AND SECURE FOOD SUPPLY PREPAREDNESS WITHIN THE KANSAS DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Abstract

This Applied Practical Experience (APE) examined foreign animal disease (FAD) preparedness, animal disease traceability (ADT) systems, and Secure Food Supply (SFS) initiatives within the Kansas Department of Agriculture (KDA) Division of Animal Health in Manhattan, Kansas. The purpose of the project was to support FAD preparedness, ADT implementation, and continuity of business planning through the development of practical preparedness tools and operational resources. The project addressed the broader veterinary public health issue of protecting animal agriculture, food security, and agricultural trade from the potential economic and societal impacts of highly contagious transboundary diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease (FMD). As livestock production systems continue to become more interconnected, rapid detection, effective surveillance, coordinated communication, and timely movement controls become essential components of disease preparedness and food supply protection. Activities conducted with the KDA Division of Animal Health involved direct observation, document review, stakeholder engagement, and the development of operational preparedness resources. Methods included participating in state and federal meetings, visiting livestock markets, evaluating regulatory frameworks, and synthesizing technical information into operational guidance. Several practical deliverables were developed, including the Kansas Priority Tracing (KPT) Project Overview to evaluate veterinarian recordkeeping and trace performance under simulated outbreak conditions, as well as the KDA BackTag User Guide to support standardized livestock market reporting and electronic data submission. The Kansas Secure Food Supply Master Spreadsheet was also redeveloped and maintained to organize participating operation metrics, and a SFS Assessment Trend Analysis was conducted to summarize recurring operational challenges reported by enrolled operations. These projects were supported by coursework completed in the Master of Public Health program at Kansas State University. The APE demonstrated that while Kansas animal agriculture maintains strong foundational preparedness, operational gaps remain regarding recordkeeping consistency, database interoperability, and reporting procedures. The KPT project established a standardized framework for evaluating trace-back and trace-forward performance, while the BackTag user guide addresses communication barriers and reporting consistency among accredited 4 veterinarians and KDA staff. Furthermore, the SFS trend analysis revealed that many continuity of-business challenges are operational rather than technical, emphasizing the need for flexible, real-world preparedness planning. The significance of this work lies in its contribution to strengthening ADT systems, improving communication pathways, and supporting coordination under frameworks established by the United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS) and the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH). Recommendations include expanding electronic identification (EID) systems, conducting routine trace performance exercises, standardizing electronic reporting, and continuing to update preparedness resources based on future exercise evaluations. These findings highlight the importance of systems thinking within veterinary public health and demonstrate how practical preparedness tools directly support disease containment, continuity of commerce, and the protection of the food supply. Ultimately, this experience reinforced the critical role of surveillance and interdisciplinary collaboration in safeguarding animal agriculture and prepared the MPH candidate to contribute effectively to animal health preparedness systems.