Biosecurity refers to measures which are taken to protect herd health by preventing the transmission of diseases from outside the unit. It is important to implement biosecurity procedures not only to keep out Reportable Diseases or Foreign Animal Diseases (FAD) but diseases of economic importance to pig producers such as Mycoplasma and PRRS. Introduction of new diseases into a herd may cause serious economic loss through a reduction in pig performance and can also have serious welfare implications. Infectious diseases can be spread through the introduction of stock onto a unit, by people, by wildlife such as vermin and birds or by livestock or other trucks. Strict biosecurity measures will minimize the risk of introducing harmful diseases. Ideally, these should be written as a set of Biosecurity Protocols with the assistance of the herd veterinarian, taking into account the health status of the herd and the facilities.
The following are some recommendations which may be included in a Biosecurity Protocol:
Site protection
- Where possible, install perimeter fencing around the site to keep out wild animals and unwanted visitors.
- Site feed bins so that they can be accessed from outside the perimeter fence and so that feed trucks do not have to enter the unit.
- Maintain only one point of entry into the barn and ensure all other access points such as doors and loadouts remain locked at all times.
- Design the main entrance route so that all persons entering the unit must pass through a changing and shower area.
- Post notices around the outside of the unit stating that biosecurity measures are in place and that unauthorized entry is forbidden. This should include instructions to drivers of livestock and feed delivery vehicles to help avoid them breaking biosecurity protocols.
Staff precautions
- Ensure all staff are familiar with the Biosecurity Protocol, fully understand the procedures involved and appreciate the economic implications of new diseases entering the unit. Post the Biosecurity Protocol in the staff room so it can easily be referred to.
- Staff should be forbidden from to have contact with pigs on other farms, or even visit farms where pigs are present.
- Staff should always shower into the barn, leaving all outside clothing on the “dirty” side of the shower and, after showering, change into farm clothing.
- Staff should not bring pork products onto the unit and not be allowed to take food into the barn itself.
Visitor precautions
- Restrict entry to the barn to essential visitors such as the veterinarian, production advisor or maintenance/repair personnel.
- Ensure that visitors have had a minimum of 48 hours without any pig contact. Do not allow visitors from countries where an FAD, such as Foot and Mouth Disease, is present enter the barn.
- Maintain a visitor's book so that every person entering the unit is recorded, together with the date when they were last in contact with pigs.
- Visitors should follow the same shower-in procedures as staff. Post a set of entry procedures in the shower area so that visitors know exactly what they are expected to do.
Introduction of breeding stock or other pigs
- Always source breeding stock, isowean pigs or feeder pigs from a farm with a known health status. Ensure your herd veterinarian is in regular contact with the veterinarian for the supplying farm so that he is aware of any changes in health status.
- Ensure that your breeding stock supplier carries out routine monitoring for economically important diseases, through frequent clinical observation by a veterinarian and by blood testing.
- Where possible, isolate incoming breeding stock well away from the production unit for a period of 4 weeks. Prior to pigs being transferred to the herd the veterinarian should carry out a clinical inspection and, where appropriate, blood testing.
- When breeding stock are in isolation, always feed and inspect them at the end of the working day and change into coveralls and boots which are used only at the isolation facility.
- If breeding stock is introduced directly into the production unit, ensure that they are delivered in a cleaned and disinfected trailer and that delivery personnel do not enter the barn. Alternatively, transfer stock from the livestock truck to a farm vehicle at a location away from the unit.
Farm supplies
- Where possible, keep feed trucks well away from the barn by locating feed bins on the outside of the unit area.
- Do not allow people delivering feed or other supplies to enter the barn.
- Do not use waste feed from food services except under strict permit conditions of The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)
- Make sure that materials such as bedding that are brought onto the unit have not been in contact with other pigs. When bringing other items such as equipment or tools into the barn, spray them with a virucidal disinfectant.
Transport of pigs off the farm
- Always ensure that livestock trailers have been thoroughly washed and disinfected, that there are no other livestock on the vehicle and that drivers wear clean coveralls and clean, disinfected boots.
- Do not allow drivers to enter the barn.
- Farm staff should not go onto the livestock trailer.
- Thoroughly clean and disinfect the loading facilities after each time pigs are loaded, ensuring that manure, straw or other materials are not taken back into the barn.
- After loading and cleaning, farm staff should clean and disinfect rubber boots in the loadout area prior to going back into the barn.
- If you deliver market hogs to a processor yourself, wear separate coveralls and boots which remain off the unit. Thoroughly wash and disinfect vehicles and trailers including the underneath. Do not go back into the barn without showering in.
Wild animals, vermin and birds
- Where possible, install a perimeter fence to keep out wild animals.
- Ensure that the barn structure is well maintained to minimize openings where rodents or birds may enter.
- Periodically check, and if necessary, repair mesh protection on openings such as air inlets, fan housings etc.
- Instigate effective control measures for mice and flies.
Dead pig disposal
- Ensure that dead pigs are securely stored where they are not accessible to wild animals.
- Site containers for dead pigs which will be collected by a renderer well away from the barn.
- Move dead pigs at the end of the working day so that staff do not go back into the barn.
- Always thoroughly clean and disinfect farm vehicles used to transfer dead pigs to the collection container.
- Clean and disinfect rubber boots used outside the barn after moving dead pigs and do not use these boots inside the barn. Always shower back into the barn if it is necessary to return.
Click here to view an example of biosecurity being implemented by a producer to improve production
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