Protecting Animal Health

Controlling diseases associated with animal production continue to be of significant importance to Alberta Pork in order to protect animal health, prevent economic hardship and ensure the livelihoods of our producers. Numerous foreign animal diseases have been identified at the global level; preventing entry and transmission of these diseases is the goal for a biosecurity program. The concerns for spread of animal diseases, particularly those of foreign origin, are high within animal agriculture. This is especially true today, due to the ever-increasing amount of global travel and international trade of livestock, supplies, feed ingredients, etc.

Therefore, our biosecurity programs are some of the most important tools to reduce the likelihood of the introducing pathogens into the pork industry.

The success of a biosecurity plan to control the spread of animal disease depends upon the following:

1. Identification of reasonably foreseeable animal disease hazards
2. Assessment of the risk of potential hazards and developing a biosecurity plan (Alberta Pork Biosecurity Assessment) to control the spread of animal disease
3. Biosecurity Assessment must be specific for the location
4. Communication of the biosecurity plan, which includes management commitment as well as education and training of personnel to implement the plan
5. Verification of plan implementation including effective corrective actions for deviations to ensure the degree of biosecurity desired

Biosecurity protocols include:

Javier Bahamon: 780-469-8982