As a society, we have a strong understanding of how to prevent the spread of germs. We wash our hands, clean our spaces, seal our food and stay home if we are sick. Pork producers implement similar practices on their farms to keep their herds healthy. 

Pork producers know the value of protecting their pigs to prevent the spread of disease on their farm. Disease brings not only discomfort to animals but can lead to serious loss of profit for producers. When pigs are ill, they are at risk of not gaining weight as predicted, infecting other pigs, requiring medication or even causing herd loss. 

Shelby Sopocy, swine barn manager at UC Davis, knows the importance of biosecurity first-hand. Because their barn allows visitors and students, Sopocy diligently enforces biosecurity practices to keep their herd safe. 

“Being vigilant with all staff, students and visitors is very important,” Sopocy said. “It’s important all the time, not just when animals are sick. We spend the extra time and take the extra effort to ensure everyone entering the barn is adhering to biosecurity protocols, so we keep our animals healthy.”

What is biosecurity?

Biosecurity practices are the security measures to reduce the possible introduction or spread of pathogens on a farm. These practices serve as a barrier between animals and the risk of infection. Farm staff are responsible for the protection and care of swine herds; biosecurity — and efforts to educate and enforce practices — can’t be undervalued in these efforts.

There are two arms of biosecurity: external and internal. External biosecurity practices target pathogens before they are brought into a swine barn while internal biosecurity manages risks inside the barn. It is impossible to keep all diseases out of a swine herd — the two efforts need to work in tandem to effectively mitigate the spread of new or existing pathogens.  

“What is the true definition of biosecurity?” questioned Dr. Rachel Stika Jensen, veterinarian at PIPESTONE. “Every veterinarian and farmer will have a different definition. A simple way to look at biosecurity is to put procedures and protocols in place to protect our pigs from disease. Less disease equals healthier pigs, reduces waste of resources and creates a more sustainable pork product.”

PIPESTONE is an organization that provides resources to over 1,400 Midwestern pig producers. With more than 80 years of experience, PIPESTONE provides resources and expertise on pig health, management, nutrition, research and business.

In a survey conducted in 2022, PIPESTONE asked producers, “How much do biosecurity practices have an impact on health and return on investment?” They found that 95% of producers think biosecurity has a high impact on sow farms. When asked the same question in relation to wean-to-market farms, only 48% of surveyed producers thought biosecurity had a high impact. 

Stika Jensen stresses that biosecurity is foundational in every stage of a pig’s life to keep them safe and healthy, allow them to grow without preventable complications. 

Creating a biosecurity plan

A biosecurity plan clearly outlines protocols that should be practiced by all farm staff and visitors. Plans should be site-specific, as not all swine facilities are the same. Herd veterinarians and Extension professionals can be helpful resources when creating a biosecurity plan. These professionals will have insight into gaps in biosecurity plans and practical applications. 

“We have a veterinarian teaching hospital, so we’re lucky to have veterinarians and students to collaborate with so close,” said Sopocy. “If a producer doesn’t have a good relationship with their veterinarian, I would challenge them to strengthen that, especially if they’ve been battling disease and health issues. They’re there to help you protect your herd.”

Stika Jensen frames biosecurity in five P’s: pigs, people, products, property and pests. Keeping pigs healthy hinges on their health and environment, as well as the outside factors that they interact with. Addressing the five P’s through external and internal biosecurity practices is a farm’s best defense against harmful disease.

The National Pork Board (NPB) has various resources for producers creating biosecurity plans, such as manuals, examples, signs and posters for barns, checklists, templates and more. The Pork Checkoff recommends producers to work with herd veterinarians when creating and implementing biosecurity plans. Additionally, the Secure Pork Supply website has planning resources in English and Spanish. The following biosecurity practices are identified by the NPB as a helpful place to start practicing biosecurity.

External biosecurity practices

Enforce a strict line of separation 

A strict line of separation is essential in a biosecurity plan. This enforces where all farm staff and visitors should change shoes or clothes, leave any food/personal items, shower, etc. There are a variety of ways to enforce a physical line of separation, such as the Danish bench system, signage on doors or a mud room. A simple line painted on the floor may be a good place to start.

“Our barn operates with the Danish entry system,” Sopocy says. “Following this system, when you walk into the main entrance there is a restricted entry point with benches attached to the concrete floor. The bench is the barrier you can’t cross without clean, farm-provided clothes and boot covers.”

Regardless of the barrier, this is the point of separation between the inside of the barn and the outside. Or, as the NPB explains, the clean/dirty line, with the inside being clean and uncontaminated. 

Follow clothing and showering requirements

Employees and visitors should wear clean clothing and shoes in swine barns to prevent bringing in pathogens. Showering is not always necessary but should be recommended if going from one swine barn to another. Showers and towels should be kept clean. 

If showering is not necessary, hand washing should be required. 

Keep buildings well-maintained 

Preventing rodents entering barns is paramount to keeping strict biosecurity, as they easily carry disease from building to building. Make sure there are no external cracks or holes in the building, doors shut without gaps, and grass and brush are trimmed around buildings. 

Sanitize trucks between herds

When moving herds to and from sites, trucks and trailers should be thoroughly sanitized before another herd enters to prevent the spread of disease. If hiring a transportation service to move animals, producers should ensure trailers are sanitized to expectations. 

Share farm rules/protocols with any incoming crews

All workers, visitors and crews must know biosecurity protocols. This includes ensuring on-farm staff and visitors (veterinarians, Extension professionals, seasonal staff, etc.) have proper vaccinations and disclose any international travel in recent weeks. These are important pieces of information to know to prevent introducing highly contagious diseases such as PRRS or a foreign animal disease like African Swine Fever.

Because the UC Davis barn sees tour groups, Sopocy explains that in addition to sharing biosecurity practices ahead of their visit, she ensures no one has been in contact with another swine herd within 24 hours, including pet pigs, before they enter the barn. 

Internal biosecurity practices 

Eliminate rodents immediately

Rodents carry pathogens into a farm and quickly become problematic. Rodents are attracted to feed bins. Keeping rodents out of the barn entirely, or eliminating them as soon as they are found, prevents contaminated feed. Rodents can be identified by droppings (especially near feed containers), damage to feed containers, new holes in walls or floors, nesting materials or stale smells in hidden areas. Call an exterminator immediately if rodents are found.

Have a process to bring in supplies

Surfaces should be cleaned after supplies (i.e., feed, cleaning supplies, etc.) are brought in. Staff who bring in supplies should follow all clothing and shower recommendations before entering the barn. Supplies should not be brought into a barn if they are damaged. For example, feed containers should be sealed and unopened.

Register for disease-tracking tools

In the event of a Foreign Animal Disease (FAD) outbreak, AgView is an opt-in software created by the NPB to track the spread of disease. The software is applicable for producers of all sizes and provides disease status and pig movement. This data is paramount for state health officials to stop the spread of FADs. All data is secure in the system.

Create a plan in case of culls and mortalities 

As part of the biosecurity plan, protocols in case of culls or mortalities should be outlined. This protects the barn in emergency situations and helps staff act quickly to prevent further spread. The plan should include where animals will be culled, how they will be transported off the farm, and their care in the following days. A herd veterinarian is a helpful resource to create this plan.

“Biosecurity practices help ensure we keep diseases out of our barns and keep animals from getting sick,” Stika Jensen said. “Strict adherence to these guidelines and the vigilance of our drivers, staff and veterinarians keep our swine population as healthy as possible.”

Taking an all-in-all-out approach 

While practicing biosecurity daily keeps barns as clean and sanitized as possible, finding a window to deep clean the barn between herds is crucial. An all-in-all-out approach is an opportunity to sanitize barns while there is not a herd in the barn. When a herd is moved out of a barn it should be fully sanitized before a new herd is introduced.

“An all-in-all-out approach is important to our biosecurity plan,” Sopocy says. “This includes animals that leave our facility, but also goes beyond that. Supplies are site-specific and can’t be shared, boots and clothes are site-specific, and we’re really cautious about this with our staff and visitors.”

The bottom line

Adequately planning and practicing biosecurity on pig farms lowers the risk of infection, reducing the loss of profit and resources disease can bring.  

“Biosecurity, animal health, animal welfare and sustainability are all intertwined,” Sopocy said. “Producers work to keep their herds healthy to maintain their population while creating a sustainable business and product. Healthy pigs equal sustainability.” 

For more information on biosecurity practices, refer to the NPB’s numerous resources.

The CLEAR Center receives support from the Pork Checkoff, through the National Pork Board.