Reducing the spread of disease helps maintain the health of your pig unit, reduces the costs of disease and maintains productivity.
Biosecurity is the set of practical measures taken to limit the spread of infectious diseases, both within a farm and from one farm to another, or from elsewhere, e.g. the abattoir.Ensuring good biosecurity throughout the entire supply chain is the first line of defence against exotic and emerging diseases, such as African swine fever (ASF) and porcine epidemic diarrhoea virus (PEDv).
The most common method of disease transmission is direct pig-to-pig contact, with the highest risk of introducing a disease usually through infected stock.
How does disease spread?
As well as direct pig-to-pig contact, other methods that can spread diseases include:- Airborne, e.g. windborne spread from neighbouring unit
- Mechanical, e.g. vehicles, machinery and equipment
- People, footwear and clothing
- Birds, rats, mice, insects and other animals (domestic, farm and wildlife)
- Contaminated feed, water, semen, bedding, etc.
Biosecurity involves minimising or diluting this risk. Hygiene, cleaning and disinfection are, therefore, integral parts of any biosecurity programme.
A biosecurity programme should form part of your herd health plan and you should develop a routine for reassessing the risks at regular intervals.
Biosecurity resources
African swine fever resources and postersBiosecurity checklist for pig farms
SOP 3 Biosecurity principles
SOP 4 Farmgate biosecurity - People
SOP 5 Farmgate biosecurity - Vehicles
SOP 7 Cleaning and disinfection of vehicles
SOP 14 Biosecurity briefing for the allied pig industry
SOP 15 PED biosecurity briefing for processors
Useful links
Order ASF and other signs and postersDefra approved disinfectant: When and how to use it
#MuckFreeTruck campaign
Animal by-products: How to burn them at an incinerator site
Campaign for Responsible Rodenticide Use (CRRU): Code of Best Practice
Find out how high-health protocols can be applied to all pig farms
