Pork producers reminded of biosecurity after PED outbreaks in Manitoba

Nine cases of PED have been confirmed since April 30

By Diego Flammini
Assistant Editor, North American Content
Farms.com

Hog farmers are being reminded to practice proper biosecurity measures after officials confirmed nine cases of PED at sow and finisher barns in Manitoba since April 30.

“It’s just a reminder of how much we need to be vigilant,” Florian Possberg, chair of the Saskatchewan Pork Development Board, told Farmscape.ca on June 1. “We’ve been successful so far in keeping PED out but the challenges (producers) are having in southeastern Manitoba is just a reminder of how vulnerable our industry is and that, really, the biosecurity needs to be at a very high level. You just can’t let down your guard.”

Six of the nine farms are within a five-kilometre area. In total, Manitoba’s had 19 cases of PED since the disease was first discovered in 2014.

“It’s a little disheartening to see the recent outbreak and how the virus has moved around in that particular area,” Mark Flynn, manager of quality assurance and animal care programs with Manitoba Pork, told Farmscape.ca on May 31. “…but there is light at the end of the tunnel and let’s just make sure we’re doing everything we can as farmers to make sure it doesn’t get into our barn…”

As of May 30, nine of the 19 affected farms in Manitoba are considered “PED Presumptive Negative,” meaning the producer “has implemented strict measures to eliminate PED from all pigs and pig contact areas and have confirmed the virus has been eliminated through repeated animal and environmental testing,” according to Manitoba Agriculture.