The Swine Health Information Center, along with the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research and the Pork Checkoff, launched the Wean-to-Harvest Biosecurity Research Program in the fall of 2022. Goals of the research program were to investigate cost-effective, innovative technologies, protocols, and ideas to enhance biosecurity implementation during the wean-to-harvest phases of swine production. Results received to date provide opportunities for US pork producers to understand potential risks, identify steps to prevent PRRS transmission, and make changes to immediately enhance their herd biosecurity as the fall respiratory disease season approaches.
At wean-to-harvest sites, biosecurity practices remain inconsistent and less rigorously enforced than at sow or boar stud sites, increasing the risk for disease introduction and transmission. The Wean-to-Harvest Biosecurity Research Program addresses several key biosecurity areas, including bioexclusion (keeping disease off the farm), biocontainment (keeping disease on the farm after an outbreak to lessen risk to neighbors), and transportation biosecurity. A total of 24 projects have been funded through this program to provide a comprehensive approach to advancing biosecurity of US farms. The Wean-to-Harvest Research Program reflects SHIC’s responsiveness to an identified swine health vulnerability and its collaborative efforts to leverage producer Checkoff dollars to safeguard the health of the US swine herd.
Projects focusing on disease introduction risks, using PRRSV as one of the targeted pathogens at wean-to-harvest sites, have identified key knowledge and tools that producers and veterinarians can apply at the farm today to combat PRRS transmission and introduction into the herd. Outcomes relevant for fall biosecurity are summarized here from two projects, including an industry-wide assessment of bioexclusion practices led by Dr. Gustavo Silva and an assessment of manure pumping effects on disease onset led by Dr. Daniel Linhares, both at Iowa State University.
Investigations of factors influencing the risks of disease introduction and transmission at wean-to-harvest sites and during transportation have provided key takeaways informing biosecurity enhancement for PRRS management and control: