Study: What do we know about biosecurity measures for wean-to-finish sites?

Introduction

Currently, most biosecurity investments in the swine industry are primarily directed toward protecting sow farm, with a lack of information on which biosecurity measures are commonly implemented in the wean-to-market pig population. This knowledge gap is concerning considering the wean-to-market pig population's role in maintaining and spreading pathogens within the industry, causing significant economic losses. 

Studies have estimated that more than half of the groups of growing pigs that are negative at placement for porcine reproductive and respiratory disease virus (PRRSV) become positive by finishing, which leads to economic losses of approximately $2.29 per pig. Also, if pigs are infected with both PRRSV and porcine enteric coronavirus (PEDV) during the growing phase, the economic losses reached $7.08 per pig compared to pigs that remained negative for both diseases during the whole phase. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess the current status of bioexclusion practices adopted in wean-to-market sites across the US swine industry.

Materials and Methods

The data for this study was collected using a questionnaire and answered by the herd veterinarian(s). The dataset included information from 18 swine production systems. The survey was divided into seven categories related to wean-to-market biosecurity aspects: system/region characteristic of growing sites, site summary, vehicles/deliveries, people movement, manure removal, water entry, and live haul sanitation. 

The category vehicles/deliveries had subcategories that included all vehicle movement into the farm, such as mortality disposals, feed trucks, and garbage trucks. The people movement category also had subdivisions separating farm employees, visitors, and hired crews. To estimate the industry overall and within the adoption of each bioexclusion measure, we used the inverted sample weights method.