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Stories of the Heartland • Sunday, September 21, 2025 Page 15
Pigs, Protocols, and Protection: The swine biosecurity equation
BY LILY DAHLER U OF M EXTENSION
As a leader in pork production, Minnesota ranks second in the country for the number of pigs produced. Yet, being a pork powerhouse does not come without its challenges, and several protocols should be followed in order to ensure a quality consumer product. One of these measures can be taken on the farm. This concept is called biosecurity, or measures taken to stop the spread of harmful diseases to both humans and animals. Biosecurity may seem daunting, but like math, once you understand the equation, it is quite easy to follow. In this article, we will be putting together the steps of our biosecurity equation, including basic cleanliness, preventative measures in daily chores, and visitor and employee protocol for swine facilities.
One of the most important building blocks in our biosecurity equation is cleaning protocols. Ensuring a clean facility can not only help prevent diseases from getting in, but diseases from being spread to various age groups within a facility. It is recommended to regularly clean all rooms thoroughly with a pressure washer and disinfectant. Disinfectants should be a broad-spectrum product or designed to kill a variety of microorganisms. When moving a group of pigs from one facility to another, it is recommended to power-wash and disinfect the area. A minimum of six to eight hours should be given to ensure dry time before moving in a new group. Simple cleaning measures offer a more dependable method for preventing disease in your facility.
It is important that we also implement biosecurity measures into our everyday chores. When doing daily feedings, working between various age groups, it is recommended to move from high to low health animals. More vulnerable animals, such as nursery pigs, should be cared for first, while older animals with a stronger immune system can be taken care of later. With sick animals, it is important to isolate them and care for them last in terms of daily chores. If able, boots should be washed between age groups to prevent the spread of pathogens. The high-to-low health flow
method can help prevent the spread of disease to other areas of a facility.
The last portion of our biosecurity equation involves employee and visitor protocol. Employees should be encouraged to come to work in separate clothes and footwear, and change into work attire in a given area. Proper work attire can include overalls, a long-sleeved shirt, sturdy rubber boots, and disposable gloves. Layering clothing items is also recommended for various weather conditions. Items from outside the work facility should be kept in a separate area to prevent bringing in possible insects or pathogens. An on-site washer and dryer should be provided for dirty work attire if possible. Visitors should sign in to the facility, listing their name and the date to track possible disease outbreaks. Visitors are also encouraged to follow the same guidelines for clothes and shoes as employees. It is recommended that both employees and visitors have no contact with other herds of pigs at least one day before visiting your facility.
Biosecurity allows us to help prevent the spread of various diseases to both humans and animals. Biosecurity in swine facilities can be like a simple math equation; once understood, it is easy to apply. Once we add up basic cleanliness, preventative measures in daily chores, and visitor and employee protocol for swine facilities, we are given the equation of proper biosecurity measures in a swine facility.
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