Extension Communications
3614 Administrative Services Building
Ames, Iowa 50011-3614
(515) 294-9915
11/29/99
Contacts:
James McKean, Iowa Pork Industry Center, (515) 294-8792,
x2mckean@
iastate.edu
Sherry Hoyer, Iowa Pork Industry Center, (515) 294-4496,
shoyer@iastate.edu
Biosecurity Necessary in Pork Operations
AMES, Iowa -- Iowa pork producers need to follow strict biosecurity procedures in their operations to meet the mandated goal of eradicating pseudorabies (PRV) by next year. Iowa State University (ISU) Extension swine veterinarian James McKean said this goal of eliminating PRV is possible, but it will take a determined effort by producers.
"There are three main areas in which producers need to be especially careful -- commercial hauling, people who help transport hogs to market and visitors to on-farm operations," said McKean, who is also interim director of the Iowa Pork Industry Center at ISU.
When working with commercial haulers, producers should make sure that vehicles, ramps and equipment are properly sanitized between trips. Drivers should not be allowed to enter barns or buildings, and loading should be managed to eliminate the possibility of pigs leaving the truck and reentering the finishing facilities.
Those who help move swine to the packing plant or buying station should wear a completely separate set of clothes that don't return to swine facilities without being laundered. McKean said everyone who works with hogs in an operation should know and follow biosecurity rules in place for that operation. This includes making sure that visitors to the operation are made aware of the procedures and how to follow the rules.
With the number of PRV infected herds decreasing and the national eradication program slated to be complete by 2000, all producers need to make every effort to avoid new infection. Entry of the virus from contaminated trucks is one of the most common, but under-appreciated causes of these new outbreaks.
McKean advises producers to work with their veterinarians to become aware of possible PRV entry routes to their operations, and to develop and implement effective methods to keep their herds negative.
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