Pay close attention to biosecurity, Alberta experts advise hog producers

Friday, January 31, 2014

by MATT MCINTOSH

Producers and transporters need to implement long-term biosecurity strategies in order to minimize the impact of the PED (porcine epidemic diarrhoea virus) virus, say Alberta veterinarians.

“There is lots of opportunity for reoccurring outbreaks once PED enters a population,” says Egan Brockhoff, an Alberta swine veterinarian with Prairie Swine Health Services. “Alberta transports a lot of hogs to and from the United States, so enhanced biosecurity is the best way to protect the herd.”

Brockhoff spoke from Alberta during a nationally broadcasted telephone on Friday. He and other industry representatives updated hog industry stakeholders on what they can do to safeguard their farms from PED.

In January, five farms, trucking yards, a processing plant and an assembly yard in Ontario tested positive for the virus is usually fatal for young pigs. The virus has been found on farms in 23 U.S. states. It is also found in Europe and Asia.

Consistently washing materials, ensuring truck-washes do not re-use water, and assuming that all hog transports have the potential to be infected were just a few ways the speakers said producers could help prevent PED from spreading onto their farms.

Along with enhanced biosecurity, Brockhoff also said that it is good that veterinarians will have access to PED vaccines, thanks to permits issued by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

However, he strongly cautions producers against relying on vaccines to protect their heard.

“Vaccines may only decrease the severity of PED in mature pigs . . . they will not help the young,” he says. “Farmers, and transporters in particular, need to audit all biosecurity processes, and have decontamination processes at all times.”

On a provincial level, Dr. Julia Keenliside, a veterinarian epidemiologist with Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development, says Alberta’s course of action is similar to all other provinces.

“While producers will not be compensated directly, Agri-Stability will help with herd losses, and Growing Forward II will help stakeholders pay for biosecurity initiatives,” she says.

Keenliside also says testing for PED will be available free of charge.

Christina Carley, traceability coordinator for Alberta Pork Industry Services, also spoke during the meeting, and asked all producers to register their hogs with Alberta Pork’s Traceability Manifest. BF