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September Showpig 2007 Issue
Bio-what?
by Jennifer Shike
Biosecurity – a word that carries quite a punch in the swine industry. And, a word that leaves most kids asking, “Bio-what?”
Whether you have two sows or 2,000, biosecurity, or keeping disease from entering a farm or spreading from farm to farm, is an issue we all must keep in mind when we take our animals to shows.
My livestock-judging coach, Dan Hoge, drilled it into my head as a freshman judge at Black Hawk College – East Campus. He always made it top priority to “boot up” and take precautions to prevent spreading diseases between farms.
I believe there are a couple of reasons why youth exhibitors today take a somewhat lackadaisical approach to biosecurity.
1. Most youth exhibitors and their families do not raise pigs for a living and strictly purchase pigs one or two times a year. Because of this, they do not understand the significant impact disease can have not only on their swine herd, but on the industry as a whole.
2. Most youth exhibitors haven’t been taught the important role they play in protecting the swine industry through proper biosecurity practices.
Biosecurity shouldn’t be taken lightly. There are many easy practices you can do to prevent the spread of infectious disease.
Before the show. Seek out the show’s health rules and policies. Every swine show should require minimum health rules. Obtain the proper paperwork before leaving for the show and become familiar with any biosecurity protocols the show may have in place.
If you have questions about the health rules, call the show management or your veterinarian. One of the best things you can do is develop a good relationship with your local veterinarian.
When you pack your showbox, don’t forget to clean and disinfect all of your show equipment. These items can transmit disease to and from other pigs.
For example, imagine you have a swine disease on your farm, and your whip has been used on a diseased pig. If you take the unclean whip to the show and your friend borrows it on his pig, you have just put not only his pig, but also his operation, at risk of contracting this disease. An effective cleaning and disinfection process can stop this potential spread of disease.
If your pigs are not healthy, don’t take them to the show. Evaluate your pigs on a daily basis. Leave unhealthy pigs behind or contact your veterinarian in advance with any special health concerns.
At the show. You cannot avoid commingling when you are in the show ring. However, there are many steps you can take to keep disease spread to a minimum.
Decrease unnecessary contact with other pigs at the show. Don’t share feeding and watering equipment with other pigs. When you are at the washrack and in transit to and from your pen, keep your pig away from others.
Keep your aisle clean and remove any unclean bedding promptly. Good animal husbandry goes a long way in decreasing the spread of disease.
Wash up before you go home. Good hand washing, clean clothes and clean shoes are a must before you step back onto your farm. Keep a pair of clean shoes in your truck that you can pull on when you head home. Then, thoroughly clean your “show shoes” when you get home.
Back at home. Once again, clean and disinfect all transportation and show-related equipment. Begin by removing all visible manure and dirt on your equipment with hot water and detergent. Then, use a disinfectant that has a chemical agent to kill infection on contact. Finally, be sure to dry the equipment well, as this kills many infectious organisms.
Isolate your showpigs from your herd when you get back home, too. Work with your veterinarian to develop a biosecurity program that addresses where and for how long you should isolate your showpigs.
By following good biosecurity practices, you can directly help preserve swine shows. In the National Junior Swine Association, you have the opportunity to be a leader and example to other kids in your region. Take advantage of the multitude of resources around you and teach others so we can do our part to keep diseases from causing devastation to the swine industry.
For more information, check out the National Pork Board’s “Youth Exhibitor Biosecurity Guide.” It will be available online at www.nationalswine.com in October and at NJSA shows in 2008.
