Ontario Pork - Biosecurity

Biosecurity

Some farmers may ask that you to take a shower or wear plastic boots over your shoes before you go into their barn. Other farms do not allow any visitors at all - people or animals. This is all part of a farmer’s biosecurity measures. Biosecurity is not only a locked door, but additional security to keep out bugs (disease-carrying organisms such as bacteria and viruses). Not allowing visitors into the barn helps to keep germs or sickness to a minimum. Pig diseases can be carried from place to place on individuals without them even knowing or being affected. Manure on footwear, bacteria on skin or even dirt under fingernails can contain germs. Farmers give their pigs medicine when they are sick, but prefer prevention over treatment.

Canadian Food Inspection Agency
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency recently launched a national campaign to promote biosecurity practices.

Canada has one of the top animal health systems in the world, due in large part to the commitment and efforts of provincial and territorial governments, industry groups, the animal health community, and academia.

Visit the CFIA website's biosecurity page

BIOSECURITY RESOURCES
TOPIC	TYPE	SAMPLE OF DOCUMENT CONTENTS
Canadian Food Inspection Agency Animal Biosecurity	Web Link	The CFIA’s campaign encourages producers across Canada to revisit their disease control plans, observe their animals for signs of illness, and regularly consult with veterinarians on the health of their animals. The campaign reminds producers that having such biosecurity practices is the best way to limit the introduction and spread of disease onto their properties.
Biosecurity Guide for Pork Producers	Brochure	Preventing the introduction of disease agents is a continuous challenge for pork producers and veterinarians. When a farm or site is affected by disease the impact can be devastating to the health of the swine and the producer’s bottom line. If a foreign animal disease were to overcome the biosecurity safeguards we have placed on our farms and our country, it would have a devastating effect on all pork producers.
Canadian Animal Health Coalition	Web Link	The Canadian Animal Health Coalition is a not for profit organization serving Canada´s farmed animal industry. The organization is a partnership of organizations all recognizing a shared responsibility for an effective Canadian animal health system.
Livestock Biosecurity Checklist	Checklist	The Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC) is the national peer review agency responsible for setting and maintaining standards for the care and use of animals used in research, teaching and testing throughout Canada. The CCAC was established in 1968. Its mission statement underlines the focus of the CCAC on the ethical principles of animal-based experimentation.
Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs	Web Link	Biosecurity is a relatively new word in the language of livestock production. It is not found in many English dictionaries and as a result has come to have a large number of meanings. For the sake of this discussion, biosecurity will be defined as the protection of a swine herd from the introduction of infectious agents (viral, bacterial, fungal, parasitic, etc.) It should be noted that this definition addresses the introduction of infectious agents and not necessarily the introduction of disease. Infectious agents do not always cause serious infections in pigs but can be important to keep out of swine herds for other reasons.
National Biosecurity Resouce Center (US)	Web Link	The American Nation Biosecurity Resource Centre for Animal Health Issues at Purdue University's website containign the latest U.S. Biosecurity news and updates.
ThePigSite Pig Health	Web Link	Whether you can vaccinate or not you should protect your investment by applying appropriate biosecurity measures. This is not just to keep out the infectious diseases covered in this chapter, although of course if you are in a high risk area this is crucial, but to keep out some of the more serious diseases covered in other chapters too.
Ontario Veterinary Medical Association	Report	This document provides suggested practices for veterinarians to help prevent the spread of disease agents. It is not all-inclusive nor will all steps be applicable to all species. This protocol is not designed to replace established veterinary practices but rather to build on those being used by other sectors of the farming and services sectors.