- 2 minutes
- Control | Expertise video
- Carmen Alonso García-Mochales
A picture is worth a thousand words (or more!) when it comes to farm biosecurity
Three videos that illustrate how to make an appropriate transition between several key clean and dirty zones.
Disease control continues to be one of the most challenging areas for pig producers and swine veterinarians around the world. Threats such us the entrance of a strain of a virus that is endemic in a region (i.e. PRRS) or the emergence of a highly virulent transboundary disease (i.e ASFV) are important factors that make effective biosecurity one of the number one measures that protect any swine production investment. Developing and maintaining a good herd biosecurity program is crucial to disease control for every farm. This article is the second in a series focussing on the segregation of farm zones. Here we will describe three videos that illustrate how to make an appropriate transition between several key clean and dirty zones. In each of the videos, dirty zones will be displayed by the colour grey, clean zones will be displayed by the colour white, and the colour red will indicate a potential contamination event.
Farm entry
A Danish entry consists in a bench that acts as a barrier between the clean and dirty zones of the farm. In the first video, our visitor arrives with his car to the farm. His red hands and shoes are the indication that they are potentially contaminated. The outside of the unit is considered to be the dirty side. A bench is the landmark that a change of shoes is needed in order to enter into the intermediate or ‘sock only’ zone. It is critical that as the shoes are removed, the shoeless feet do not step on the ‘dirty’ outer area. Avoiding that contact, will prevent a cross over between zones and a potential contamination with the farm clothing and boots. Outside clothes should be hung in the dirty zone of the farm if possible. As a minimum they should be removed and hung in the intermediate zone. After a hand sanitation process, the visitor can proceed to get dressed in clean farm clothing and step into clean farm footwear located at the clean zone. Providing training on how to enter the farm, and designing clearly understandable signs for each zone indicating what to do at every point, are always very helpful for farm staff and visitors. If necessary, consider translating them in different languages for a clearer interpretation.
Originally published on pig333.com