- 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.
Perimeter fence
The farm’s perimeter fence is the first line of defense that controls the movement of people, vehicles, and animals, especially wild pigs, from the traffic control area around a swine farm. In order to function properly, the perimeter fence should go around all of the farm buildings, should be well maintained with no obvious gaps, and should remain free of vegetation. Ideally, it is recommended to be buried to a depth of 18 cm into the ground, or as a minimum, be in contact with the ground. As the primary barrier, it should be fully inspected at least once a month. In third video, an incorrect fence status (i.e. an opened gate) allows the entrance of a wild animal into the traffic control area. This event increases the risk of disease transmission into the main unit by allowing the contamination of the zone directly adjacent to the pig barn.
Originally published on pig333.com