This page provides articles on hygiene and biosecurity management for pigs. Appropriate hygiene and biosecurity manamgement is getting more important since we it has major effects on both animal health and human health. Increasing political and economic pressure is stimulating the focus on biosecurity.
Hygiene and biosecurity
Latest article
MRSA in pigs – where are we today?
This subject of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was reviewed a couple of years ago (Pig Progress Vol 24, No 8) after the last International Pig Veterinary Society Congress and it is timely after the recent Congress in Vancouver, where again it was a hot topic for debate. David Burch, veterinarian at Octagon Services Ltd in the UK summarises the findings to date.
A great deal of work has been carried out in the last two years; we have had two baseline survey results from EFSA (2009, 2010) on breeder herds (supplying breeding stock) and breeding... read more »
More articles
Viral inhibitors: an additional tool to control classical swine fever
Since 1992, the European Union has a non-vaccination policy against Classical Swine Fever (CSF). This is because the inability to differentiate between vaccinated and infected animals using live vaccines. In a quest to find a suitable alternative to control the disease, Belgium researchers explored the use of viral inhibitors. By R. Vrancken, A. Haegeman, J. Neyts and F. Koenen. read more >
Era of new emission standards
As of October 2007, the Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) measures had to be fully implemented in the European member states. These measures certainly had farstretching consequences for pig producers all throughout Europe. How to meet the new emission standards? read more >
Factors in the housing environment of finisher pigs associated with the development of gastric ulcers
The prevalence and severity of gastric ulcers were investigated in a sample of 50 slaughter pigs from each of 16 commercial farms in the UK. The mean prevalence of ulcers was 19·1 per cent and the mean (se) severity score on the 16 farms was 2·2 (0·15) on a scale from 0 (normal) to 6 (severe). read more >
Various applications for a litter conditioner
A litter conditioner, primarily developed to help prevent piglet chilling at birth, has been found by producers to have a number of other useful applications. Pen hygiene is essential to the profitability of a production unit. Even with recommended routines for cleaning widely available from disinfectant manufacturers, time pressures on staff can still introduce problems. read more >
Perception of biosecurity on swine farms in Spain
One of the major tasks for veterinarians is to give advice to farmers on how to enhance biosecurity on their farms. Therefore, it is good to know what the farmers themselves perceive as the most important issues in biosecurity. This led to a group of Spanish researchers who collected data from 172 farms in Spain to gain a better view of that perception. read more >
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