Alberta is very fortunate to have an extremely high health status in most of its pig herds, meaning that they are free from economically important diseases. While most of these do not cause significant illness or death, they can reduce productivity and increase production cost. The province also has very low numbers of pigs relative to its land area meaning that, in most cases, pig farms are far apart, which reduces the risk of disease spreading from one farm to another. Canada has been free of what we now call “Foreign Animal Diseases” such as Foot and Mouth Disease and Hog Cholera for many decades and has very strict regulations concerning the import of live animals and animal products into the country, which protect our pig producers from the risk of such diseases.
Pig producers go to great lengths to protect their herds and implement a number of biosecurity measures. The most likely route for disease to enter a herd is with incoming pigs, therefore companies that supply breeding stock go to extraordinary lengths to ensure that their health status is extremely high and follow detailed protocols designed to protect customers’ herds. Most producers also place incoming pigs in a quarantine facility for about a month so that any health problems can be identified before they enter the main herd. They also ensure that any truck collecting pigs from the farm has no other pigs on it and has been thoroughly cleaned and disinfected. Wild animals, birds and vermin can also spread disease, so measures are taken to keep them out of hog barns and maintain good control of mice and flies within the barn.
People are also potential vectors of disease organisms, so producers and farm staff have to take specific precautions. If they have been in contact with pigs other than their own, then it is normal to stay out of the barn for a 48-hour period. Most barns have facilities for people to shower before they enter the barn and change into clothing that is only worn within the barn. Visitors are kept to a minimum and people entering a barn sign a visitor’s book so that they can be traced in the event of a disease outbreak.
Maintaining a high herd health status is important not only to individual producers but to the industry as a whole. It results in improved productivity, improved pig welfare and lower use of medications for sick animals. Producers, veterinarians, industry bodies such as Alberta Pork together with the provincial and federal governments, are committed to ensuring that the current situation is sustained.
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