Temporal trends in biosecurity in Irish pig herds using a standardized scoring system

Area of Science:

• Animal Health and Biosecurity
• Veterinary Epidemiology
• Sustainable Agriculture

Background:

• Biosecurity measures are essential for preventing pathogen spread in livestock farming, impacting animal health, productivity, and profitability.
• External biosecurity prevents pathogen entry/exit, while internal biosecurity limits within-farm spread.
• Effective biosecurity reduces antimicrobial use, aiding the fight against antimicrobial resistance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate temporal trends in biosecurity scores on Irish pig farms from 2018 to 2023.
• To identify specific areas within biosecurity requiring improvement on these farms.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the Biocheck.UGent tool for biosecurity assessments on Irish pig farms.
• Analyzed annual biosecurity scores over a six-year period (2018-2023).
• Compared scores across different biosecurity subcategories and farm types.

Main Results:

• Biosecurity assessments increased annually, with most farms assessed multiple times.
• External biosecurity scores consistently outperformed internal biosecurity scores.
• Most biosecurity subcategories showed score improvements over time, though disease management, cleaning/disinfection, and inter-compartmental measures lagged.
• Weaner-to-finisher farms generally exhibited lower biosecurity scores.

Conclusions:

• Irish pig farms demonstrate strong external biosecurity but have opportunities to enhance internal biosecurity practices.
• Sustained efforts are necessary to optimize biosecurity protocols.
• The study provides data to support cost-benefit analyses for biosecurity investments, improving decision-making and return on investment.