Biosecurity for all: Creating biosecurity plans for swine exhibitors based on secure pork supply templates

The risk of a foreign animal disease coming into the United States and threatening the swine industry necessitates the need for enhanced biosecurity plans to mitigate risks to premises. Although most biosecurity information is aimed and created for larger producers and isn't appropriate for smaller producers, such as swine exhibitors. Swine exhibitors are a niche group who raise swine differently than large producers and travel extensively with their animals. This study sought out to; develop a SPS plan template adapted from the SPS framework that would be suitable for swine exhibitors' biosecurity features; describe basic demographics and existence of biosecurity plan (and their features) for the target population; and investigate the association between having a previous biosecurity plan on site and demographic factors (number of pigs, type of housing, presence of other animal species in the premise and geographical region) as well as potential exposure to feral swine under their current housing conditions. These objectives were accomplished by attending twelve swine exhibitions within a year and a half to assist 161 individuals in the creation of personalized biosecurity plans for their premises, while obtaining additional study data. This study found no significant relationship between demographic factors and previously having a biosecurity plan, but that only 31.8 % of participants had previous biosecurity plans on their premise. However, swine exhibitors with existing biosecurity plans had more than 3-fold higher odds of acknowledging housing conditions with potential of feral swine contact compared to swine exhibitors without preexisting biosecurity plans. These findings indicate the need for additional efforts to assist swine exhibitors in creating biosecurity plans at shows across the United States.