Monday, December 2, 2019

Development of a biosecurity assessment tool in Japanese commercial swine farms


 2019 Nov 15;175:104848. doi: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2019.104848. [Epub ahead of print]

Development of a biosecurity assessment tool and the assessment of biosecurity levels by this tool on Japanese commercial swine farms.

Author information

1
Department of Animal and Grassland Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan; Center for Animal Disease Control, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan. Electronic address: yskssk@cc.miyazaki-u.ac.jp.
2
Course of Animal and Grassland Sciences, Graduate School of Agriculture, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan.
3
Feed One Co., Ltd., Kanagawa, Japan.
4
IDEAS Swine Clinic, Chiba, Japan.
5
Summit Veterinary Services, Gunma, Japan.
6
Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health Japan Co. Ltd., Tokyo, Japan.
7
SMC Co., Ltd., Kanagawa, Japan.
8
Eckstein Swine Service, Tokyo, Japan.
9
Akabane Animal Clinic, Aichi, Japan.
10
Swine Extension & Consulting, Inc., Niigata, Japan.
11
PRRS-Japan Elimination Team, Tokyo, Japan.

Abstract

It is well known that infectious diseases such as porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) and porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) decrease herd productivity and lead to economic loss. It is believed that biosecurity practices are effective for the prevention and control of such infectious diseases. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to investigate whether or not an association between biosecurity level and herd productivity, as well as disease status exists on Japanese commercial swine farms. The present study was conducted on 141 farms. Biosecurity in each farm was assessed by a biosecurity assessment tool named BioAsseT. BioAsseT has a full score of 100 and consists of three sections (external biosecurity, internal biosecurity and diagnostic monitoring). Production data for number of pigs weaned per sow per year (PWSY) and post-weaning mortality per year (PWM) were collected for data analysis. Regarding PRRS status, the farms were categorized into two groups: unknown or unstable and stable or negative. In addition, these farms were categorized based on their PED status, either positive or negative. The total BioAsseT score was associated with herd productivity: as total score increased by 1, PWSY increased by 0.104 pigs and PWM decreased by 0.051 % (P <  0.05). Herd productivity was associated with the score of external and internal biosecurity (P <  0.05), but did not correlate with the score of diagnostic monitoring. Regarding PRRS status, farms with an unknown or unstable status had lower total score than those with stable or negative status (P < 0.05). Similarly, PED positive farms had a lower total score compared to PED negative farms (P <  0.05). In conclusion, the present study provides evidence for the association between high biosecurity levels and increased herd productivity as well as a decreased risk for novel introductions of infectious diseases such as PED.

KEYWORDS: 

Biosecurity practice; Herd management; Porcine epidemic diarrhea; Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome; Sow
PMID:
 
31786401
  
DOI:
 
10.1016/j.prevetmed.2019.104848