Biosecurity Measures — Keeping Disease Out of the Farm

ICAR-NRCP (2020) defines biosecurity as a set of practices that prevent disease-causing organisms from entering or spreading within a farm. Biosecurity is the first and most important defence against disease outbreaks, even before vaccination.

Farm Entry and Exit Controls

• Allow only necessary persons to enter the pig shed. Outsiders and visitors should not be allowed without proper footwear disinfection.

• Maintain a footbath with disinfectant (e.g., 2% phenyl or sodium hypochlorite solution) at the entrance of all pig sheds.

• Vehicles entering the farm must be sprayed with disinfectant.

• Workers should change clothes and wash hands before entering the pig area.

(ICAR-NRCP Farm Biosecurity Manual, 2019)

New Animal Quarantine

Whenever a new pig is bought and brought to the farm, it must be kept in a separate quarantine pen for at least 21–30 days. This is called the quarantine period. During this time, the new pig is observed for any signs of disease. ICAR-NRCP (2019) strongly advises this step because many diseases are brought to farms through newly purchased animals.

Cleaning and Disinfection of Pig Shedss

• Remove dung and waste from pig pens daily.

• Wash pig pens with clean water every day and disinfect at least once a week.

• Use approved disinfectants like iodophors, bleaching powder solution (2%), or phenyl.

• Clean feeding troughs and water containers daily.

• After an outbreak of disease, do a thorough disinfection of the entire farm before bringing in new animals.

(ICAR Handbook of Animal Husbandry, 2015, Chapter 12)