Why biosecurity matters?

Strong biosecurity is essential to protecting the long-term health, productivity, and sustainability of Canada’s swine sector. Effective biosecurity practices provide benefits at the farm level and across the entire industry.

 

The Benefits of Biosecurity?

  • Improved Animal Health and Welfare: Biosecurity reduces disease risk of entering within a herd, leading to healthier animals, better growth performance, reduced stress, and overall improved welfare. 

  • Better Protection Against Foreign Animal Diseases (FADs): Foreign Animal Diseases pose significant threats to our countries. Effective biosecurity minimizes exposure pathways, slows potential spread, and increases readiness to respond. 

  • Enhanced Industry Resilience and Sustainability: Biosecurity prevents production disruptions, maintaining market stability and supporting a more resilient supply chain.

  • Reduced Antimicrobial Usage: Minimized disease risk through preventive measures leads to reduced reliance on antimicrobials, supporting responsible use and contributing to global efforts to manage antimicrobial resistance (AMR). 

The Biosecurity Tools

The Canadian Swine Biosecurity Guideline (CSBG) is a national resource developed to help pork producers protect the health, productivity, and long-term sustainability of the Canadian pork industry. 

The Canadian Swine Industry defines biosecurity as a set of measures and procedures designed to protect pig populations from the introduction and spread of pathogens. It outlines essential biosecurity practices that help:?

  • Prevent the introduction of disease into swine herds

  • Reduce the spread of disease within a herd

  • Limit transmission to other farms and regions

 

Biosecurity Guideline Scope

The Canadian Swine Biosecurity Guideline applies to all pig production in Canada (farrow-to-finish, indoor and outdoor production, single-site and multi-site operations, including small and large-scale producers). They serve to counter pathogens causing diseases in swine as well as those affecting food safety and human health.

Benefits for Producers

The Guideline gives producers with:

  • Practical steps to safeguard their herd

  • Tools to protect Canada’s pork supply chain

  • Increased ability to prevent, manage, and respond to disease risks

 

The Canadian Swine Biosecurity Guideline is built around two core components:
 

1.   Best Biosecurity Practices and Procedures

This section outlines proven practices designed to prevent the spread of disease and ensure the health and welfare of swine herds across Canada.?

 

Objectives of the Best Biosecurity Practices and Procedures 

  • Minimizing Disease Risk: Reducing the likelihood of disease entering a herd, limiting its spread within the herd, and preventing transmission to other farms.

  • Supporting Employee Training: Providing practical training resources that help farm staff understand and apply effective biosecurity practices.

  • Promoting Sustainable Biosecurity Practices: By lowering the incidence of disease, these practices contribute to a reduced need for antimicrobial treatments, supporting long-term herd health and responsible farm management.

 

2.    Benchmark Tool

The Benchmark Tool enables producers to evaluate biosecurity performance on their farms. By identifying strengths and areas needing improvement, it helps enhance and reinforce overall biosecurity measures.

 

Objectives of the Benchmark Tool

  • Assess Biosecurity Practices: Provides a practical assessment tool for producers, veterinarians, and other industry partners to evaluate biosecurity performance on the farm.

  • Provide Educational Resources: Offers learning materials that help users understand and apply effective biosecurity measures in real farm settings.

  • Enhance Biosecurity Planning: Supports better day-to-day biosecurity management and encourages ongoing improvement across operations.

 

The Canadian Swine Biosecurity Guideline can be found below.

 

To access the Benchmark, please contact your provincial pork organization.