Belgium has a great number of measures in place to guarantee biosecurity in pig farms and the pork production process. They prove their value in the aftermath of the ASF outbreak in Belgium, with which Belgium dealt successfully. The University of Ghent even developed a scoring system tool for it: Biocheck. ^>
Biosecurity in the production of pork is key to prevent exotic diseases as well as endemic infections. It’s the combination of all measures taken to reduce the risk of introduction and spread of diseases on a herd, region, country or even greater level.
It concerns both external biosecurity (reduce the introduction of diseases) and internal biosecurity (reduce the spread of diseases). Regarding its preventive character, biosecurity should be the basis of any disease control program.
In September 2018, ASF was detected within wild boar in Belgium. The virus never reached domestic pig farms. Biosecurity measures certainly contributed to keeping these farms virus-free—most of these measures are standard procedure in Belgium.
What did Belgium do?
To manage biosecurity, the University of Ghent developed Biocheck, an online risk-based biosecurity scoring system for pig farms—a quantitative tool to measure biosecurity. It enables farmers to objectively calculate, evaluate and enhance biosecurity at their pig farm.
Biocheck starts with a clear-cut questionnaire, based on a farm visit. When completed in the tool, the questionnaire leads to an analysis of the internal and external biosecurity of the farm. During a follow-up curative visit, herd-specific advice will be given to the farmer, as well as coaching to enhance biosecurity at the farm.
Biocheck proves: enhancing biosecurity goes hand in hand with the production process—i.e. by reducing antimicrobial usage. Lowering the defined daily dose for animals has a positive effect on various parameters: the number of weaned piglets per sow per year and the daily weight gain and, while decreasing the mortality in the finisher period.
Reversion of the antimicrobial persistence thus leads to economic benefits as well, showing that prevention truly stimulates production.
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VLAM
Koning Albert II-laan 35 bus 50
B-1030 Brussel
T: +32 2 552 80 11
F: +32 2 552 80 01
E: meatinfo@vlam.be