By Tine Schøning, Regional Veterinary Manager Europe
Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) and Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae continue to challenge herd health and recent outbreaks of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) and African Swine Fever (ASF) in Europe underscore the urgency of strong biosecurity strategies. In the face of these challenges and emerging new diseases, proactive disease management is vital for both genetic progress and sustainable swine production.
Tine Schøning has been Regional Veterinary Manager in Europe since May 2024. She holds a master’s degree in veterinary medicine from the University of Copenhagen and a Danish certification in Herd Health Management in Swine.
Within the Topigs Norsvin Global Veterinary Service, she supports the spread of genetic progress by maintaining swine health, transport, and biosecurity in cooperation with local veterinarians, our supply chain, and our sales and production teams.
Why is biosecurity a top priority in swine production?
Biosecurity a top priority
The impact of disease outbreaks goes far beyond the individual farm. Without effective measures, outbreaks can cause havoc on regional and global swine markets and seriously harm the sustainability of our industry. Strong biosecurity reduces transmission of disease, lowers treatment costs, and ensures production stability. Therefore, a clear and effective biosecurity strategy is your long-term investment in sustainable production and market credibility.
What are the most important aspects of biosecurity for managers?
Biosecurity management
In my experience, people often focus on external biosecurity measures, such as air filtering, visitor control, and transport hygiene. However, internal measures are just as important. So, pay attention to factors like zoning, general hygiene, and effective animal flow management to prevent diseases from spreading. Also, implement a culture of biosecurity excellence by training your staff and ensuring they comply with standard operating procedures.
Key Biosecurity Measures
| Category | Action Points |
| External Biosecurity | Enforce visitor control, disinfection of transport vehicles, regulate material movement and use filtered air systems when needed. |
| Internal Biosecurity | Establish zoning, ensure proper hygiene measures, and optimize animal flow. |
| Disease Prevention | Monitor for SPF diseases, identify risks, and update protocols. |
| Layered Protection | Ensure multiple biosecurity layers to compensate for potential weaknesses in individual measures. |
| Regular Audits & Corrections | Conduct biosecurity audits routinely and ensure discovered flaws are corrected immediately. |
| Surveillance Adaptation | Follow surveillance programs and intensify them in areas with elevated disease risks. |
| Standardized Cleaning Checkpoints | Implement uniform cleaning and disinfection procedures with measurable compliance standards. |
| Technology Adoption | Make sampling results more accessible, utilize digital health tracking, and explore AI-based biosecurity monitoring. |
How do breaches in biosecurity affect genetic progress?
Biosecurity and genetic progress
Biosecurity breaches can lead to disease outbreaks that halt genetic progress by disrupting breeding programs and limiting the movement of high-value animals. For example, I have seen how ASF and PRRS can lead to losses in valuable genetic material and delay herd improvement.
Why is a layered approach to biosecurity essential?
Layered approach to biosecurity
No biosecurity plan is stronger than its weakest link. I therefore recommend multiple layers of protection to ensure that if one area fails, others compensate for this. For instance, zoning and a high level of hygiene will help mitigate risks even if external biosecurity is compromised. This approach protects against severe diseases as well as milder yet economically significant infections like Mycoplasma.
How do you ensure effective compliance with biosecurity protocols?
Effective compliance
You must communicate clearly and hold people accountable. Ensure your managers lead by example, invest in staff training, integrate biosecurity into everybody’s daily routines, and conduct regular biosecurity audits to identify and correct weaknesses promptly.
