Biosecurity in the global feed industry

Abstract Text: Biosecurity refers to the implementation of measures to prevent the introduction of disease into a healthy population of animals or limit the spread of the disease once introduced. The foundation of biosecurity is based upon the knowledge of disease epidemiology, the duration of pathogen excretion in infected animals, the routes of excretion, survival in the environment, and vectors for infection. Based on factual information, actions can be taken to control the spread of a disease. The basic principles of biosecurity may be classified into three areas: isolation, sanitation and traffic control. Isolation is the first and most important element of biosecurity as it involves keeping potentially infected animals and materials away from uninfected animals. Sanitation is critical as most pathogen contamination is contained in fecal material, urine or secretions that adhere to surfaces. Traffic control minimizes the risk of potential exposure or contamination. Behavior changes and actions by people are required for biosecurity measures that reduce the risk of the introduction and spread of disease to be effective. Unfortunately, inconsistency in implementation of practices or the lack of knowledge about a disease leads to failure of many biosecurity programs. Keeping the U.S. livestock industry healthy and free from an infectious disease requires an interdisciplinary effort involving the cooperation of U.S. Department of Agriculture and other countries around the world to prevent foreign animal diseases from spreading across borders. In 2011, the National Animal Health Reporting System listed 21 reportable diseases for swine, which did not include porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV). Although the 2013 source of the infection of the most recent form of PEDV in the U.S. is unclear and may never be found, recent research indicates feed and feed ingredients may be carriers of the virus, though not the cause. Serious interest by the feed industry for science-based guidelines caused the American Feed Industry Association to look at recent research and revise its “Biosecurity Awareness Guidelines.” The update takes into account new information developed by the National Pork Board, universities and industry firms, and provides recommendations to prevent the spread of the virus by a feed manufacturing facility. It also provides decontamination procedures for facilities and for trucks that may enter a farm with a disease. The guide can be found at www.afia.org.

Keywords: biosecurity, feed, PEDV