The need for stepped up biosecurity in the event of an animal disease outbreak was among the lessons learned from Manitoba’s 2017 PEDv outbreak.
A PED Lessons Learned Project, conducted by Manitoba Pork, Manitoba Agriculture and the Canadian Animal Health Coalition was discussed Tuesday as part of a PED Telephone Town Hall.
Sector wide interviews were conducted with producers, feed companies, transporters, assembly yards, diagnostic labs and representatives of the Manitoba Chief Veterinary Office and Manitoba Pork followed by a discussion workshop.
Jenelle Hamblin, the Manager of Swine Health Programs with Manitoba Pork, says the report focused on what worked well, what didn’t work and needs to change and recommendations for future outbreaks.
We did find there was a wide range of biosecurity being practiced across the sector. Some had very strong biosecurity in place. Others had no biosecurity in place and this is where we really wanted to really encourage going back to basics and talking to these producers about the difference of regular biosecurity versus wartime biosecurity.
We’re talking about the practices you can implement that maybe aren’t sustainable for the day to day but something that you can very quickly, if you get a phone call saying that there is a case nearby, that you’re able to enhance your biosecurity to that upgraded status in a short period of time. That includes implementing strict restricted access protocols, enhancing your controlled access zone protocols, including limiting the number of people that are entering your farm, reducing those touches that come onto your yard, limiting visitors, dedicating the staff to certain barns and simply reducing the frequency of movements.
~ Jenelle Hamblin, Manitoba Pork
Hamblin says operations have reduced their numbers of animal movements to reduce the risks and are now dedicating specific equipment to specific barns to avoid cross contamination.
