Biosecurity for Today's Swine Operation

Abstract

Disease control is one of the most challenging areas for producers and veterinarians in swine production. Biosecurity is often perceived as keeping diseases out of a swine herd. However, excluding disease from a herd is nearly impossible because of the natural presence of pathogens - the endemic pathogen load - in all swine herds. Therefore, the goal of a biosecurity program is to keep out pathogens that the herd has not been exposed to and to minimize the impact of endemic pathogens.