Biosecurity: it's a pig deal for small farms and pig owners

Biosecurity practices are essential to keeping pigs safe and healthy—and they don't just apply to large farms.

Whether you have a small herd or a single pet pig, there are actions you can take to help keep out common domestic and foreign animal diseases such as African swine fever (ASF).

Like other animals, pigs are susceptible to various illnesses from parasites, viruses and bacteria. Keeping disease out of Canada is less costly than dealing with it once it gets in.

While it takes time and effort to establish solid biosecurity practices, the benefits are worth it. By being proactive, you are preserving the time and resources you have invested in caring for your pigs while also protecting people, other animals and the environment.

What is biosecurity

Biosecurity refers to the measures and procedures that protect people and animals from the spread of diseases. It includes:

  • managing visitors to the farm
  • quarantining new animals
  • cleaning used equipment
  • monitoring an animal's health on a regular basis
  • handling and storing feed
  • managing waste in a safe way

This applies to all pig owners. You may have already put some of these checks in place, but adding others to your daily routine can help further reduce the risk of your pigs getting sick.

Follow the top 7 safety tips

1) Understand the risks

  • Assess the risks to your pigs and put in place measures to manage potential diseases.
  • Review protocols for managing new and returning pigs, family and visitor access, equipment, and feed and water.

2) Welcome your pig(s)

  • Make sure your pigs come from reputable sources with a known health status and established biosecurity practices. Consult sources such as the Canadian Pork Council for more information on programs like PigTRACE.
  • Isolate new pigs and returning animals for at least 14 days to minimize the risk of spreading animal diseases.
  • Even after initial isolation, it is still advised to separate your pigs from other animals (such as livestock, pets, wildlife, rodents, and other pests), as pig diseases can be spread through other animals.
  • Have proper fencing in place for your pigs to keep people and unwanted visitors out, including livestock and wild animals.

3) Establish a cleaning routine

  • Keep the premises clean and tidy. Routinely clean and disinfect pig housing, equipment, and your own farm clothing and footwear.
  • Avoid borrowing equipment from other farms and homes.
  • Ensure you have proper sanitation practices for manure management in place.  

4) Limit visitors

  • Limit visitors' access to your pigs and keep a log of those who visit.
  • Visitors should follow your biosecurity measures, including wearing clean clothing and shoe/boot covers, and washing their hands before and after their visit.  

5) Know what and how to feed your pigs

  • Carefully source feed and feed ingredients from a trusted supplier with proper biosecurity controls, who is able to provide information on the origin of their ingredients.
  • Avoid feeding pigs kitchen scraps or food waste products and never feed them meat or meat by-products. Even small amounts of food contaminated with a virus can make your pigs sick.
  • Avoid feeding animals directly off the ground and use feed troughs or bunks instead.

6) Keep them hydrated with a safe water supply

  • Provide drinking water from a municipal source or deep well as these water sources are less likely to be contaminated by bacteria, viruses, and parasites.
  • Avoid using surface water (from ponds or lakes) as it can be contaminated with different organisms.
  • If using a shallow well, have the water tested to ensure it is free of contamination and/or filter and treat the water to remove and inactivate organisms that can cause disease.

7) Monitor the health of your pigs

  • Get to know the signs of common pig illnesses and diseases.
  • Ensure pig health records and vaccines are up to date.
  • Proactively consult with a veterinarian to work on a disease response plan if signs of sickness appear.
  • Isolate sick animals and contact a veterinarian.
  • Have an animal disposal protocol in place, as diseases can also spread from dead animals. Ensure disposal methods comply with provincial and municipal regulations. Find more information on deadstock disposal here (section 8 (PDF - 4,548 kb)).

We can help you get started

You might be wondering: how can I improve biosecurity on my farm? Which pig diseases should I be aware of? Even if they do get sick, can't they be treated?

Let's break it down.

Biosecurity: the basics and beyond

The biosecurity measures may evolve depending on the needs of your pigs and your farm. Start by putting in place the 7 tips above.

If you're already following all of them and are looking for more resources, our biosecurity checklist can help you assess the risks of your farm. You can also review the list of relevant biosecurity resources below.

Pig diseases you should know

In Canada, commonly found and important swine diseases are Streptococcus suis, classical swine fever, Swine influenza and Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea virus.

Although Canada has not encountered any cases of African swine fever, it is a top concern for pig farmers and owners across Canada. African swine fever, which is different than classical swine fever, does not infect people, but it is a contagious and deadly pig disease that has no treatment and no approved vaccine available. It has impacted many countries a round the globe and can be transmitted through food waste, with a risk of introduction into Canada from travellers via contaminated meat products or contaminated swine feed and feed ingredients.

Managing and treating sick pigs

Veterinarians are an excellent first point of contact when your pigs get sick to provide recommended treatments. Do not attempt to remedy the illness yourself, as misdiagnosis or providing the wrong treatment can be detrimental to your herd and other herds via indirect contact.

Unfortunately, not all pig diseases such as ASF have available treatments. ASF is among one of many reportable diseases. You and your veterinarian can help ensure early detection of ASF by taking part in surveillance through CanSpotASF (PDF - 1,260 kb). Any suspected cases must be immediately reported to a Canadian Food Inspection Agency district veterinarian.

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