A simple but effective biosecurity challenge, run by Boehringer Ingelheim at this year’s Pig & Poultry Fair, defeated every one of the 147 people who took part.
The aim was to highlight the “every-day and often overlooked risks” of introducing or spreading diseases, using a scale model of a farm which contained 10 of the greatest risks, in relation to PRRS control.
Visitors were asked how many of the 10 they could spot, a challenge accepted by 147 people without anyone finding all 10.
“Biosecurity should be an integral part of all disease control and management on pig farms,” said the company’s swine brand manager, Callum Blair, revealing that seven or more risks were correctly identified by 83% of those who took part in the challenge, with 17 entrants finding nine of the 10 risks.
“Poor perimeter fencing and a roaming wild boar were the most frequently identified risks,” he said. “However, the positioning of the quarantine pen for replacement gilts too close to the main pig buildings, which was considered by the judging panel to be one of the greatest PRRS risk factors, was the one spotted by the smallest number of people.”
Headline image shows the scale model
