May 26, 2010
Canadian body advises dual level biosecurity to reduce FMD risk
The Saskatchewan Pork Development Board is advising swine producers to approach biosecurity from two levels in order to guard against any risk of allowing the virus that causes foot and mouth disease to enter their farms.
An aggressive strain of foot and mouth disease (FMD) has surfaced in Japan, South Korea and Hong Kong, raising concerns that the infection could spread to other regions.
Saskatchewan Pork producers services manager Harvey Wagner encourages producers in Canada to approach biosecurity from two levels.
Harvey Wagner-Saskatchewan said that the first level is our basic high level biosecurity, such as the introduction of animals only from farms that farmers are familiar with their health status, semen from certifies insemination centres and a good double entry biosecurity system.
Also, farmers should not feed food waste to animals, as it is prohibited by Canadian law. In addition, minimal contact should be maintained.
