SHIC Talk Ep 22 Assessment of Bioexclusion Practices Across US Swine Farms Drs Silva and Becton 5-6-2025

Swine Health Information Center Associate Director Dr. Lisa Becton discusses a Wean-to-Harvest Biosecurity Research Program project, Industry-Wide Assessment of Bioexclusion Practices Across US Swine Farms, with principal investigator, Dr. Gustavo Silva, Iowa State University in this episode of SHIC Talk. The study, funded in partnership by SHIC, the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research and Pork Checkoff, defined biosecurity practices used across wean-to-harvest sites through an industry-wide questionnaire and developed a rapid-risk assessment tool for producers. The study assessed current bioexclusion practices among a diverse group of producers across swine-producing states in the US. Further, the study developed methods that veterinarians, production managers, and producers could implement to improve on-farm biosecurity. Findings showed that biosecurity on wean-to-harvest sites is inconsistent across the industry and that tools for increasing biosecurity could include relatively simple practices such as bench entry.