Farmscape for May 4, 2012   (Episode 4143)

The Canadian Swine Health Board's biosecurity coordinator for Manitoba reports participation among the province's pork producers in the National Biosecurity Training Program has exceeded all expectations.

The National Biosecurity Training Program is based on the Canadian Swine Health Board's National Biosecurity Standard and was developed to familiarize Canada's pork producers with the principles that will help protect their operations from the introduction of disease and offer advice for improving biosecurity.

Dr. Brad Chappell, a swine veterinarian with Swine Health Professionals in Steinbach and the provincial coordinator for the Canadian Swine Health Board, says the training covers all aspects of biosecurity on the farm.

Clip-Dr. Brad Chappell-Canadian Swine Health Board:
The level of interest in this program has been very impressive.

The uptake by the producers in the province has exceeded our expectations.

As you already know the hog industry in Manitoba is very progressive.

At this time we've had 453 producers go through the training program, which represents approximately 65 to 70 percent of our industry.

A part of the program is the veterinarians visiting the farms and at this time we have 380 veterinary visits.

The veterinary visits themselves are a key component where the veterinarian is able to spend time on the farm discussing different aspects of biosecurity with the entire staff of the farm and also having a thorough walk through the farm identifying the benefits of the biosecurity or the potential enhancements that could help in reduction of disease entrance into the farm.

Dr. Chappell says uptake of the program in Manitoba has been impressive which shows the industry is very keen in protecting the health status of our herd.

For more information on the National Biosecurity Training Program contact your local swine veterinarian, your provincial pork organization or visit the Canadian Swine Health Board web site at swinehealth.ca.

For Farmscape.Ca, I'm Bruce Cochrane.

       *Farmscape is a presentation of Sask Pork and Manitoba Pork Council