Protecting Your Pigs and Your Livelihood
Biosecurity is the set of practices designed to prevent the entry and spread of diseases in a farm. Even if you have only a few pigs in your backyard, diseases can still strike causing sickness, death, and financial loss. By following basic biosecurity measures, you can keep your pigs healthy and your farm productive.
Why Biosecurity Matters
Pigs are vulnerable to various diseases such as African Swine Fever (ASF), Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD), and Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea (PED). These illnesses can spread quickly through:
- Contaminated feed or water
- Infected pigs
- People, clothing, and footwear
- Equipment and vehicles
For small farms, one disease outbreak can mean losing all your pigs. Prevention is always cheaper and easier than treatment.
Basic Biosecurity Measures
1. Control Farm Access
- Limit visitors to only essential people (family or workers).
- Post a “No Unauthorized Entry” sign.
- Provide a footbath with disinfectant at the entrance.
2. Isolate New or Sick Animals
- Quarantine new pigs for at least 14 days before mixing them with the herd.
- Separate sick pigs immediately and consult a veterinarian.
3. Maintain Good Hygiene
- Wash hands and boots before and after handling pigs.
- Use dedicated clothes and footwear for farm work.
- Clean and disinfect pens, feeders, and drinkers regularly.
4. Use Safe Feed and Water
- Avoid swill feeding (leftover food from kitchens or restaurants) unless it is properly boiled.
- Provide clean, fresh water every day.
5. Control Pests and Wild Animals
- Keep rats, flies, and stray animals away from the pig pens.
- Fix any holes in fences to prevent contact with wild pigs.
6. Monitor Pig Health
- Observe pigs daily for signs of illness: loss of appetite, fever, unusual behavior.
- Keep vaccination schedules and deworming on time.
Emergency Response
If you suspect a serious disease like ASF:
- Report to your local agriculture office immediately.
- Stop all movement of pigs in and out of the farm.
- Disinfect equipment, pens, and surroundings.
Final Tips
Even small backyard farms play a role in preventing the spread of pig diseases in the community. By being strict with biosecurity, you protect not just your own pigs, but also your neighbors’ farms and the local pork supply.
Healthy pigs mean a healthy livelihood—biosecurity starts with you.