On-site biosecurity on pig farms

• Draw up plans showing the entrance, route and exit points for the farm staff/contractor to access the manure storage. This should, ideally, be separate to the normal farm traffic or areas used by farm staff.
• Enforce the line of separation and educate contractors of its significance.
• Contractors must not cross the line of separation and must not enter pig buildings or come into contact with any pigs.
• Allow extra time for cleaning and disinfection of equipment used in manure spreading.
• Ensure there are appropriate washing and disinfection facilities available.
• Agree in advance the routes that will be used to transport manure to fields.
• Plan how any manure spills, particularly on public roads, are to be handled.
• Do not bring dogs, even if they remain in the cab.

• Manure and slurry stores must be well maintained, leakproof and heaps should not be allowed to spread.
• Enhance vermin control around stores as rodents and birds are potential carriers of infection.
• The manure should be held as long as possible, and until the weather is warmer, to reduce the amount of virus present.
• Covering the heaps can be beneficial.
• If it is not possible to spread manure and all storage is full, seek advice from the Environment Agency on minimum requirements for short-term storage.
• Manure stores should be completely agitated before application.

• Follow all regulations applicable to spreading, e.g. nitrate vulnerable zones and Defra’s code of good agricultural practice for the protection of water, soil and air. If unsure, contact the Environment Agency.
• Take particular care when close to watercourses, ponds, lakes, boreholes and springs.
• Spread directly to ground and avoid equipment that will atomise or discharge at height, especially splash-plate-type spreaders.
• Fully inject or incorporate into soil as quickly as possible. If surface applying without incorporating, do so when temperatures are warmer and there will be several days of sunshine.
• Manage equipment and application rates to avoid manure boiling up in the injection slot and leaking onto headlands.
• Avoid windy days.
• Do not use land which is waterlogged, frozen hard or covered with snow.
• Do not spread liquids on fields with subsurface or mole drains when soils are cracked.
• Once completed, thoroughly clean and disinfect equipment. Ideally, do not use equipment on other pig farms for at least two days.

These must be:

• Sealed, leakproof and lockable.
• Easy to transfer carcases in and out of.
• Big enough in capacity to cope should there be a disease outbreak.
• Moved to the unit perimeter when used for collection.
• Easy to clean and disinfect after emptying.
• Cold storage optimised.
• Separate from, but close to, the main production sites.
• Located in a clean surrounding area – any spillage should be cleared up quickly.
• Kept out of public view – be considerate of neighbours or the passing public.
• Cleaned and disinfected after use. Ideally, use a teleporter/frontloader bucket.

This is the most biosecure and preferred means of disposing of fallen stock, as it removes the risk of external collectors approaching the unit.

Incinerators must be:

• Approved by Defra and a licence obtained. Please refer to Defra’s website.
• Located away from the pigs, on a hard standing, as recommended by the manufacturer.
• Loaded by equipment that is kept separate from the rest of the farm, or, at the very least, thoroughly cleaned and disinfected before and after use.
• Managed by staff who change their boots and overalls and wear gloves when handling deadstock.
• Fully documented. Incineration records must be kept.

If an incinerator is not possible, then you must work with your fallen stock. Use a collector who recognises the importance of biosecurity and cleanliness and discuss with them in advance how you would like them to collect your fallen stock.

Important considerations:

• Agree on a collection point. This must be from outside the unit perimeter, away from live pigs.
• Never allow your deadstock collector to enter the farm.
• Ideally, the route the collector takes should not cross over any normal farm traffic.
• If appropriate, establish a ‘line of separation’ and explain this to your collector.
• Keep the surrounding area clean and clear up any spillage quickly.
• It should have provision for cleaning and disinfecting equipment.
• It should, ideally, be out of public view – be considerate of neighbours or passing public.