CS Vet has introduced a new biosecurity grading system to assist producers
to maintain high biosecurity measures, said Dr Annie Labuscagne at this year’s
CS Vet Farmers day in October. Farms will be given a star ranking according to
how comprehensive their biosecurity system is and how well it works.
CSVet BioSecure comprises three legs: Biosecurity on farms (FarmSecure), an
audit system for feed mills (FeedSecure) and an audit system for biosecurity
measures from the farm to the abattoir (AbaSecure).
FarmSecure will consist of a series of on-farm audits, announced and unannounced, and will focus on internal and external biosecurity. CS Vet will provide assistance in the form of, among others, training and hygiene monitoring.
According to Dr Labuscagne the system will entail little to no additional
administration, but will require a high level of commitment from the whole
farm, from the office to pig pen.
“We want to increase farmers’ ability to identify and manage risk. The aim of
the system is to assist farms to keep their star ranking. There could also be a
market advantage in future, especially if all three parts of the system are in
place,” Dr Labuscagne said.
She pointed out that CS Vet has also improved its own biosecurity measures.
These include better access control to prevent contamination of incoming and
outgoing products, a strict no-return policy, a sharp focus on any possible
contamination from farms, abattoirs and feed mills and the minimum use of cell
phones and laptops on farms.
“Biosecurity needs a comprehensive approach, encompassing different means of
prevention and containment,” she said.
The South African Pork Producers’ Organisation (SAPPO) coordinates industry interventions and collaboratively manages risks in the value chain to enable the sustainability and profitability of pork producers in South Africa.
