Interprovincial program | Three main prairie hog groups are developing truck wash guidelines that companies can follow
Deadly porcine epidemic diarrhea virus in pigs can literally be delivered right to hog producers’ doorsteps by transport trucks.
Travelling as it does in manure and on other surfaces, the highly infectious PED can easily hitch a ride between infected and non-infected premises.
An interprovincial program be-tween the three main hog groups on the Prairies is being developed to minimize the risk of viral spread via truck and trucker.
It aims to establish specific truck wash protocols that transport companies can voluntarily follow and that producers can use for biosecurity assurance.
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“What we are planning to do is to unify protocols that everybody will follow within the program,” said Alberta Pork quality assurance co-ordinator Javier Bahamon.
“This is going to be a voluntary program. It’s not going to be enforced by anybody … but producers will have the confidence when they are checking on any of those protocols, that we are … minimizing the risk. We know that we cannot eliminate the risk of any of these diseases to happen but we can work on minimizing.”
PED thrives in cool, moist conditions, survives freezing and is expected to be more of a threat in winter, when truck washing is more challenging.
Trucks and trailers have to be thoroughly washed, disinfected and dried to comply with the collective wisdom on limiting spread.
Bahamon said he is working with Sask. Pork and Manitoba Pork officials to establish the truck wash guidelines and it may be ready by December.
Then it will require audits of truck washes to ensure they are capable of providing the water, equipment, disinfectant and drying time to meet the protocol.
Once in place, pork producers will be able to request paperwork from truckers that proves the truck and trailer have been properly cleaned. If they aren’t satisfied with cleanliness, they should refuse the truck.
Dr. Frank Marshall of Marshall Swine Health Services emphasized that point during an Oct. 31 conference call with hog producers.
“We’ve just got to be adamant about this,” he said, noting several complaints he has heard from producers about dirty livestock trailers.
PED has been found in several Manitoba barns, and hog transport trucks regularly travel across the prairie provinces.
They also travel to the United States, where 31 states have reported infection and millions of piglets have died since May 2013.
A truck wash protocol involving transporters across the international boundary would be up to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, said Bahamon.
He has shared information with the agency, which he said is exploring a national approach.
There are no details, but he speculated it could involve sealing trailers at the border and requiring them to visit a truck wash that has approved protocols before proceeding to any Canadian hog facilities or barns.
