The National Swine Biosecurity Training programme has been launched in Quebec, Ontario and Manitoba and is being rolled out across the rest of country this summer.

Canadian Swine Health Board chair Florian Possberg says improving biosecurity can go a long way toward protecting our pork production units from new and emerging diseases.

Florian Possberg-Canadian Swine Health Board

The national biosecurity programme has three steps.

First we train the veterinarians on the National Biosecurity Farm Training Programme material and that really lists the key components to improving biosecurity by sites.

The second step is having the trainer work with the producer to provide training for the producers and their staff so the site managers and also for the participants, the producers to complete a self-assessment by specific site so that they can have a proposed plan to incorporate ideas to improve their biosecurity.

Thirdly the farm veterinarian will visit the site and discuss the results of the actions of the producers and staff and there's a questionnaire that needs to be completed during this visit and be returned to the Canadian Swine Health Board and the provincial association, the provincial boards that are involved in delivery of the program so that we've got an idea of what measures have been incorporated into the units.

Mr Possberg says every measure taken on the farm to prevent the spread disease helps producers to protect their assets and he encourages all producers to come on board.

For further information visit the Canadian Swine Health Board web site [click here] or contact your provincial pork organisation.