The National Swine Biosecurity Training programme is based on the National Farm Level Biosecurity Standard developed by the Canadian Swine Health Board and was launched earlier this year in Quebec, Ontario and Manitoba.

The programme is being coordinated nationally through the Swine health Board and delivered by the provincial pork organizations and is open to registered pork producers certified under the Canadian Quality Assurance Programme.

Mark Fynn, an animal care specialist with Manitoba Pork Council and biosecurity training programme manager for Manitoba, notes in addition to the biosecurity training, which includes on-farm veterinary assessments, funding is being provided in Manitoba for on-farm biosecurity enhancements and PRRS testing.

Mark Fynn-Manitoba Pork Council

To be honest the participation and the interest in Manitoba has been overwhelming to us.

We were only expecting maybe up to 250 producers coming onto the training by March of 2012 and we've already had over 300, reaching the 350 mark sometime soon for producers who have attended training.

As far as percentage of producers that the number would represent, we're looking probably about half the producers that we have at least on CQA are represented and probably somewhere between 40 and 50 per cent of the total producers represented.

As far as the swine herd goes I don't have exact numbers but, since most of the companies have finished their training and a lot of colonies and then quite a number of independents, we're probably looking in the range of 60 per cent.

Mr Fynn says the hope is to reach all of the province's producers and he encourages those interested to contact Manitoba Pork Council, Manitoba Agriculture Food and Rural Initiatives or their herd vet.