SWINE
There are over 1,500 hog producers in Ontario, who raise roughly 8 million pigs, with
a total industry output worth approximately $5.6 billion to the Ontario economy1. Many
new operations today are state-of-the-art, scale-efficient facilities that specialize in either
farrowing or finishing. These facilities embrace the latest in technological development
and science-based information in all facets of production. Farms that raise pigs to market
size will often move all the growing animals through different sites to control disease
(a technique called all-in, all-out operations). Thus, conventional pork production is
characterized by an emphasis on biosecurity to control and prevent disease. There is
also extensive use of biocides, both in the form of antimicrobial medications for animals
and in the disinfectants used for the facilities. Conventional swine operations rear animals
in high-density housing, which can facilitate the spread of infectious disease.
The primary health concerns in pigs are respiratory and gastro-intestinal conditions, as
well as reproductive issues. Most antimicrobial medications have been administered
in feed for prophylactic and metaphylactic purposes, as well as for growth promotion.
Furthermore, the animals are usually on the antimicrobial feed additive for the long term.
When treating infections, it is not uncommon to have poor responses.
There are over 1,500 hog
producers in Ontario, who raise
roughly 8 million pigs, with
a total industry output worth
approximately $5.6 billion to the
Ontario economy. Many new
operations today are state-of-theart, scale-efficient facilities that
specialize in either farrowing or
finishing.
Biosecurity protocols are highly variable between swine operations. These protocols
can be classified as internal or external. Internal biosecurity procedures are designed
to minimize disease transmission within a facility, for example by isolating sick animals.
External biosecurity is directed at preventing new pathogens from being introduced into
a facility, for example by keeping herds closed and breeding replacement animals onsite. Internal and external biosecurity needs can be in direct conflict. In some swine units,
pigs in different production stages are housed at separate facilities. This approach could
enhance internal security for breeding facilities, but compromise external security in the
older stages by bringing pigs from different sources together. Such a