Biosecurity in commercial pig farm for slaughter in Santa Catarina state: assessment and economic study.
questionnaire, adequacy index, financial cost.
Brazil is the fourth largest pork producer and exporter in the world. In this scenario, the state of Santa Catarina is the largest Brazilian producer and exporter, it was also the first FMD-free state without vaccination. Maintaining this health status is essential for the survival of the production chain. In order to avoid the introduction of pathogenic agents in the swine production units, it is necessary to adopt biosecurity measures. The objective of the study was to analyze the minimum conditions of biosecurity of commercial hog farms for slaughter in the state and to determine by means of an economic study the costs necessary to adapt to the minimum conditions of biosecurity. An online questionnaire was sent to producers. The farms studied were a Piglet Production Unit with 200 or more sows and farrow-to-finish farms with 30 or more sows. In order to obtain a more objective assessment of the biosecurity of the farms, an Index of Adequacy to the Minimum Biosafety Conditions (IAB) was developed. Finally, the farms were classified into groups, according to the need to implement measures of greater financial investment, and then the adequacy costs were established. Most farms have a medium to high adequacy index, although most of them have structural biosecurity deficiencies. The average value for adequacy, per farm, is 3.4% of the total investment cost of the production unit, with fence around the farm the item with the highest cost. All biosecurity practices have room for improvement in the evaluated farms.