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For Jarrod and Shari Bakker of Dike, Iowa, biosecurity is a high priority. They’re working to make sure their three children share the same commitment to good biosecurity practices.

The industry can have all the rules or standard operating procedures in the world, but keeping farms protected comes down to human behavior and the decisions farm owners and employees make every day.

Producers and veterinarians don’t often think of water as a nutrient, since nutrients are usually associated with feeding. In reality, it’s likely the most important nutrient.

High-quality drinking water is an essential component for the health and efficient production of pigs, says Eric van Heugten, PhD, a professor in the Animal Science Department at North Carolina State University.

Specific, effective biosecurity protocols need to become part of your standard operating procedures. Take the steps to ensure all employees know how important they are.

Protection related to animal health and food safety issues begins at the farm level, and the acronym “IRS” plays an important role: isolation, resistance and sanitation.

In this time of heightened biosecurity awareness, the importance of an effective disease barrier system for rodent control in and around hog buildings can’t be overstated.

Rodents can cause major problems due to destruction and contamination of food, in addition to disease spread, say two experts at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences.

Key elements of a successful biosecurity program are often neglected, says Jean-Pierre Vaillancourt, DVM, a professor at the University of Montreal in Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec, Canada. You can change that outlook.

Biosecurity is described as a combination of management practices designed to prevent the introduction and transmission of diseases and disease-causing agents into a herd. Learn what your biosecurity plan should include

Clean water is critical for livestock. That’s why annual water quality tests are recommended for private wells. Owners can have their water tested by collecting a sample themselves or hiring a qualified person to do so

When it comes to water quality, there’s no “one size fits all” Some areas of the country just have poor quality to begin with. Producers and veterinarians need to find root cause, then implement effective solutions

Have you addressed vehicle biosecurity? If you answered “no,” you may discover how easily cross-contamination can occur with transportation. Dr. Nick Wagner, DVM, discusses vehicle biosecurity dos and don’ts.

Is your farm as biosecure as possible? If you answered “no,” you may discover the costly consequences of a disease break. Joe Connor, DVM, chairman of the Carthage System, discusses biosecurity do’s and don’ts.

Defining the water requirement of the pig is challenging because intake can be affected by metabolic, physiological and behavioral factors. Research is limited, but what do we know right now?

Eye-opening study shows untreated water linked to higher prolapse rates.

Water is the nutrient that is required in the largest quantity by pigs and is the most essential nutrient for life. Pigs must consume enough water to balance the amount of water lost.