By Kiah Berg
For years, biosecurity efforts on sow farms have focused on what we can see and control: people, equipment and airflow. However, research has pointed to a less obvious risk: feed as a potential pathway. Studies have shown that viruses like porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSv) can travel through feed, creating a hidden route into sow farms.
In late 2020, feed mitigation products were introduced across sow farms managed by Pipestone to strengthen protection and support herd health. These efforts build on existing practices such as shower-in protocols, air filtration, proper downtime and thorough equipment disinfection.
Today, the battle against PRRSv continues. As the virus becomes more infectious and harder to eliminate, ongoing vigilance is essential. This raises an important question: How can we be sure mitigants are present in feed at the right levels?
Understanding the Gap
Feed mill batch sheets confirm that ingredients are added at specified levels, but they don’t tell the whole story. Is the product evenly mixed? Are scales calibrated correctly?
With more than 500,000 tons of feed delivered annually, there is limited visibility beyond the mix ticket. That uncertainty matters because inconsistent mixing or inclusion can reduce the effectiveness of mitigants and leave sows at risk.
To better understand this gap, testing capabilities were explored in partnership with several companies. Farms collected gestation and lactation feed samples from multiple locations and submitted them for analysis. It was found that two suppliers could validate active ingredients using laboratory methods such as high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) or gas chromatography (GC). A third partner developed a rapid test method, which was later validated against HPLC results.
By late 2025, testing was operational across all sow farms managed by Pipestone, with methods confirmed to be both reliable and practical.
What We Learned
The results were eye-opening. Early on, several samples did not meet expectations, allowing for quick investigation with both feed mills and mitigant suppliers.
The most common issue was uneven mixing. In some cases, liquid mitigants were not evenly distributed due to too few application ports. In others, mixing times were too short to allow proper dispersion. A faulty pump system at one mill was also identified, leading to inaccurate inclusion rates.
Mixer performance was another key finding. While feed mills are expected to monitor mixer uniformity, testing showed that several mills were not meeting the standard of a coefficient of variation (CV), a measure of mixing consistency, below 10%. This highlighted how critical proper mixing is, not only for feed quality but also for ensuring mitigants are delivered effectively.
As a result, feed mills supplying Pipestone-managed farms are now required to submit mixer CV samples every six months to confirm consistent performance and accuracy.
Data in Action
Feed mitigation adds cost, much like an insurance policy. But verifying that these products are consistently present and properly mixed is just as important as including them in the first place.
This testing approach makes it possible to quickly identify and address issues at the mill level, rather than discovering problems only after a health break occurs on the farm. Over the past eight months, valuable insights have been gained, and the approach continues to evolve.
At its core, this work reinforces a simple principle: You can’t improve what you don’t measure. Building validation into feed biosecurity is another step toward ensuring a safe, consistent and reliable feed supply for sow farms.
