# Biosecurity Insights from the United States Swine Health Improvement Plan: Analyzing Data to Enhance Industry Practices

## TL;DR

This paper analyzes biosecurity practices in the U.S. swine industry to identify strengths and areas for improvement in preventing disease outbreaks.

## Contribution

The study provides a comprehensive assessment of biosecurity practices across 12,195 swine sites through the US Swine Health Improvement Plan.

## Key findings

- Variability exists in Secure Pork Supply plans, outdoor access, and perimeter fencing across different site types.
- Farm entry protocols for visitors show diversity, indicating inconsistent biosecurity measures.
- The US SHIP program reflects industry efforts to respond to foreign animal disease threats.

## Abstract

This article presents a snapshot of biosecurity practices implemented across the United States swine industry. Foreign animal diseases and endemic emerging and re-emerging swine diseases are serious threats. Biosecurity practices reported during enrolment in the United States Swine Health Improvement Plan are summarized here and provide insights into areas where the US Swine industry is prepared and identified opportunities and areas of opportunity for improvement in biodefense. This voluntary collaborative animal health program effort provides a baseline of biosecurity efforts over a significant portion of the swine industry. The findings can help guide the swine industry to continue to improve biosecurity, making sure the industry stays strong and sustainable despite new challenges.

Biosecurity practices aim to reduce the frequency of disease outbreaks in a farm, region, or country and play a pivotal role in fortifying the country’s pork industry against emerging threats, particularly foreign animal diseases (FADs). This article addresses the current biosecurity landscape of the US swine industry by summarizing the biosecurity practices reported by the producers through the United States Swine Health Improvement Plan (US SHIP) enrollment surveys, and it provides a general assessment of practices implemented. US SHIP is a voluntary, collaborative effort between industry, state, and federal entities regarding health certification programs for the swine industry. With 12,195 sites surveyed across 31 states, the study provides a comprehensive snapshot of current biosecurity practices. Key findings include variability by site types that have completed Secure Pork Supply plans, variability in outdoor access and presence of perimeter fencing, and diverse farm entry protocols for visitors. The data also reflect the industry’s response to the threat of FADs, exemplified by the implementation of the US SHIP in 2020. As the US SHIP program advances, these insights will guide industry stakeholders in refining biosecurity practices, fostering endemic re-emerging and FAD preparedness, and ensuring the sustainability of the swine industry in the face of evolving challenges.