P-TRACK: A NEW TOOL TO ASSESS AND MONITOR BIOSECURITY AND MANAGEMENT RISKS IN PIG FARMS

Add to my reading list Remove from my reading list

When implementing a disease control plan is it essential to follow a systematic approach like the 5-step process. First, the goals and expectations for the particular farm must be set. Then the current status of the farm must be determined. In the third step the constraints must be identified, namely biosecurity and management risks that we have in the farm or system. Considering the information of the previous 3 steps we can then design a proper set of solutions (step 4) and in the final step, we implement the solutions chosen and monitor the results (step 5).

 

 

On a daily basis, pig farms are facing multiple types of biosecurity risks, but some of them remain unnoticed. Now, with p-TRACK (pathogen TRACing Kit), developed by Boehringer Ingelheim it will be possible to trace and monitor multiple risks associated with pathogen carrying agents in the farms: tools, farm staff, or visitors, or other fomites. Using p-TRACK, veterinarians and farmers can measure in real time risky events related with movements.

For example, p-TRACK can measure relative position inside or outside buildings of critical persons and tools. This feature allows the areas of the farm with more risky events to be easily identified and monitored. In particular, one important biosecurity risks linked with new outbreaks, which is stepping outside the barn onto the dirty area of the loading dock can be detected and corrected. Boehringer Ingelheim is committed to continue developing and offering new solutions and tools to help control PRRS and other challenging swine diseases.