The Swine Health Information Center’s 2023 Plan of Work was approved by the SHIC Board of Directors during their January 27, 2023, meeting. SHIC’s mission remains to protect and enhance the health of the United States swine herd; this annual review of projects and priorities directs actions for the upcoming year. The POW is divided into four sections addressing SHIC’s priorities – 1) Monitor and Mitigate Risks to Swine Health, 2) Respond to Emerging Disease, 3) Surveillance and Discovery of Emerging Disease, 4) Improve Swine Health Information – with significant activities planned in each category, including the Wean-to-Harvest Biosecurity Program added to the Plan of Work in mid-2022 and extending into 2023. Following are some of the highlights of each section. Click here to access the complete 2023 Plan of Work.
1) Monitor and Mitigate Risks to Swine Health
SHIC, along with the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research and Pork Checkoff, joined together to fund and launch a two-year Wean-to-Harvest Biosecurity Research Program in the late fall of 2022. Program goals are to investigate cost-effective, innovative technologies, protocols, or ideas to enhance biosecurity during the wean-to-harvest phases of swine production. Submitted research proposals have been reviewed by industry-wide task forces focused on transport and site biosecurity. The work will continue into 2023, with solicitation for targeted proposals and projects seeking creative, new ways to enhance biosecurity and demonstrate return on investment.
SHIC will investigate the ability of common production inputs to act as mechanical vectors for disease introduction onto farms in 2023, to supplement the work of the Wean-to-Harvest Biosecurity Research Program. Projects could include decreasing the potential for pathogen transmission via feed and investigation of common non-feed inputs as vectors, all designed to inform and strengthen farm biosecurity.
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