How Feed Additives Fight Swine Disease Risks
Protecting pigs from disease starts with a strong biosecurity plan, which typically includes disinfecting equipment, showering in and out of facilities, and cleaning vehicles before they enter the farm. However, one often-overlooked factor is feed.
The 2013 outbreak of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) in the U.S. led the swine industry to reevaluate feed not only as a potential disease vector but also as a tool to enhance biosecurity, says Stacie Crowder, Ph.D., director of additive sales and technical innovation at Fortiva.
“Feed is in constant motion – delivered from feed mills to farms to feed troughs, touching multiple points along the way,” says Crowder. “Utilizing the right ingredients can help reduce pathogens in the feed while also supporting immune health for long-term performance.”
With ongoing threats like highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), feed additives offer a practical solution to close a critical biosecurity gap.
While standard practices like equipment disinfection and showering reduce disease risk, they don’t eliminate it. Airborne diseases like HPAI and fecal-oral transmitted diseases such as PEDV still pose threats. Feed biosecurity additives can help protect against these risks both in the feed and across the farm.
“We’ve placed more focus in recent years on feed materials, ingredients and where they come from to better understand the biosecurity risk they may pose,” says Crowder. “But we also know that diseases can enter farms through multiple avenues.”
“Look for ingredients that give you a benefit beyond the feeder,” Crowder adds. “To get the maximum return on your investment, there needs to be a benefit beyond targeting pathogens in the feed because we know the right ingredients can impact the immune system and gut health to help reduce incidence and severity of disease, no matter the pathogen source.”
Crowder also recommends selecting additives that are easy to use and compatible with your feed mill or on-farm systems.
Importantly, Crowder stresses the value of using these additives proactively. “It’s about preparing the immune system ahead of time rather than waiting for a break to occur.”
Layering feed biosecurity into your disease prevention strategy can provide essential protection and support herd health year-round.