Manitoba Pork Council said PED virus case numbers keep rising in Manitoba, surpassing previous year’s outbreaks, currently sitting at 85 as of March 20. As a result, biosecurity vigilance remains critical when visiting high-traffic facilities such as abattoirs and assembly yards. 
With spring just around the corner and manure storages are full waiting for application biosecurity around manure application will need careful consideration and attention to biosecurity. Especially in the southeastern part of Manitoba where PED infected farms will be spreading manure. Biosecurity practices specific to manure application include: 
• Communicate your manure application plans (location, date range) with neighbouring premises; 
• Check the Manitoba Coordinated Disease Response regularly for updates – PED-affected lagoons communicate application plans through the MCDR. 
• Watch the wind directions and weather patterns and adjust application plans to prevent the risk.   
• When ready for spreading manure keep the barn closed as much as possible with only essential movements. Avoid moving pigs if possible. 
• Apply dust control measures in your Clean Air Zone [CAZ]. 
• Keep traffic flow of manure equipment designated to prevent cross-contamination with separate access to the lagoon. 
The Canadian Pork Council has developed a video resource focused on manure application and biosecurity during this time of year. 
Proper management of manure application is critical to prevent introducing disease to the farm. This video highlights the potential biosecurity risks that manure and application can pose to the farm and the actions a producer can take to protect the health of her pigs. 
The CPC video said manure application equipment poses a disease risk to the farm. If manure contaminates the equipment, particularly from another farm, it is best to use dedicated equipment for the farm because it eliminates the risk of introducing disease from another farm. Flow or system dedicated equipment working at different sites owned by the same company should sequence its operation to start at the healthiest farm or most vulnerable. Then move on to the next healthiest farm. The least healthy farm should be the last visit. Some farms, however, may rely on third-party equipment.  

“This equipment may operate on many different farms owned by separate companies, each with its herd health statuses. As a result, third-party services often present the highest biosecurity risk.” 
The video said it’s always critical to reducing contamination risk between farms such as sequencing visits from healthiest to least healthy farms and washing in between them.  
“If possible, pump different manure species through the equipment between one swine site and another. This helps flush the hoses clean of the first site’s hog manure, which might pose a risk to the next swine site.” 
The CPC said at minimum to ensure that the applicator blows out the hoses of the manure application equipment plus washing the machines before arriving at the next farm. The equipment should look relatively clean with little to no manure dripping.  
“When the manure application equipment leaves your farm, we want to avoid manure dripping off the equipment and contaminating roadways, potentially attaching to incoming vehicles. For this reason, clean the equipment thoroughly before leaving your farm. Providing a gravel pad that drains away from your controlled access zone is the best practice.” 
Another best practice covered by the CPC video is proper communication and scheduling of manure management services is essential to maintain good biosecurity on the farm. All barn personnel need to know when manure applicators will be on site.  
“For equipment working on other sites, ask the applicator about the health status of previously visited farms before they arrive at your farm. When possible, ensure the equipment does not visit a farm with a disease outbreak before yours or request a thorough cleaning before it arrives.” 
Preventing the spread of disease to a farm’s animals is crucial when manure application occurs on the farm. Following these best practices will help ensure biosecurity on the farm, protecting the livestock. •
— By Harry Siemens