%0 Journal Article %J Prev Vet Med %D 2008 %T A survey on biosecurity and management practices in Belgian pig herds. %A Ribbens, S %A Dewulf, J %A F. Koenen %A Mintiens, K %A De Sadeleer, L %A de Kruif, A %A Maes, D %K Animal Husbandry %K Animals %K Belgium %K Bioterrorism %K Cluster Analysis %K Female %K Male %K Meat %K Population Density %K Quarantine %K Surveys and Questionnaires %K Swine %K Swine Diseases %X

We surveyed Belgian pig herds to describe their biosecurity status and management practices. Our written questionnaire was sent to a stratified random sample of 609 pig farms. We achieved a 71.6% response, and 421/609 farmers (69.1%) returned questionnaires suitable for analysis. We used multiple-correspondence analysis followed by a two-step clustering procedure. Herd size, herd type and occupation (commercial or hobby herd) were used to describe different groups. We differentiated four biosecurity groups, which we interpreted as indicating low- to high-biosecurity status. Although we felt that most farms had acceptable biosecurity, few used measures such as showering (2.1%) and quarantine periods for people entering the premises (7.1%). We also found three management-practices clusters, although their interpretation was not straightforward. Despite the industrialised character of pig production in Belgium, 9.4% of pig herds were small, hobby herds that reported different biosecurity and management characteristics (such as the equipping pigs on pasture and feeding kitchen waste).

%B Prev Vet Med %V 83 %P 228-41 %8 2008 Mar 17 %G eng %N 3-4 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17850906?dopt=Abstract %R 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2007.07.009