Biosecurity measures in pig farms
The questionnaire designed for farmers included a section on biosecurity
measures to assess the types of fences used to protect pig farms from
wild boar incursions. The standards for the installation of fences to
prevent incursions and contact between pigs and wild boars published by
the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries consists on a combination of
two electric wires surrounding an Ursus mesh type fence (Gisclard et
al., 2021). The purpose of our questions was to characterize the level
of biosecurity of farm facilities and its efficiency against incursions
or contacts with wild boars. Farm biosecurity information recorded
during the farmers’ survey (number and type of fence and the electric
wires) was integrated into a three-level variable reflecting protection
against wild boar intrusions. Whenever the farm had no fence, and
whatever was the number of electric wires, the biosecurity level was
considered as low. Farms protected by one fence and 1 to 4 electric
wires were classified in the intermediate biosecurity level. Farms
protected by 2 fences and 1 to 4 electric wires were classified as
having an adequate biosecurity level. One farm protected by an electric
fence and one farm protected by a concrete wall were also classified in
the adequate biosecurity category. The spread of slurry was considered a
health risk for the faeco-oral dissemination of E. coli strains
potentially responsible for OD.