📄 Abstract
Pig farming is an important source of livelihood, animal protein and income for smallholder, tribal and commercial farmers in India, particularly in the North-Eastern states. The sector is repeatedly threatened by transboundary and endemic diseases such as African swine fever (ASF), classical swine fever (CSF), porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS), foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) and porcine epidemic diarrhoea (PED). Several pig-associated pathogens, including swine influenza viruses, Japanese encephalitis virus, Streptococcus suis and Taenia solium, are also of public health importance. In the absence of a commercial vaccine for ASF, biosecurity remains the most effective and economical tool to prevent, control and contain pig diseases. Biosecurity comprises external measures (bioexclusion), which prevent the entry of pathogens into a farm, and internal measures (biocontainment and biomanagement), which limit pathogen spread within and out of a farm. This review describes the concept and principles of biosecurity, the major diseases and transmission routes relevant to pig farms, practical external and internal biosecurity measures, cleaning and disinfection protocols, and tools for biosecurity assessment such as Biocheck.UGent. It also discusses the economic benefits of biosecurity, its role in reducing antimicrobial use under a One Health approach, and the specific constraints of smallholder and backyard pig systems in India following the incursion of ASF in 2020. Strengthened farmer training, regulated pig movement, swill-feeding control, compartmentalisation and institutional support are recommended to improve biosecurity compliance in Indian pig production.
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📚 How to Cite:
Hrishikesh Jagtap, Prafullata Bashetti, Anil B. Bhosale , Chandrakant D. Bhong , BIOSECURITY IN PIG FARMS , Volume 12 , Issue 10, October 2026, EPRA International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research (IJMR) , Pages: 93 - 99 , DOI: https://doi.org/10.36713/epra29155