Assessment of Biosecurity in Confined Pig Farms in Urban and Peri-Urban Areas of Abidjan (Ivory Coast)

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to assess the status of biosecurity measures in confined pig farms in the urban and peri-urban areas of Abidjan in order to make recommendations for improving their sanitary conditions. This study was conducted in 76 confined pig farms in order to assess biosecurity practices. It consisted of administering a questionnaire to farmers in the urban and peri-urban areas of Abidjan. The analysis of the implementation of external biosecurity measures showed that 46.67% of the farms were not fenced, 85.20% were adjacent to other pig farms and the distance between them was less than 200m in 75.40% of cases. Similarly, 35.80% of the farms were located less than 100m from houses. Barriers to entry existed in 37.5% but only 2.8% and 8.82% of farms had signs for visitors and trucks and a vehicle disinfection device at the entrance respectively. Only 6.8% of the farms had foot baths at the entrance of the buildings. The vast majority of farmers stated that they quarantine new animals. The principles of internal biosecurity are very little respected. Workers wear work clothes on the majority of farms, but more than half of them go outside with them. The same working equipment is used in the different lodges without distinction of the age of the subjects and very little cleaned and disinfected. The disinfectants used are bleach and cresyl without any dilution standard. The presence of other animal species was noted and rodent control was not practised. The pathologies encountered are predominantly diarrhoea, and postweaning animals are the most affected.