Biosecurity Series: From One Show to the Next

For many California exhibitors, July is one of the busiest and most exciting times of the year. Between exhibiting at your county fair, loading up for California State Fair or preparing for the California Youth Ag Expo (CYAE), you and your pigs may travel hundreds of miles, be around other pigs from across the state, or have a second string preparing for the fall show season.

That's what makes summer so much fun, but it's also what makes biosecurity so important.

Every fair, statewide show, or exhibition is another opportunity for pigs to encounter new animals, people, equipment, and environments. While we can't eliminate every risk, we can take simple steps that help keep our pigs healthy and ready for the next show. Because at the end of the day, healthy pigs mean more opportunities to keep showing.

The Show Doesn't End When You Pull Out of the Fairgrounds

When the banners are handed out and the trailer is loaded, it's tempting to think the hard work is over. In reality, some of the most important biosecurity decisions happen after you get home.

If your pig is headed to another show this summer, or if you have pigs waiting back at the barn, before unloading at home, think about everything that traveled with you:

• Your trailer

• Water buckets and feed pans

• Brushes, sorting boards and show equipment

• Shoes and clothing

These items may look clean, but they've been in an environment shared with lots of other pigs. Taking time to clean and disinfect them before the next trip helps reduce the risk of bringing unwanted bacteria or viruses back to your own animals.

Many of you have more than one project. Maybe you have younger pigs at home for fall shows, siblings showing different pigs, or a herd that never left the farm. Those pigs didn't attend the show, but they can still be affected if biosecurity isn't part of your routine.

Before heading back into your barn, remember to:

• Clean or disinfect your boots before entering pig pens.

• Wash your hands and change clothes if possible.

• Clean and disinfect buckets, brushes and equipment before using them again.

• Keep an eye on pigs returning from a show for changes in appetite, energy level or overall health.

Whether you're traveling from your county fair to the California State Fair, preparing for CYAE, or heading to another show later this summer, every stop along the way is another opportunity to practice good biosecurity.

Starting each trip with clean equipment, healthy pigs, and good habits helps protect your project and supports fellow exhibitors across California. The small things washing a bucket, disinfecting a trailer, or cleaning your boots can make a big difference over the course of a busy show season.

Fair season is a team effort. Every exhibitor, family member, volunteer, and supporter has a role to play in protecting the health of our pigs.

Healthy pigs mean more opportunities to learn, compete, and keep showing all season long. Being apart of Team Pork means practicing good biosecurity for us and our animals, supporting fellow exhibitors, and ensuring California's show pig industry continues to thrive.