Surveillance and Decision-Making in Swine Health Management

Swine health management requires diligent observation of animals and the collection and analysis of production records to assess the efficacy of on-farm disease control programs and to plan corrective strategies. Diagnostic testing is used to enhance these monitoring efforts and to guide decision-making associated with disease control interventions as well as inform biosecurity and disease eradication programs. There are constantly new diagnostic tests being developed, and it is now possible to use a wide variety of sample materials including serum, oral fluids, feces, semen, and tissues in monitoring programs. The usefulness and reliability of testing is dependent on several factors including the selection of animals to be tested and the attributes of the test that is used. Decision-making to determine intervention strategies, such as mass medication or vaccination, needs to be carefully evaluated to ensure a cost-benefit, in addition to addressing animal welfare and food safety concerns.