January 2025 - Journal Final - Flipbook - Page 10
Nutrition
BIOSECURITY AT THE FEED MILL:
A Critical Step in Disease Prevention
Jake Koepke
Sr. Feed Mill Supervisor
Pipestone Nutrition
Jake Koepke, a South Dakota native, holds a Bachelor’s degree in
Microbiology and Biotechnology (2015) and a Master’s degree in
Swine Nutrition (2017) from South Dakota State University. He joined
Pipestone in 2022 and currently serves as a Nutritionist and Senior
Feed Mill Supervisor, where he plays a key role in optimizing feed mill
operations and supporting swine nutrition programs.
Jenna Feifarek
Feed Quality Assurance Mgr.
Pipestone Nutrition
Jenna Feifarek, originally from Renville, Minnesota, cultivated her
passion for agriculture growing up on a small hobby farm. She earned a
Bachelor’s degree in Animal Science from South Dakota State University.
As the Feed Quality Assurance Manager for Pipestone Nutrition, Jenna
is dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of feed quality and
safety for swine producers.
When the term biosecurity comes up, many
immediately think of on-farm practices. However,
the same rigorous principles must extend to other
critical points in the production chain, including the
feed mill—a potential entry point for disease. At
Pipestone Nutrition, we conduct bi-annual audits of
45 feed mills that supply Pipestone-managed sow
farms. Our dedicated team focuses on evaluating and
implementing biosecurity practices tailored to feed
mills to reduce the risk of disease spread. Here are
a few easy-to-implement strategies feed mills have
adopted, supported by examples of their impact.
disease spread, feed deliveries are sequenced similarly.
Trucks servicing high-health sow farms early in the week
are dedicated to those farms and do not visit lowerhealth sites until later in the delivery schedule.
After completing deliveries to lower-health sites, trucks
and trailers undergo a rigorous process of washing,
disinfecting, and drying—ideally for 24-48 hours—
before being reassigned to high-health farms.
A Case Study in Biosecurity Lapses
One of the most effective tools in feed mill biosecurity
is the biosecurity pyramid. This visual aid helps
prioritize feed deliveries by categorizing farms based
on health status and ensuring that traf昀椀c 昀氀ow aligns
with biosecurity principles.
Last year, a gilt developer site placed an emergency
feed order. The mill promptly responded to prevent
pigs from running out of feed, but the truck used had
just delivered to a PRRSv-positive site. As a result,
the virus was inadvertently transmitted to the healthy
gilt site. While emergencies can and do happen, this
situation highlights the critical importance of adhering
to the biosecurity pyramid and ensuring proper
cleaning protocols, even under time constraints.
The concept is straightforward: just as barn chores
typically begin with younger, healthier pigs and
progress to older or less healthy groups to minimize
Routine Washing and Disinfecting
The Biosecurity Pyramid
Much like barns are thoroughly cleaned between
groups of pigs, feed trucks and trailers require
regular washing and disinfecting to prevent crosscontamination. This practice isn’t limited to the
occasional deep clean; it’s a consistent, routine effort
that plays a pivotal role in biosecurity.
• Exterior Cleaning and Drying
The exterior of trucks and trailers is washed and
disinfected weekly at a minimum or immediately
after visiting a disease-positive site. A 24-hour
drying period is critical to ensure any residual
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