BROOKINGS, S.D. -- The presence of the Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea virus (PEDv) in the region requires producers, manure haulers and landowners to work together to reduce the risk of disease spread during the manure application season, explains Erin Cortus, assistant professor and South Dakota State University Extension environmental quality engineer.
"Biosecurity measures during the manure hauling season are not new to pork producers, but it never hurts to take a fresh look at procedures on your operation, especially in light of new and ongoing research," Cortus says. "Heat and time combinations can deactivate the virus, and limiting exposure can help reduce the risk of spreading this virus."
What research says
Ongoing research by Dr. S. Goyal at the University of Minnesota has shown PEDv can survive in slurry for 14 days at 77 degrees Fahrenheit. At storage temperatures of -4 degrees Fahrenheit and 39 degrees Fahrenheit, the virus was still alive after 28 days.
Fresh fecal material stored at temperatures of 104 degrees Fahrenheit to 140 degrees Fahrenheit and relative humidity between 30 and 70 percent survived for up to seven days. A deactivation period of seven days at room temperature was also measured by Iowa State University researchers.
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Another separate study provides more research data to work with.
"Although this report focused on addressing concerns about livestock trailers, the research has some application to manure application equipment, as well," Cortus says. "The author of the research suggests the virus can be deactivated by heating livestock trailers to 160 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes, but this temperature and time combination does not replace the standard recommended practice of thoroughly washing, disinfecting and drying trailers."
Cortus says understanding the survival of the virus in manure might warrant a revisit of cleaning protocols for manure hauling equipment and personnel between sites or farms. Some key principles for cleaning to keep in mind are: remove organic material before washing; after washing, allow the equipment to dry before applying any disinfectant. Excess water can dilute disinfectants and follow the label for any disinfectant.
In addition, Cortus says producers should review for themselves, with their staff and contracted manure haulers, the line of separation.
"This is the physical or imaginary boundary that exists to keep the farm, or biosecure side, separate from the manure hauling side. They need to ask themselves, 'what existing or new procedures do you want followed for crossing over this line?'" Cortus says.
The National Pork Board, in cooperation with the National Pork Producers Council and the American Association of Swine Veterinarians, summarize these recommendations and more in a series of guidance factsheets that can be found at www.pork . org.
For more information or assistance accessing the factsheets, please contact Cortus at 605-688-5144.
