1 Quarantine Procedures for the Small-Scale Pig Farm Jeffrey Wiegert 1 and Mark Estienne 2 1 Department of Animal Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, and 2 Virginia Tech- Tidewater Agricultural Research and Extension Center, Suffolk Introduction Pig-to-pig contact is the most common way diseases are transmitted on the farm. Disease outbreaks cost money in the form of increased pig death rates, greater veterinary care expenses, and lost production (in other words, poorer growth rates and longer times necessary to achieve desired market weights, decreased feed conversion efficiency [pounds of feed needed to produce a pound of live weight gain], etc.). Pigs brought onto the farm from outside sources, or pigs that have left the farm and are allowed to return, may be carrying diseases that the rest of the herd has no immunity against. These diseases can quickly spread throughout the entire farm. Accordingly, any pigs brought onto the farm represent a significant disease threat, and this may be particularly true if the health of the farm of origin is poor or unknown. On the other hand, the incoming pigs may have no immunity against diseases specific to the new farm, and they may themselves become ill following introduction. If possible, it is best to maintain a closed herd to prevent the introduction of new diseases. A closed herd is one in which replacement breeding gilts are selected internally, artificial insemination (AI) is used to bring new genetics onto the farm, and feeder pigs are not purchased from outside sources and comingled with the resident herd. However, this may not feasible or practical for the small-scale or show pig producer. Moreover, AI decreases, but does not totally eliminate, the possibility of bringing new diseases into a herd. For example, porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) may be transmitted by semen used for AI (Maes et al., 2008). Instituting an effective isolation or quarantine period is a proven means of preventing the introduction and spread of new diseases when pigs are brought onto the farm. A quarantine period is a brief period of isolation in which the incoming pigs are vaccinated and monitored for signs of disease symptoms prior to introduction into the general herd. It also allows the producer time to have pigs blood tested and to identify any diseases that a pig may be carrying, and gives the incoming stock a grace period to gain immunity to the farm’s normal disease load. Establishing an on-farm quarantine period requires increased space and facilities, labor, and attention to detail, but may also prevent costly disease outbreaks and maintain the health of the herd. Small-Scale and Niche Market Pork Production Bulletin No. 10; April 1, 2016 Virginia Tech- Tidewater Agricultural Research and Extension Center, Suffolk, VA