New research out of the University of Missouri is offering fresh insight into how different barn-entry biosecurity setups can help keep pathogens out of hog barns — and how producers without full-body shower facilities can still reach a high level of protection.
The project evaluated multiple entrance systems commonly used across the industry and compared them to the gold-standard: a full shower-in, shower-out protocol. The goal was to understand which combinations of tools and practices can deliver meaningful pathogen reduction while remaining practical and cost-effective for farms of different sizes and layouts.
Key Findings from the Research
According to the research team, the full-body shower remains the most effective barrier for preventing bacteria and viruses from entering the barn. However, the study showed that other systems — when paired correctly — can deliver very similar results.
Researchers tested several interventions, including:
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Danish entry and modified Danish entry setups
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Air showers
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Disinfectant sprays
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Disinfectant fogging
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Hairnets and hand sanitizers
To simulate real-world contamination, bacteria (Staph aureus and E. coli) and viruses (calicivirus and canine distemper virus used as surrogates) were applied to:
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T-shirts
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Leather or pigskin to mimic human skin
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Faux fur to mimic hair
A Promising Combination
One of the standout findings:
A Danish entry system paired with hand sanitizer and hairnets delivered protection comparable to a full-body shower in reducing the pathogens tested.
In addition, an air shower used with a disinfectant spray and a hairnet also performed very closely to the shower-in standard.
These results highlight that producers have more options than previously thought — especially for barns where a full shower system isn’t realistic due to infrastructure, cost, or layout.
Practical Value for Everyday Operations
The research reinforces a growing theme across the industry:
Biosecurity doesn’t need to be expensive to be effective — but it must be intentional.
As barns continue to tighten wean-to-harvest biosecurity, the study gives producers confidence that upgraded Danish entry systems, when reinforced with consistent protocols and simple tools like hand sanitizer and hairnets, can significantly reduce the risk of introducing harmful pathogens.
Bottom Line for Producers
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Full-body showers are still the strongest line of defense.
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For barns without them, enhanced Danish entry setups provide a high-performance alternative.
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Pairing physical separation with sanitizer, hair protection, and optional air-shower or spray interventions can meaningfully lower disease risk.
Swine Web will continue following barn-entry research and highlight new findings that help producers strengthen practical, day-to-day biosecurity.
