Tools to aid pig producers with biosecurity and management.

Tools to aid pig producers with biosecurity and management. Biosecurity is not only a matter of disinfecting and fencing,it is a matter of mentality.There is a need to be aware of how pathogens can enter a farm can make pig producers more prudent about what to pay attention to. When planning a control plan for a disease such as Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome – PRRS it is essential to follow a systematic approach like the 5-step process. Step 1 and 2 – aim at setting the goals and expectations and determine the current status of the farm. Step 3 – it is important to identify the constraints, namely the biosecurity and management risks that exist in farms or systems. Considering the information of the previous 3 steps it is possible to propose solutions in step 4 and finally, in step 5, solutions can be implemented and results can be monitored. A high level biosecurity is a must for farms located in pig dense areas, due to high infection pressure. Therefore, a lot of research projects have been dedicated to learn about the constraints that complicate the right implementation of disease control programmes. A recent publication referring to farms in Belgium, France, Germany and Sweden documented that often external biosecurity is more important than internal biosecurity. This is probably not any different to farms in other countries and areas. Boehringer Ingelheim recently introduced 2 new tools that aim to help identify and visualize constraints related to external and internal biosecurity, pig flow, management and trace pathogen carrying agents. The ‘Pathogen Tracing Kit’, or short ‘p-Track’.With that, it will be possible to trace and monitor multiple risks associated with pathogen carrying agents in the farms: tools, farm staff, or visitors, or other fomites. Using the tool, veterinarians and farmers can measure in real time risky events related with movements . For example, when a certain object (a pushboard or an injector) is used in different areas of the farm it can be detected and quantified. more

How to reduce aggression in pigs.

When new ,unfamiliar pigs are grouped together they fight to establish dominance relationships. This natural behavior can, under farm conditions, escalate to the extent where health and productivity are affected. Aggression increases stress, causes skin lesions and can result in injury and reduced immunity and growth. Researchers at Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC, formerly SAC) in Edinburgh, UK have been working on pig aggression for over 15 years and recently, an information leaflet on aggression has been made available for farmers. The effect of aggression on productivity, aggression between newly mixed pigs lasts for around 24 hours, after which it reduces but remains high for up to three weeks. Aggression results in skin lesions which mostly fade after one or two days. Aggression increases stress, causes skin lesions and can result in injury and reduced immunity and growth. In sows it can lead to abortion. The time spent on fighting comes directly at the cost of the time spent on feeding. Growth rate is therefore most often reduced on the first days after regrouping. How to reduce aggression in pigs 1) re grouping: If needed, then regroup pigs as young as possible. The older and heavier pigs are, the more likely that growth will be reduced and injuries occur. Endeavor to keep the number of unfamiliar pigs per pen as low as possible. The higher the familiarity, the fewer the fights. Caution: Do not put one or two unfamiliar pigs in an established group. more

Agribusiness: how to run a tractor and machinery hire business.

Agribusiness: how to run a tractor and machinery hire business. A large number of machinery will be seen traversing the country, providing various services on farms over the coming months.Farmers need to embrace the role of farm machinery if they are to be successful,but many small scale farmers are yet to imbibe the emerging farming technologies and machinery. Factors, such as the high cost of machines and farmers’ lack of access to finance, make the machinery unaffordable for resource-poor farmers. Agribusiness: how to run a tractor and machinery hire business. There is a niche for machinery hire which is a valid option for farmers, who do not need machines all year round . Committing resources to machinery hire is a new agribusiness niche which only a few are tapping into. How to run a tractor and hire machinery business is the question on investors lips,and these are the crucial steps. 1) identify your farmers and produce a data base. 2) understand their needs. 3) identify farm and note sizes of farms. 4) choose the machines that are durable,effective and manageable. 5) group your farmers,have a team leader and work out modalities for hiring. Agribusiness: how to run a tractor and machinery hire business. The hiring business is a win-win situation as investor and farmers both make profit as the overhead of farmers reduce and they will get better harvest while investors have a fast return on investment. Farmers need more of this hire business to produce more as it will make the work easy ,simple and fast. There is a need that this niche will service easily see and this

Ebola outbreak declared in Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Ebola outbreak declared in Democratic Republic of the Congo.According to WHO, nine suspected cases — including three deaths — have been reported since April 22 in an area more than 800 miles north of the capital of Kinshasa. Ebola was confirmed as the cause of one of the deaths while Six patients are currently hospitalized.

Outpatient protocol offers alternative for parvo treatment.

Outpatient protocol offers alternative for parvo treatment. Canine parvovirus is a serious and often fatal viral illness that most commonly affects puppies, though unvaccinated adult dogs can be infected as well. The cost implication for treatment is high due to hospitalization and intensive care/ monitoring and treatment,this makes many clients shy away from seeking professional help. Today,there is a new protocol developed at the Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital that may help save parvo puppies and give their families a chance to give their dogs a healthy life. Parvovirus, which is spread through exposure to feces from infected dogs, has the following symptoms such as lethargy, vomiting, fever, and diarrhea as the virus primarily impacts the gastrointestinal tract and the circulatory system, where it suppresses the bone marrow and causes the white blood cell count to drop. The veterinary care focuses on supporting the puppy with IV fluids and antibiotics, and close monitoring, but without intensive veterinary intervention parvovirus is almost always fatal due to dehydration and/or a severely compromised immune system. The treatment generally entails a long and expensive hospital stay, with at least five to seven days in intensive care, rehydration through an IV, lots of antibiotics, and medications to control nausea. The new protocol is the use of highly potent antibiotics, fluids and anti nausea medication,with the owner taking the pup to the clinic for the medication.The tender love and care attention will have to be provided by family to ensure the pup is comfortable and recovers fast. more

How to deal with ticks.

There are several species of ticks that transmit human and animal diseases, the most common is the blacklegged tick, which prefers moist woodland edges and transmits the deadly Lyme disease. The blacklegged ticks also cause babesiosis and anaplasmosis. The Lone star ticks thrive in hotter, drier places, such as lawns, and transmit ehrlichiosis and tularemia. There is a need to identify ticks and their habitat so as to ascertain disease risk . When going outdoors or suspected tick habitat ,use tick repellent on clothing and also do a tick-check of your entire body within 12 to 24 hours of outdoor activities. more

First case of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus( PRRS) outbreak on pig farm in Ecuador.

A first case of PRRS outbreak on pig farm in Ecuador,this outbreak started on April 3 at a commercial farm for fattening and trading pigs. The World Organization for Animal Health reported the confirmed presence of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) in Ecuador, the first occurrence of the disease in the South American country on the 5th of May. The farm located in Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas province, which is located west of the capital city, Quito. Dr. Diego Alfonso Viscaino Cabezas, agricultural engineer with the Ecuadorian Agriculture Ministry, reported the outbreak. On the farm, seven pigs were found to be infected with PRRS. All of them were destroyed. Farm with an epidemiological link are being investigated, and surveillance of neighboring farms is being conducted.