When you raise livestock for a living, preventing disease is one of your top concerns. There are many ways to limit or even eliminate the risks of illnesses among your hog population by taking some easy precautions. Consider the following preventative measures for keeping your livestock healthy and safe.
First of all, whenever you purchase new hogs, be sure that these animals come from a source that you really trust. Select a breeder that has a solid history and reputation for providing clean, healthy livestock. In addition, make sure your farm has an area where these new animals can be completely isolated for a time after purchase. Your new animals should be separated from the rest of your hogs for 21 days and perhaps more if they show any symptom of disease or test positive for any illness.
Another way to keep disease at bay is by restricting the access to your hogs. Workers need to maintain strict protocols throughout the farm. This includes changing clothing and shoes when going into different areas of your farm. In general, you need to ensure that as few workers as possible have access to your animals. This will prevent porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRSV) from spreading. This disease alone causes losses of more than $600 million per year in the porcine industry. You can further limit the spread of PRRSV by using an air filtration system. These systems are an added cost, but the cost of PRRSV is far higher.
Another way to limit diseases from spreading is to monitor and maintain your waste systems. Whether you have a pull plug system, a lagoon waste system or perhaps a deep pit containment system, you can find natural, chemical-free products that are veterinarian-approved, will deal with waste and are still safe for your hogs and employees.
If your waste system is a deep pit-type containment, consider using the AgraSphere product. This product contains special proprietary microbes that will prevent crusting and sludge build up, as well as reduce odors and flies. These spheres can be tossed into the pit with no mixing, and each sphere will release its microbes for 30 days. Then you simply add more spheres.
If you have a lagoon waste system, you could use another type of AgraSphere, the AgraSphereLGT. This product is also biodegradable and can treat and maintain 400,000 gallons of lagoon waste. In addition, the AgraSphere LGT also improves the nutrient value of your manure, which is an added crop benefit.
First of all, whenever you purchase new hogs, be sure that these animals come from a source that you really trust. Select a breeder that has a solid history and reputation for providing clean, healthy livestock. In addition, make sure your farm has an area where these new animals can be completely isolated for a time after purchase. Your new animals should be separated from the rest of your hogs for 21 days and perhaps more if they show any symptom of disease or test positive for any illness.
Another way to keep disease at bay is by restricting the access to your hogs. Workers need to maintain strict protocols throughout the farm. This includes changing clothing and shoes when going into different areas of your farm. In general, you need to ensure that as few workers as possible have access to your animals. This will prevent porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRSV) from spreading. This disease alone causes losses of more than $600 million per year in the porcine industry. You can further limit the spread of PRRSV by using an air filtration system. These systems are an added cost, but the cost of PRRSV is far higher.
Another way to limit diseases from spreading is to monitor and maintain your waste systems. Whether you have a pull plug system, a lagoon waste system or perhaps a deep pit containment system, you can find natural, chemical-free products that are veterinarian-approved, will deal with waste and are still safe for your hogs and employees.
If your waste system is a deep pit-type containment, consider using the AgraSphere product. This product contains special proprietary microbes that will prevent crusting and sludge build up, as well as reduce odors and flies. These spheres can be tossed into the pit with no mixing, and each sphere will release its microbes for 30 days. Then you simply add more spheres.
If you have a lagoon waste system, you could use another type of AgraSphere, the AgraSphereLGT. This product is also biodegradable and can treat and maintain 400,000 gallons of lagoon waste. In addition, the AgraSphere LGT also improves the nutrient value of your manure, which is an added crop benefit.
About the Author:
Lianne Derocco loves blogging about agricultural issues. For further details about hog manure management, please visit the BioverseAG.com website now.
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