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.
You can further protect hogs by limiting access to your animals. Be sure that workers keep their hands, clothing and boots clean when coming and going from different areas in the hog farm. This can prevent the spread of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome, which is said to cost the United States swine industry more than $500 million annually. Some research has shown that the use of air filters can reduce incidences of PRRSV. While air filters are costly, the cost of this disease can be many times greater than the cost of air filtration.
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.
For deep pit systems, a product such as AgraSphere can be utilized. Each sphere will reduce the buildup of sludge, prevent crusting, and reduce both odors and flies. This product is safe, natural and biodegradable and is easy to use, requiring no mixing. Each of these spheres will work for 30 days, releasing proprietary microbial isolates.
For those who have a waste lagoon, there is a another similar product, the AgraSphreLGT. Like the AgraSphere, this product uses natural bacteria to maintain and treat waste, and this product also improves the nutrient levels in manure, which can be a benefit to crops. This lagoon waste product will treat up to 400,000 gallons of waste for up to a month, and again, all you need to do is to regularly add a new product to keep problems at bay.
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.
You can further protect hogs by limiting access to your animals. Be sure that workers keep their hands, clothing and boots clean when coming and going from different areas in the hog farm. This can prevent the spread of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome, which is said to cost the United States swine industry more than $500 million annually. Some research has shown that the use of air filters can reduce incidences of PRRSV. While air filters are costly, the cost of this disease can be many times greater than the cost of air filtration.
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.
For deep pit systems, a product such as AgraSphere can be utilized. Each sphere will reduce the buildup of sludge, prevent crusting, and reduce both odors and flies. This product is safe, natural and biodegradable and is easy to use, requiring no mixing. Each of these spheres will work for 30 days, releasing proprietary microbial isolates.
For those who have a waste lagoon, there is a another similar product, the AgraSphreLGT. Like the AgraSphere, this product uses natural bacteria to maintain and treat waste, and this product also improves the nutrient levels in manure, which can be a benefit to crops. This lagoon waste product will treat up to 400,000 gallons of waste for up to a month, and again, all you need to do is to regularly add a new product to keep problems at bay.
About the Author:
Lianne Derocco loves blogging about agricultural issues. For further information about hog manure management, please visit the BioverseAG.com site today.
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