SWINE&U

and groundhogs are all attracted to spilled feed, manure and mortalities. Use fencing, bird netting or other materials to keep birds and other pests out of the barn.

By Diane DeWitte

lation situation would be a quarantine facility which is separate or remote from the existing herd. Recommended isolation times range from 14-30 days to ensure the new or returning pigs can be watched for signs of disease. When conducting daily chores, take care of the isolated pigs last. Use the isolation period as a time to observe and test for diseases and to vaccinate and acclimate new animals.

Clean, disinfect and dry facilities and equipment. Thorough cleaning requires removal of all bedding and manure, washing with hot water (preferred) and an appropriate detergent formulated for livestock use. Facilities should be cleaned and disinfected between populations of pigs. All equipment that touches pigs should be cleaned and disinfected after use. This includes sorting boards, floor mats, and any show equipment used. Disinfectants should be used only after cleaning and applied according to label instructions. Facilities and equipment should be allowed to dry after cleaning and disinfection. Drying can occur either by direct sunlight, passage of time, or use of an additional heat source.

Control movement of wildlife, rodents, pets and pests. Keep the family dogs and cats away from the pigs. It’s easy for a free-running pet to bring disease organisms into the barn. Do not rely on cats for rodent control. Control rodents with a systematic and regularly serviced bait program. Exclude wildlife from the barn area. Raccoons, opossums, skunks

Dispose of mortalities in a timely and complete manner. Compost mortalities if possible. Use a rendering service if composting isn’t available. Remember that rendering trucks can transmit disease, so establish a way to keep the truck off the farm premises.

Biosecurity is as important on a 4-H swine member’s half-acre as it is on a 2,500-sow pig farm. Disease control and awareness materials have been provided for Minnesota 4-H pig exhibitors in the past, and it’s always a good practice to review them. For information regarding biosecurity for exhibition swine, visit https://z.umn.edu/BiosecurityExhibitionSwine. Basic biosecurity for tagging 4-H swine is available at https://z.umn.edu/BiosecurityTaggingSwine.

Minnesota swine exhibitors can find specific 4-H pig enrollment, participation and deadline information on the University of Minnesota’s 4-H website: https://extension.umn.edu/projects-and-more/4-hswine-project.

U of M Extension educators annually provide 4-H exhibitors with details of how to keep their animals healthy, and how to prevent and reduce the spread of diseases to their 4-H projects. An important practice repeatedly highlighted is washing hands with soap and water. The minimum recommendation is scrubbing hands thoroughly for 20 seconds, or about the time it takes to sing “Happy Birthday.”

See SWINE AND U, pg. 14