Sunday, March 9, 2014

Making Changes To Your Hog Farm

By Lianne Derocco


A letter was recently sent out to hog farmers where Tyson Foods is said to be asking farmers to make changes in the way pigs are cared for and housed. Tyson foods is the second largest processor for chicken, pork and beef they wish to be assured of a more humane treatment for the animals used for their products, as public pressure increases regarding these issues. Improving the conditions of hogs along with the alleviation of possible damage on the surroundings can be found in many ways.

There are many issues are taken up in this letter and video monitoring is amongst them. This is recommended in order to monitor and ensure that employees conform to proper procedures, placing video cameras throughout the farm is being suggested by Tyson. Monitoring includes how animals are being treated and the assurance that employees follow protocols in order to reduce spread or contamination of any disease.

Pain management is another issue brought up in the Tyson letter and this includes providing pain management for animals during tail docking and castration procedures. Currently, there are no approved drugs for this type of pain management and Tyson has said it will be researching this issue and recommends that farmers discuss this further with a trusted veterinarian.

The issue by which Tyson was with a harder stand on is relative to the cessation of the use of manual blunt force euthanasia in killing piglets by some farms. Hog farmers can have several alternatives which are more humane. Improving the housing conditions of all animals are also being raised by Tyson. What it primarily seeks is for farmers to make sure that sows and piglets are room in such that they can move about freely.

Even when Tyson did not mention agricultural waste management in its letter, this is actually a significant part in hog farming where there are some rather easy means to reduce common waste management problems including foaming, sludge build-up, crusting as well as odors and flies commonly found where waste pits and waste lagoons are.

Using a natural product such as AgraSphere, for example, is an easy way for farmers to deal with the issues and even prevent them before they occur. This product contains no chemicals and relies instead on natural bacteria microbes to eat away at the waste solids, helping to liquefy waste. You simply toss these biodegradable spheres into your waste pit or lagoon and they immediately begin releasing microbes. In addition to preventing problems, the nutrient value of the waste is improved, which means it can be better utilized as a fertilizer for crops and this can certainly add some extra income to your farming operation.




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