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- Quarantining purchased animals will help protect the commercial herd against the possible transfer of pathogens.
- Quarantine should be carried out in a separate building that meets a number of biosecurity requirements.
- During quarantine, you should pay attention to specific disease symptoms
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We recently wrote about how to protect yourself against the transfer of pathogens to the farm through animals introduced into the herd. However, we deliberately did not discuss quarantine issues. This topic requires a separate study.
Read more ABC of biosecurity of pig farms: We inhabit and power the facility
As you can easily guess, the term quarantine means a period of isolation during which signals indicating the presence of specific disease states may appear in newly purchased animals. This includes clinical symptoms, but also laboratory test results indicating the presence of a given threat.
Of course, the issue of quarantine does not apply to fattening in an open cycle, but is an essential link in breeding in a closed cycle.
How long should quarantine last?
As we know, signals indicating infection with pathogens do not have to appear overnight. Therefore, it is assumed that the shortest quarantine period should be at least 4 weeks, and some recommendations recommend that this period last up to two months. The duration of quarantine should always be decided by a veterinarian.
Quarantine sector
The place where animals will be quarantined should absolutely be away from the production sector. The absolute minimum is 100 meters, but the ideal would be to locate the facility in a separate location, at least 3 kilometers away from the base herd.
It is recommended that this building uses a separate drinking water supply and separate feed lines. It is also recommended to have a separate excrement disposal system. The building should be occupied in the ccp-ccp system (entire room empty – entire room full), so that it is possible to thoroughly wash and disinfect the surfaces in the break between subsequent quarantines.
Ideally, the quarantine sector would be operated by separate staff, which in practice, however, is only possible on large farms. Typically, employees service both the commercial herd and the quarantine building, but in such a case it is necessary to service this sector at the end of the working day so that the staff is decontaminated after its completion. Separate work clothes must be worn, and the same tools and equipment must not be used in the quarantine sector as in the commercial herd.
Read more ABC of biosecurity of pig farms: Where do diseases come from?
What to look for?
A quarantined herd must be subjected to laboratory blood testing at least twice for the presence of specific pathogens. The first samples should be taken immediately after the animals arrive on the farm, the second samples after three weeks.
During quarantine, you should also pay attention to the occurrence of clinical symptoms suggesting the occurrence of the disease. These symptoms include:
- Coughing, sneezing
- Diarrhea, mucus and blood in the stool
- Loss of appetite
- Skin changes
- Lameness
- Increased body temperature
Read more A decade of fighting ASF. Where did we go wrong?
Sources:
Zygmunt Pejsak: Pig health protection PWR 2007
Donald G. Lewis, Rodney B. Baker: Pig biosecurity and pig farm protection, University of Nebraska / KZP-PTCh, Warsaw 2015
Pigs – The complete guide to healthy pig farming, Cid Lines 2011
