Changes To Consider For 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.

One issue on which Tyson took a harder stance was requiring that certain farms cease using manual blunt force euthanasia to kill piglets. There are several, more humane alternatives for hog farmers to consider. Tyson also recommends that farmers improve the housing conditions of all of the animals on their farms. This basically means that Tyson is asking farmers to ensure that sows and piglets have room to 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.

The use of AgraSphere which is a natural product is a good example if farmers want to deal with said issues, even help prevent them before they happen. There are no chemicals found in this product where it instead relies on natural bacteria microbes so that waste solids can be eaten away thus liquefying waste. By simply tossing this biodegradable sphere into the waste lagoon or pit microbes are immediately released. To add to its prevention of the problems, you will also find waste nutrient value improved which ensures better utilization of waste turned to fertilizer for crops which is a great way to earn extra aside from hog farming.




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