How to handle a pig farm after a flood? Nail these four key steps

1. Disinfection of the environment.

First, carry out a thorough sweeping and washing. For pig houses flooded by water, clear away the accumulated mud, sand and gravel, manure, garbage and all kinds of filth. Sweep and wash in a set order: start from the roof, then the walls, then the floor; from the far end of the pig house to the doorway; indoors first, then outdoors, proceeding step by step without leaving any dead corners. After careful and thorough sweeping and washing, not only can most pathogens be removed, but the amount of organic matter such as manure and garbage can also be greatly reduced, which helps chemical disinfectants work. After thorough sweeping and washing, chemical disinfection can be carried out. Generally, 2 to 3 types of disinfectants with different modes of action are required, and 2 to 3 rounds of disinfection are carried out. After environmental disinfection, spray a micro-ecological environment improver so that a large amount of probiotics covers the internal and external surfaces of the livestock house, inhibiting the growth of harmful microorganisms and improving the environment.

2. Disinfection of the pigs' bodies.

Spray disinfection of the pigs' bodies is relatively comprehensive and thorough: it can directly kill pathogenic microorganisms hidden in the pig house environment, including those in the air, and can also directly kill pathogens lingering on the pigs' body surface and in the superficial respiratory tract. It has a good preventive effect against swine fever, foot-and-mouth disease and the like; and a very good control effect against bacterial diseases such as Staphylococcus suis, Mycoplasma suis and Escherichia coli. After spray disinfection, spray the micro-ecological environment improver again inside the livestock house; this not only improves the micro-ecological environment but also settles dust, prevents heatstroke and lowers temperature, provides humidity, purifies the air and improves the air quality of the pig house environment.

3. Disinfection of the various tools and equipment on the pig farm.

There are many kinds of tools and supplies on a pig farm, and their materials and uses differ, so the disinfection methods used also differ. Tools can be fumigated with potassium permanganate; feeding troughs, water troughs, buckets and basins should first be scrubbed with 2% caustic soda and then rinsed with clean water before use; vehicles (including cars, four-wheeled carts, handcarts, etc.) should be sprayed; work clothes can be disinfected after washing or exposed to ultraviolet lamps. After a flood, disinfection work must be done carefully.

4. Harmless disposal of pigs that died of disease or drowned.

After a flood, many pigs are scattered by the floodwaters, which causes disease and mass deaths. The bodies of dead pigs carry large amounts of pathogenic microorganisms. If harmless disposal is not carried out in time and they are left to rot and mildew and give off a foul odor, the pathogens will flow with the water and spread everywhere with the air, transmitting disease and not only polluting the environment but also easily causing a major epidemic among people and livestock. For the carcasses of dead pigs, the simplest method of disposal is deep burial. For deep burial, choose high ground, with a pit more than 2 m deep; after the carcass is placed in the pit, sprinkle lime or disinfectant on it and cover it with a thick layer of soil. If conditions permit, incineration can be used. The carcasses of pigs that died in the flood must never be eaten or sold. Liao Yongmin