A BPEX lorry washing meeting, at Meadow Quality Livestock HQ in Warwickshire, helped to build a much clearer understanding of requirements throughout the supply chain - to reduce the risk of disease transmission in the pig industry.
One issue discussed was the need for pig producers to ‘fast’ their pigs before leaving farms. Benefits of withdrawing access to food prior to dispatch are:
• Reduced levels of muck on lorries – all hauliers at the meeting said correct fasting has a considerable effect and reduces washing out times by around 50%
• Less dirty water produced at the abattoir
• Producers avoid the cost of wasted food and reduced killing out percentage and they also suffer less travel sickness
Action for
Productivity (No.7) looking at the factors affecting killing-out percentage can be
downloaded here.
And for more on the costs of failing to fast pigs in preparation for dispatch
download December’s Target Farm Action here.
Other ideas
included:
·
Using the
huge roof expanses at abattoir sites for water harvesting and also to consider
dirty water recycling methods
·
Franchising wash facilities might
work with industry support
·
Vets
opinions on the merits of the lorry wash issue and its overall benefits to the
supply chain should be sought, as the OV is responsible for all hygiene and
animal health on site.