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In this episode, we go on a safari – to South Africa. The Sunswine Groups’ new extern Marc Raath gives a different perspective on animal health and biosecurity. We address some of the pitfalls that producers experience with biosecurity and management. How have on-farm challenges changed over time and finding the balance between biosecurity and employee compliance through identifying simple solutions? We delve into what it means for a pig to be “content” and how fiber is “the missing link” for optimal pig health and economics. We sneak at Marc’s new research on tail biting and his day-to-day life as an animal health technician. To read more about biosecurity in South Africa visit:Highlights• Marc has almost 20 years in agricultural industry and has been working in the pig industry for the last 7 years.• Marc visits onsite to collect samples and he has seen first-hand that some disease protocols are not up to standard.• Marc believes that biosecurity is a lifestyle and not just a set of rules that you have to follow.• Marc sees too many things being taken into areas not allowed.• Producers should try to build trust with the workers.• The trust has to be mutual. • You should be able to do whatever you are requiring a worker to do. They have to know that you aren’t requesting something of them that you cannot do.• There is now more emphasis on vehicle disinfection.• More effort is going into bird proofing.• Fencing requirements are changing and becoming more stringent.• Marc finds that older more naturally controlled facilities have better animal welfare.• Proper control of feeding is critical to contentment which can be a key contributor on tail biting.
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