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4-H clubs make changes to prevent swine disease spread Tuesday, April 24, 2007
WILLMAR, Minn. (AP) -- Minnesota 4-H clubs are taking a new step to prevent the spread of diseases among swine, hoping to head off a proposal by the Minnesota Pork Producers calling for the slaughter of all swine exhibited at county fairs or shows.
The change itself is fairly simple, involving the process for how identification tags are applied to the ears of 4-H hogs.
But 4-H and industry officials said it's significant because it reduces the chances of hogs from different farms coming together, as well as the chance of people spreading disease from one farm to another.
"We're being proactive," said Jodi Bakke, Kandiyohi County 4-H coordinator. "We don't want to be contributing to any livestock disease."
The change requires 4-H families to obtain and attach ear tags and complete identification affidavits, rather than having it done by 4-H staff or trained volunteers who come to their farms or do it at centralized events.
"4-H wanted to be part of the solution," said Brad Rugg, director of fairs and animal science programs at the Center for 4-H Community Youth Development at the University of Minnesota.
Rugg said 4-H was responding to a "wake-up call" from the state pork group about the risk of diseases, how 4-H handles animals and the need for preventative measures.
Dave Preisler, executive director of the Minnesota Pork Producers, said the procedural change would be "good for the pork industry and the 4-H'ers involved" because it would lessen the chance of spreading diseases.
Preisler said he wasn't aware of a similar step being taken in other states.
More discussions will take place this summer between 4-H, FFA and organizers of commercial hog shows on finding additional preventative measures, he said.
The industry is particularly concerned about two major diseases -- circovirus and porcine reproductive respiratory syndrome -- which have both been linked to diminished health and mortality in swine.
Disease is such a concern that the Minnesota Pork Producers' legislative committee went as far as passing a resolution that would require all swine -- even breeding stock -- to be slaughtered after a show or county fair by 2009 to stop them from spreading diseases.
Such a requirement could certainly discourage people from participating in county fairs or other competitive shows for swine.
Preisler said the resolution was meant to draw attention to the seriousness of the problem and bring the various players to the table so they can negotiate solutions.
Swine diseases can be spread by "nose-to-nose" contact between animals as well as by people who go farm to farm without disinfecting their boots and clothes. Both of those scenarios happen each spring when 4-H'ers identify and document the hogs they're raising and intend to show at their county fair in the fall.
Some counties host one-day events when 4-H'ers bring their hogs to a central location where the animals are weighed and special metal tags with ID numbers are attached to their ears. Notches are also made in the pigs' ears for further identification.
Elsewhere, such as in Kandiyohi County, trained 4-H volunteers travel to participating farms to distribute the ear tags and complete the formal documentation. It's all meant to preserve the integrity of 4-H competitions and ensure that the hog a 4-H'er raised in the spring is the same one that's shown in the fall.
Under the new system starting this spring, 4-H families will obtain ear tags at their county extension offices, attach them to the hogs' ears, perform the appropriate ear notching and return the completed affidavits by May 15. 4-H staff or volunteers may do spot checks on the farms to make sure everything is in order. |
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