MAINTAINING A HIGH LEVEL OF HYGIENE OF THE FEEDING SYSTEM

No matter whether the feeding system is designed for dry or liquid feed, it is extremely important to maintain a very high level of hygiene. This can be done by implementing periodically routines from a check list including supervising all parts of the feeding system - from one end to the other - and cleaning regularly.

In many farms this is a challenge though for many reasons: it may not be considered as urgent because everything works fine; the silos are most of the time full and it may be difficult to have a look inside or it may be difficult to open; there is not enough time or personnel to do it etc.

Start an investigation

It is therefore vital to start an investigation from the starting point and follow the feed onwards. Inspect the transport pipes (or the silo truck transporter) and then continue with the feed storage silo inspection etc.

Inspection of silos

Check the pipes and pipe connections; silos from the outside and especially the inside walls with a lantern, the feed transport mechanism, etc. Also check if everything is still waterproof - with no loose parts, cracks or openings where the rain, birds or rodents can get in contact with the feed. 

Silos should be periodically checked inside. New grains with higher moisture or a big temperature difference between day and night can cause moisture to create condense on the silo walls. Feed will then start to stick and build up rotten moldy feed from where small amounts can drop into the feeding system. All the above problems goes for both pelletized and feed from your own internal feed mill.

Inspection inside the stables

If one has experienced mechanical problems in the feeding system, excess feed can store in the corner of the pipes over time and get rotten and contaminated by mycotoxins and be carried out with the feed and dropped in the pig feeders.

When washing the stables, it is very important to remember that the feeding system should be emptied before cleaning and washing! When a stable is populated again after a long period, always remove old left feed even if it looks ok. Mycotoxins are not necessarily visible and can not be smelled.

The liquid feeding system should also be well cleaned periodically according to the handbook of the producer. Remember to thorougly clean the top walls inside the tanks and the lid, where the feed is making a film or a thick layer which contains a lot of microorganisms - some of them toxic or harmful.

Another `surprise´ can be found when checking the feeding pipes from the feeding box down to the trough (in the farrowing stable). Often a lot of dark rotten feed is found that has built up inside the pipes.