JULY 2019
What comes to mind when you think of pigs? The Three Little Pigs? Miss Piggy? Piglet?
Pigs are common and a popular “character” in literature and films. Real live pigs and swine operations are also common in the Upper Midwest where they are raised on many farms in Minnesota, the Dakotas, Wisconsin and Iowa. Keeping these operations and the people and pigs involved injury free and healthy is a priority for UMASH.
We have recently worked with our partners at the National Pork Board, the College of Veterinary Medicine Swine Program and the Southern Research and Education Center at Waseca, MN to develop two new training videos addressing sow handling and biosecurity measures to prevent the flu. These videos are available in English and Spanish and are designed as training tools for employees.
The swine industry in Minnesota is an important contributor to our regional economy. These videos are meant to educate and support our pork producers, their workers and their families.
VIDEOS
Moving Sows – Be Safe and Smart demonstrates the best practices for moving sows. Sows can be large and unpredictable animals, so it is important to have a plan and understand animal behavior to avoid injury. This video discusses the basic concepts of using pressure on the flight zone to move animals in the direction you want them to go. Safe handling reduces stress for both the animal and the handler.
Protecting Pigs and People from the Flu addresses the transmission of flu from humans to pigs and pigs to humans and the necessary precautionary steps to avoid spreading the virus. Virus transmission is most likely to occur where people and pigs are in close proximity – in swine barns, at exhibitions or fairs, or in slaughterhouses.
Moviendo Cerdas – Sea Seguro e Inteligente demuestra las mejores prácticas para mover cerdas. Las cerdas pueden ser animales grandes e impredecibles, por lo que es importante tener un plan y entender el comportamiento del animal para evitar lesiones. Este video explica los conceptos básicos del uso de la presión en la zona de fuga para mover a los animales en la dirección en la que desea que vayan. El manejo seguro reduce el estrés tanto para el animal como para el entrenador.
La Protección de Cerdos y Personas contra la Gripe aborda el tema de la transmisión de la gripe de los humanos a los cerdos y de los cerdos a los humanos y los pasos de precaución necesarios para evitar la propagación del virus. La transmisión del virus es más probable que ocurra cuando las personas y los cerdos están muy cerca – en granjas de cerdos, en exposiciones o ferias, o en mataderos.