B&b pigs and intensive poultry

[Jz2017]

What are the animal health risks regarding intensive poultry and B&B pigs on the same holding? Are there vaccinations to avoid disaster or is it just too risky? Be great to hear from someone doing/managing both. Thanks

 

[midlandslad]

I believe it is salmonella and the risk is greatly intensified if the pigs are on straw with rodents mixing between the two units.

 

[Retraceh]

Erisipelas is a big concern with pigs and laying hens. Pigs carry it and doesn’t seem to affect them that much and the vaccine seems to sort it out. If poultry get it antibiotics can reduce the mortality but it will come back and can cause significant mortality. A vaccine would be a must but they do break down and post 50 weeks for laying hens it can overcome the vaccine.
It depends how separate you can keep the operations in terms of staff/machinery and location of the animals.

 

[Daniel]

I wouldn't, we had pigs on the farm till 2015, in 2017 we had an outbreak of erysipelas in the hens despite being vaccinated and ended up at 25% mortality. As @Retraceh says, antibiotics damp it down but 3 weeks later you have to use them again and they are very expensive.

Don't know how the hens got it as pig muck has never been spread on the land which the poultry houses sit on but it obviously hangs around.

 

[l'ordinary bonville]

i know of a few farmers doing both round me
they have veryhigh biosecurity

 

[SteveHants]

i know of a few farmers doing both round me
they have veryhigh biosecurity

I can imagine.
I'm thinking airflow disruption between the two (evergreen tree screens), no mixing of staff or equipment, shower in/shower out?

 

[l'ordinary bonville]

Certainly separate equipment and clothing.
I believe they would shower in to the birds and then just change for the pigs