Slurry contractors and biosecurity

[early riser]

I usually apply all our slurry using our own splash plate tanker. However, due to second cut aftermaths greening up very fast, coupled with lack of rain in forecast, I’m considering getting a contractor in with a tanker equipped with trailing shoe.

My only concern is biosecurity risks. I run a high health status closed herd with no DD and very small level of Johnes. How high are the risks of bringing in these diseases with contractors kit? What is the likely persistence of bacteria in the soil? Slurry would be applied to fields destined for third cut followed by late season grazing with milkers.

The risks need to be balanced against the fact that I’ve got an ever-increasing lagoon full of slurry that will have to go somewhere before winter.

Basically am I being overly worried/pedantic/OCD or is there a genuine high risk?

Thanks

 

[Bald Rick]

Has to be a consideration but if you are really worried, go for shallow injection
However trailing shoe will minimise leaf contamination and the process of silage fermentation should cook out most bacteria

 

[buffalo_soldier]

It's not high risk.

My reading isn't current. The last I knew persistence in silage was an unknown. Persistence in soil was thought to be around a year.

The management advice in this area is to avoid feeding either the silage or grass to youngstock.

The fact that its a one off is also working in your favour.
I wonder if there is any value in paying the contractor to hose his tank out before he get to you, or even if that's an option?

 

[pappuller]

I usually apply all our slurry using our own splash plate tanker. However, due to second cut aftermaths greening up very fast, coupled with lack of rain in forecast, I’m considering getting a contractor in with a tanker equipped with trailing shoe.

My only concern is biosecurity risks. I run a high health status closed herd with no DD and very small level of Johnes. How high are the risks of bringing in these diseases with contractors kit? What is the likely persistence of bacteria in the soil? Slurry would be applied to fields destined for third cut followed by late season grazing with milkers.

The risks need to be balanced against the fact that I’ve got an ever-increasing lagoon full of slurry that will have to go somewhere before winter.

Basically am I being overly worried/pedantic/OCD or is there a genuine high risk?

Thanks

We fitted a mastek 7m dribble bar to our existing tanker with v little trouble means you don't have to be in a mad rush after cutting to get the slurry on.
Regards your question I wouldn't know

 

[ridger]

We fitted a mastek 7m dribble bar to our existing tanker with v little trouble means you don't have to be in a mad rush after cutting to get the slurry on.
Regards your question I wouldn't know

Did it bolt to back hatch?

 

[multi power]

I can't see a contractor coming in with a slurry tanker being much good for boisecuriety

 

[pappuller]

Did it bolt to back hatch?

Yes

 

[Agrifool]

its thought slurry equipment could be spreading TB would no known link as of yet that im aware of

 

[The Agrarian]

Biggest problem for me is them putting a pipe down into the tank underneath the cattle.

 

[SJM]

Same situation with us. Spray disinfectant over all tyres, steps, splash plates ect. Drivers dunk boots and gloves in disinfectant also. Always use our suction hose and don’t go on grazing fields. Doesn’t take long and mitigates a bit of the risk to an acceptable level we think.

 

[ridger]

Biggest problem for me is them putting a pipe down into the tank underneath the cattle.

Not much option though, tanker needs to be filled

 

[Peppa pig]

Had this problem a few years ago as a spreading contractor as a vet started questioning biosecurity.my answer was hes a bigger threat as his car was always manky drove right into and around the dairy and loved shoving his arm up any cows arse or fiddling with animals on farm.was he always cleaned down with disinfectant??were his tools sanitised between farms??how many needles had he shoved in a bottle of medicine before injecting your cow?? Remember he mostly visits sick animals.also the salesmen who go from farm to farm with sh!t on there car and shoes and wander around calf houses and feed passages how can slurry spreading away from the animals be a high biosecurity risk.

 

[Ben_Willcox]

Yes

I am the UK sales representative for Mastek. Give me a call you would like to talk about dribble bars.
07930876941

 

[early riser]

Had this problem a few years ago as a spreading contractor as a vet started questioning biosecurity.my answer was hes a bigger threat as his car was always manky drove right into and around the dairy and loved shoving his arm up any cows arse or fiddling with animals on farm.was he always cleaned down with disinfectant??were his tools sanitised between farms??how many needles had he shoved in a bottle of medicine before injecting your cow?? Remember he mostly visits sick animals.also the salesmen who go from farm to farm with sh!t on there car and shoes and wander around calf houses and feed passages how can slurry spreading away from the animals be a high biosecurity risk.

I would suggest your experience of vets is not representative of most UK vets.

Callers strictly by appointment only on this farm.

Much easier to disinfect a vet's boots off than the inner workings of a trailing shoe/dribble bar/macerator that has had umpteen different farm's slurry pumped through it.