Question

QUESTION 5

As the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continues to spread and large parts of the world are under lockdown, livestock producers are working hard to maintain production in the face of many uncertainties.

(A) Discuss five (05) ways in which COVID-19 is impacting the livestock industry in the world. (5 Marks)

(B) Discuss five (05) ways in which African Swine Fever outbreaks are similar to Covid-19 infections (5 Marks)

(C) Define Biosecurity? List eight (08) biosecurity measures you would enforce on an intensive pig production farm

Answer 1

A) Reduced availability to animal feed due to social distancing and requirement to use additonal protective instruments.

Reduced access to markets due to closure of lot of markets to maintain social distancing.

Compromised storage and conservation due to transportation disruptions.

Reduced processing capacity due to lock down measures.

Reduced demand due to closure of many restaurants during lockdown.

B)

Sudden outbreak - ASF and Covid, started infecting suddenly and on a larger scale.

Absence of vaccine - Both of them don't have any vaccines yet.

Both have outbreaks reported - ASV outbreak is reported first in 1921 in Kenya. COVID-19 was reported first in 2019 in city of Wuhan in China.

Very easily transmitted - Both of the virus can transmit through contaminated surfaces, animal to animal or person to person contact, droplets etc.

Causative organism is a virus - ASF is caused by ASF virus and COVID is caused by a Coronavirus.

C)Biosecurity is the strategical measures taken to reduce biological risk including spread of diseases or viruses from animals to animals or from animals to humans. It also helps to reduce the spread of diseases among the farm livestock.

1) Ensure employee sanitation by providing facilities for proper washing and disposal.

2)Clean and disinfect equipment that has been used on sick animals before using on healthy animals.

3)Keep an isolation area that is intended for only sick animals.

4)Prevent fence contact between the pigs and other animals on the farm.

5)Provide available vaccination to the farm animals.

6)Keep animal feedstock from external contact and store them in a place free of rodents.

7)Repair holes in the building to prevent the entry of pests.

8)Dispose of carcasses promptly. Options for disposal include calling a licensed deadstock collector, burial in an approved animal disposal pit, or composting.