Animal Agriculture

ASFv infected pig ASFv vectors Destruction of ASFv infected animals African swine fever (ASF ) is a highly contagious haemorrhagic viral disease of domestic and wild pigs, which causes serious economic and production losses. CAUSATIVE ORGANISM It is caused by a large DNA virus of the Asfarviridae family, which also infects ticks of the genus Ornithodoros. Although signs of ASF and classical swine fever (CSF) may be similar, the ASF virus is unrelated to the CSF virus. MODE OF TRANSMISSION The spread of ASF is complex and varies depending on the environment, types of pig production systems(indoor or outdoor), the presence/absence of competent tick vectors, human behaviour, and the presence/absence of wild pigs. Mode of transmission may include: • Direct contact with infected domestic or wild pigs; • Indirect contact, through ingestion of contaminated material (e.g. food waste, feed, or garbage); • Contaminated fomites, or biological vectors (soft ticks of the g

Mating in pig rearing Weaners  Nursing sow Advantages of pig production • Pigs convert inedible feeds, forages, certain grain byproducts obtained from mills, meat by products, damaged feeds and garbage into valuable nutritious meat. Most of these feeds are either not edible or not very palatable to human beings • Pig grows fast and is a prolific breeder, farrowing 10 to 12 piglets at a time. It is capable of producing two litters per year under optimal  management conditions • The carcass return is quite high ie. 60-80 percent of live body weight With a small investment on building and equipment, proper feeding and sound disease control programme the farmer can profitably utilize his time and labour in this subsidiary occupation • The faeces of pigs is used as a manure to maintain soil fertility (Watch pen mating in pig breeding : https://youtu.be/GkKGu0L6aQE ) Pig farmers can be; • Small and landless farmers • Part time earning for educated youth having