In a recent survey of Midwest production sites, only 20% of farms regularly implemented a water line cleaning standard operating procedure (SOP), says Ashley Englin, swine field specialist with Iowa State Extension and Outreach, in a release.
Standardized protocols can help producers improve animal health and performance by reducing biofilms and ensuring animals regularly have access to high quality water.
“Water is a physiological need for pigs, regulating growth, temperature control, and overall behavioral needs,” says Gabi Doughan with the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine. “Without regular cleaning and disinfection, biofilms can accumulate within water line systems and impact health, production, and water-administered medication.”
A new publication from the Iowa Pork Industry Center at Iowa State University is available to help producers evaluate water quality and manage water line systems in swine barns. “Water Line System Management for Swine Production” is available for download at no cost from the ISU Extension Store.
Producers will find step-by-step instructions for cleaning and disinfecting water systems and water sample collection protocol within the publication, the release says. Water quality assessments should evaluate the physical, chemical and microbiological characteristics of water by testing pH, trace minerals and coliforms at minimum. These samples should be collected at least once per year.
“Water lines are one of the main routes for antimicrobial and vaccine administration” Doughan says. “By improving water quality and water line maintenance, producers can more effectively treat their livestock, resulting in less days off feed and reduced production costs.”
In addition, the guide includes protocols for water medication administration and explains how water quality can affect medication efficacy. There are also instructions for how to set up and calibrate flow-activated pump, piston and diaphragm medicators.
Several authors contributed to this publication in addition to Doughan and Englin. They include Chris Rademacher and Locke Karriker with the College of Veterinary Medicine at Iowa State University and Becca Walthart, former master’s student with the Swine Medicine Education Center at Iowa State University.
