The governments of Manitoba and Canada are investing $825,000 to help prevent the spread of livestock diseases in the province.
Blue Water Wash, a company affiliated with Steve’s Livestock Transport, will use the funding to add five drive-through washing bays, a baking bay and an undercarriage washing system at its facility in Blumenort, Man. The company will also add a baking bay to its Brandon wash. The baking bay can reach temperatures of 71 C to sanitize trucks, trailers and other equipment.
“Biosecurity is critical to the long-term health of the livestock industry, and these facilities will be the first of their kind in North America,” said Ron Kostyshyn, Manitoba’s agriculture minister, in a statement.
Read Also
Alberta crop conditions improve: report
Varied precipitation and warm temperatures were generally beneficial for crop development across Alberta during the week ended July 8, according to the latest provincial crop report released July 11.
The emergence of porcine epidemic diarrhea in North America has forced hog producers and livestock transport firms to take extraordinary steps to curtail the disease, which has killed millions of pigs in North America.
The virus causes severe dehydration and diarrhea in pigs. PED is often fatal in very young pigs, but older animals can recover.
PED was present in multiple U.S. states and Ontario before it was detected February 2014 in Manitoba.
Thorough washing of hog trailers is a critical biosecurity step to prevent farm-to-farm transfer of PED.
“Our company is committed to being a leader in biosecurity,” said Rick Peters, Blue Water Wash spokesperson. “Our new facilities will help us stay competitive in the global market and promote responsible practices in livestock transportation.”
Blue Water Wash sanitizes livestock trailers for more than 430 farm sites every week at its washes in Brandon and Blumenort, Man.
robert.arnason@producer.com
