Things to think about when setting up African swine farms
1. How to keep the disease out and where to build the farm
New pig farms should be at least 3 kilometres away from other pig farms, free-range farmers, slaughterhouses, markets, etc. If possible, they should be at least 10 kilometres away to reduce the risk of spreading ASF.
Avoid areas where wild boars are active. Pig houses need to be fitted with bird-proof nets (grid spacing ≤ 1.27cm). Fly and rodent control measures should be taken to prevent mosquitoes, flies and rodents from transmitting the virus.
The land and how water is drained: avoid areas that are very flat, choose slightly high land or gently sloping land to make sure that water can drain away easily during the rainy season and to stop the pig house from being flooded.
2. Pig house design and environmental control
Ventilation and cooling: Africa is a hot continent, so it is important to have a wet curtain fan or drip system to cool the building down. You could also think about using air conditioning in the farrowing houses and boar stations.
Solid pen piece and small unit design: Use a solid pen piece to reduce contact between pigs and reduce the risk of disease transmission; the pig house is divided into independent small units to facilitate isolation and batch management.
The floor must be non-slip and waterproof, and it should be made using a special liquid or a machine to make it level and easy to clean and disinfect.
3. Managing infrastructure and resources
Feed and water: African feed depends on imported or local agricultural by-products (e.g. cassava, palm meal), and a transfer station needs to be built to avoid foreign vehicles entering the production area.Drinking water systems should be closed to prevent open water sources from contaminating them.
Electricity and fire fighting: electricity is unstable in Africa, so backup generators need to be provided. The problem of aging wiring needs to be checked, and flammable forage should be separated from the production area and equipped with fire extinguishers.
4. Community and Policy Adaptation
Cultural taboos: avoid pig farm sites in Muslim areas and respect local religious customs.
Land policy: in some African countries, land ownership is complicated, so it is important to confirm land ownership and foreign investment access policy in advance.
