The general manager of Steinbach, Manitoba based Paradigm Agri-Solutions says a new technology for collecting blood samples from swine makes controlling disease easier and more humane.
The Canadian launch of the TEGO animal blood collection system took place earlier this month as part of Manitoba Hog and Poultry Days 2010 in Winnipeg.
The system, which was developed in Australia, uses an ear tag applied to the animal for 30 to 40 seconds which collects a blood sample which can then be mailed to the lab for analysis.
Paradigm Agri-Solutions general manager Rick Bergmann says the system makes the job of collecting blood samples for disease or genetic testing easier and more humane.
Rick Bergmann-Paradigm Agri-Solutions:
Often the farms will suspect a concern in their herd health and producers want to have a good handle on their herd health so, when it comes to down to things like circovirus or the PRRS virus, a product like this is used to get a sample quickly to the lab and the lab then in turn can get the information back to the veterinarian and the veterinarian can then consult with the farms as far as the health status of that farm.
This product is somewhat of a breakthrough in safety on farm.
Currently there are ways to collect blood which is a bit tougher on the animal and certainly with the vets that are involved with that whole process a product like this makes it more compatible with having a humane approach to dealing with the animals and also is able to be easier on the producer or the veterinarian that is taking the sample.
Bergmann says the new technology was designed to be cost competitive with conventional methods for collecting blood samples.
He's confident the new system will be particularly valuable in areas where efforts to eradicate diseases such as PRRS or circovirus are underway.
By Bruce Cochrane