New Video Demonstrates Best Production Practices for Administering Medications to Swine

January 6, 2010 — 

A new video produced by Manitoba Pork Council demonstrates the use of both conventional and new needleless injection technologies for administering veterinary medications to swine.

Needleless injection offers a virtually pain free alternative to conventional methods for administering medication to livestock.

A new 17 minute video, shot at the University of Manitoba's swine research facilities at the Glenlea Research Station and produced by Manitoba Pork Council, demonstrates the use of conventional needles and syringes and the new needleless injection technology.

Manitoba Pork Council quality assurance and labor programs manager Miles Beaudin says needleless injection offers a range of animal welfare and food safety benefits.

The purpose of video, according to Beaudin, was to create a resource of best production practices for the use of conventional syringe and needle and that of the new technology, needleless injectors.

The video reinforces recommended best practices and also demonstrates the new needle-free technology and will help producers further address animal welfare concerns on the farm.

Also, the Manitoba government recently provided funding for subsidization of needleless injectors to the amount of two thousand dollars per gun for every farm in Manitoba that is on the food safety program, the Canadian Quality Assurance Program.

Beaudin says, because needleless injection is so new and because the subsidy program has only recently been announced, adoption of the technology has been limited but he expects much more interest in the near future.

He says, while he would like to see full adoption of needleless injection, it will be up to the marketplace to decide.

The new video is available through Manitoba Pork Council.

Source: Farmscape, (Episode 3382)