The deficiency of practices and limitation of reaching into good agricultural practices of small holders pig farmers in Chiang Rai province

Abstract

The objective of this study was to survey the defi ciency of farmer’s practices and the limitation of farm management of small holder pig farms in Chiang Rai province that effect the reaching into pig farm good agricultural practices (GAP) system, under Department of Livestock Development (DLD) regulation. Total of 466 small holder pig farmers were interviewed by using the questionnaires which developed from the criteria of pig farm GAP. That consisted of demographic information, farm component, housing management, disease control and prevention management, including farm management which was beyond the criteria. Furthermore, the focus group discussion was performed with farmers and DLD offi cers. Their attitude of the limitation of farm and practice improvement, that effect to the reaching into pig farm GAP, was collected from the discussion. The defi ciency of farm component results showed that they had no specifi c area for infectious waste or death animal elimination (85.54%) , had no fence around farm (79.50%) and had no specifi c area to keep feed (41.48%). The study also found that workers lived in pig house (13.60%). The results from housing management indicated that they had no disinfectant foot-bath (87.12%), had no separated production unit (48.21%) and had no cleaning and disinfection pig house (31.84%). Under disease control and prevention management, they did not have visitor record (94.82%), did not use disinfection on truck and trailer before reaching farms (70.40%), did not take care of sick animal (56.73%), did not isolate sick animal (37.10%) and did not vaccinate their animals (22.20%). Finally, the results from other management beyond the criteria showed that, they did not have particular area for animals selling (90.47%), had no fence between production area and resident area (89.44%), did not quarantine new stock (74.36%), shared boar with other farm (68.91%) and did not use all-in-all-out production system (65.31%). Moreover, the results from focus group discussion indicated that the pig farm GAP was good and should be complied, according the farmer’s though. However, they could not follow because of the limitation of budget, knowledge and offi cer coordination.