1. To prevent mould development: |
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Mould can cause: |
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Palatability problems |
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Palatability problems
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Loss of nutrients |
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Feed wastage |
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Performance and health problems
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Loss of profit |
2. Reduce mite contamination: |
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Mites can cause: |
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Reduced nutrients |
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Food wastage |
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Loss of profits |
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Detection of mites: |
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Mites are not visible to the
naked eye. |
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They may be detected as
pink/brown "dust" at the base of bins. |
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If you suspect mites, pinch the
"dust" into a peak. If live mites are present the peak will soon
collapse. |
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Some mites have a distinctive
smell which is often more evident if the "dust" is rubbed
between the fingers. |
3. Reduce medicine residues: |
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Augers often leave
residual feed in their housing because the screws must have
clearance (See Figure 1). |
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Figure 1: The residual
feed is represented in brown.
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Figure 2:
Movement of feed out of a bin occurs directly above the
discharge point. The remaining feed then cascades down the
slope of the crater that is subsequently formed. Failure
to completely empty bins before refilling will result in
residual feed retained in the bin.
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Figure
3. This figure demonstrates the typical feed flow in a feed
bin with brown areas illustrating where the feed is most likely
to remain and contaminate the next batch.
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