Methane pits keep pig-borne disease away

Anyue County, which also belongs to Ziyang City and adjoins Lezhi County, Yanjiang District and Zizhong County of Neijiang City in southwest China's Sichuan Province which are affected by streptococosis II, a kind of pig-borne bacteria, has by now reported no live pig or human infection, according to an investigation team composed of experts from the Ministry of Agriculture.

Spot investigations showed that this county, which has been vigorously developing methane-generating pits in recent years, has build up a "firewall" to cut itself from bacteria infected areas.

A county known throughout the nation for producing live pigs, Anyue now has 17,922 methane tanks for household use. In areas hit by the epidemic, experts found, pigsties are usually low, damp, with poor hygiene and ventilation conditions. While in farmer households who have built methane pits, their pigsties are cement-floored, clean and neat, with much better ventilation and lighting.

In Qiaozhong Village, Zhongyi Township, Yanjiang District of Ziyang City, experts found that the three infections in this village all occurred in households without methane banks.

The village has 423 pig-raising households, and 270 of them have built methane pits.

By People's Daily Online