Prepare for worst on African swine fever, producers told

UK pig producers are being urged develop robust contingency plans as African swine fever continues to spread across Europe.

ASF is a highly contagious viral disease of pigs. There are several different strains. Pigs infected with mild strains may not become ill or show typical clinical signs. But severe strains of the disease are generally fatal.

The disease poses a significant threat to the UK pig sector, says the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board. Producers should act now – before the disease reaches the UK, says AHDB head of animal health Mandy Nevel.

Be proactive

“Outside of the UK, the disease has been confirmed in wild boar, on farms and smallholdings, and even in pet pigs,” she says. “We urge pig producers to be proactive by implementing key biosecurity measures.”

Producers should assess their readiness for livestock movement restrictions which would be imposed once ASF is confirmed in the UK. Farmers should understand how these restrictions would impact their own businesses, says Ms Nevel.

“Restrictions can also disrupt feed supply chains, so including feed logistics in contingency plans is essential. Producers should consider alternative suppliers, prepare for storage challenges and plan for limited feed access.”

Farm staff

Ms Nevel says it is essential that farm staff understand their roles in enforcing these measures. Simulation exercises can help team members test and practise their roles and responsibilities under pressure, she adds.

“We have hosted webinars that featured simulation exercises, which were extremely useful for identifying potential weaknesses in plans and equipping staff with the confidence to respond to an ASF outbreak.

“The vital role of digitising visitor – and animal movement – records was also highlighted in effectively managing ASF outbreaks, as this would speed up tracings – the first step in disease control.”