Pig producers are being urged to strengthen their contingency planning towards African swine fever (ASF) by attending certainly one of 13 specialist workshops operating all through 2025.
Organised by AHDB in partnership with Livetec Programs and the NPA, the nationwide sequence of in-person workshops is open to all producers, from smallholders to massive business items, and are delivered by pig veterinary practices.
AHDB described the primary workshop, held in York earlier in June, as a ‘resounding success’, highlighting the urge for food amongst producers to take a proactive strategy to illness danger.
Producers are suggested to contact their vet to search out out extra. In case your follow will not be at the moment providing a session, plans are in place to increase coaching by way of a ‘practice the coach’ occasion on the Pig Veterinary Society (PVS) autumn assembly.
Making ready the pig sector
Miranda Poulson, senior animal well being and welfare scientist at AHDB, mentioned the workshops are designed to organize the pig sector for the actual and rising menace of ASF.
“We’re proud to companion with Livetec Programs and the NPA to ship this sequence of hands-on contingency planning workshops, supporting pig producers in changing into higher ready for ASF.
“Working alongside veterinary practices throughout England, these face-to-face classes will assist producers collaborate with their vets to develop bespoke, farm-level contingency plans, supporting the business to be ready, ought to an outbreak happen within the UK.”
Paul Thompson, scientific director at Garth Vets, who facilitated the primary occasion, defined the workshops are centered on serving to producers determine scientific indicators of illness, perceive how ASF spreads and formulate strategic farm-specific plans.
He mentioned: “Bringing collectively a various mixture of producers, from small independents to bigger farming operations, there’s one thing for everybody to remove from these workshops.
“To this point, it appears one of many largest eye-openers for a lot of has been the significance of safeguarding private property and houses from motion restrictions – highlighting the necessity for strategic boundary planning on farms to mitigate dangers.”
With funding supplied by way of the AHDB levy, the classes intention to construct producer confidence and guarantee a swift, coordinated response within the occasion of an outbreak.
