Gert van der Hoek
In Memoriam - Editor, Senior Moderator
Avian flu risk for Anglian pig producers
Source: FWI 05 February 2007
The National Pig Association is warning that last weeks discovery of H5N1 avian flu in Suffolk could have serious implications for the pig industry.
Many farms in East Anglia are mixed pig and poultry holdings, in a region that has the highest combined concentrations of both species in the country.
If avian flu is diagnosed in poultry flocks, any pigs on the same infected premises will also have to be tested.
Tests on pigs will also be carried out three weeks after any infected poultry have been slaughtered and during this period pigs can only be moved from the premises under special licence.
Although diagnosis of the H5N1 virus should not trigger a pigmeat export ban, any delays in pig movements caused during the testing period could lead to significant financial losses.
Clarification will also be required from the major retailers and processors that they would be prepared to accept pigs consigned from infected mixed pig and poultry units.
With the UK pig industry already operating high levels of bio-security, hopes remain high that this pathogenic avian flu outbreak can be confined to poultry flocks within the immediate vicinity of the infected farm at Holton in Suffolk.
http://www.first4farming.com/F4F/ne...=CWJHFAJP1N2C5WNJH4WCFEQ?article_id=fwi101435
Source: FWI 05 February 2007
The National Pig Association is warning that last weeks discovery of H5N1 avian flu in Suffolk could have serious implications for the pig industry.
Many farms in East Anglia are mixed pig and poultry holdings, in a region that has the highest combined concentrations of both species in the country.
If avian flu is diagnosed in poultry flocks, any pigs on the same infected premises will also have to be tested.
Tests on pigs will also be carried out three weeks after any infected poultry have been slaughtered and during this period pigs can only be moved from the premises under special licence.
Although diagnosis of the H5N1 virus should not trigger a pigmeat export ban, any delays in pig movements caused during the testing period could lead to significant financial losses.
Clarification will also be required from the major retailers and processors that they would be prepared to accept pigs consigned from infected mixed pig and poultry units.
With the UK pig industry already operating high levels of bio-security, hopes remain high that this pathogenic avian flu outbreak can be confined to poultry flocks within the immediate vicinity of the infected farm at Holton in Suffolk.
http://www.first4farming.com/F4F/ne...=CWJHFAJP1N2C5WNJH4WCFEQ?article_id=fwi101435