What to do to protect your pig farm from African swine fever

The Ministry of Agriculture reminds that the dangerous infectious disease – African swine fever (ASF) – continues to spread in the wild boar population of Latvia. As the weather gets warmer and summer approaches, it is especially important for farmers, and especially owners of homestead farms that keep pigs, to observe the necessary biosecurity measures to prevent ASF from infecting pigs in their holdings.

Biosecurity is a set of measures that an animal keeper can follow to protect their animals from contracting infectious diseases and minimize the spread of infectious diseases in the surrounding area.

The owner or keeper of the animals is responsible for the implementation and enforcement of biosecurity measures in premises where pigs are kept and bred, including the purchase of disinfectants, disposable protective clothing and the destruction of rodents.

Anyone who raises pigs for sale must develop a biosecurity plan that provides a model for implementing biosecurity measures appropriate for the specific facility.

In order to protect their animals and animal housing from infection with ASF, pig keepers must comply with the requirements of Cabinet Regulation No. 621 of 20.08.2013 "Regulations on a set of biosecurity measures for animal housing", as well as the recommendations of the Food and Veterinary Service (PVD).

The main recommendations that must be followed:

1) Pigs must be kept in enclosed housing, which may be fenced if necessary, to prevent contact between domestic animals and wild or stray animals. Pigs must not be kept in outdoor pens.

2) The pig house must be regularly cleaned and disinfected, and must be free of rodents and insects.

3) Access to the animal holding area by unauthorized persons, stray animals and wild animals must be ensured.

4) Disinfectant mats must be placed at the entrance to the shed.

5) The place where animal feed is stored must be clean. Care must be taken to ensure that rodents do not breed there.

6) All employees in the barn must observe the rules of internal order and hygiene. When working with animals in the barn, they must have a change of clothes and shoes. Clothes must be changed before entering the barn and after caring for the animals.

7) It is prohibited to feed pigs leftovers from catering establishments, as well as food waste.

8) If the pig pen is located close to a forest or it is possible that wild boars have visited the field next to it, domestic pigs must not be fed grass, green mass, as well as unprocessed potatoes and cereals cut there.

9) Do not use straw or other bedding materials if they are in a field that wild boars can access.

Answers to your questions about the implementation of biosecurity measures on each specific farm will be provided by PVD specialists in the territorial administrations. Contacts available here!

Current information on pigs (including hunted wild boars) and restrictions on their movement in ASF-affected areas, as well as on the locations of animal by-product containers, can be obtained on the interactive map on the PVD website. here!

The PVD urges you to monitor the health of your pigs and call a veterinarian immediately if your pigs appear unhealthy.

Source: Food and Veterinary Service