The IFA has called on the Department of Agriculture to increase its bisoecurity efforts in light of the confirmation of African Swine Fever (ASF) in Germany, bringing the total number of European countries with positive cases to 12.Pig farmers on both sides of the Irish border have been asked to heighten the already robust levels of biosecurity on their pig farms.
The IFA has called on the Department of Agriculture to increase its bisoecurity efforts in light of the confirmation of African Swine Fever (ASF) in Germany, bringing the total number of European countries with positive cases to 12.
Pig farmers on both sides of the Irish border have been asked to heighten the already robust levels of biosecurity on their pig farms.
“Everyone is preoccupied with the risks and impact of COVID-19 on our daily lives, but it is vital that Ireland remains ASF-free,” IFA pig committee chair Tom Hogan said.
Pulling prices
The IFA has urged the Irish pig processing sector to not take advantage of Germany’s misfortune by pulling prices where there is scope for pig prices to increase from current levels of €1.60c/kg.
Hogan continued: “The EU regionalisation protocols should minimise any possible negative impact on the commercial pig sector in Germany.
“While this is a terrible blow for the pig farmers of Germany, it should be remembered that ASF has no health implications for humans.”
There has been no importation of live pigs from Germany or any ASF-affected country and with reduced international travel, this lowers the risk of the general public bringing ASF-infected material into Ireland.
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