[alang]

As many of you on here have probably heard in the media that African Swine Flu has reached Belgium. I was at a briefing the other day regarding this epidemic showing it's  spread and how it has decimated herds/farms in eastern Europe and China. So i thought i'd just try to pass on a few things from it.
I work in the pig industry and they are very concerned about this. The virus can stay on the pork product for up to 1000 days. Even through it being frozen. There are timescales for other actions and i shall endevor to get them and post them here for you.
There is an anti-viral vaccine being developed in Spain (i think) at the moment but obviously the outcome/effectiveness of this is not known as of yet.

All i would like to stress to people on here is the total need for planning regarding bio-security of your property and the legal requirement of need not to feed your pigs food that has been in your kitchen.

I am not trying to give anyone scare tactics or alike but this is a serious deadly virus that could really hurt those of you that keep pigs for either meat or pets.

[stewartsetter]

Hi alang,

I'm new to working with Livestock as I volunteer on a rare breed farm and have an interested in keeping a pig myself one day.  what's the issue with feeding veg waste from your own kitchen? (not that I have, just curious as to why)

Thanks,
Stewart

[harmony]

Hi alang,

I'm new to working with Livestock as I volunteer on a rare breed farm and have an interested in keeping a pig myself one day.  what's the issue with feeding veg waste from your own kitchen? (not that I have, just curious as to why)

Thanks,
Stewart

The issue is cross contamination with meat products.

[alang]

Hi Stewartsetter

As harmony pointed out it is illegal to feed your pigs anything that has been in the kitchen be they scraps of food or fruit.. It is to stop cross contamination and prevent outbreaks such as foot & mouth.

Try this link. We just received this via Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA)

www.gov.uk/government/news/african-swine-fever-risk-reminder