Page 13 - Australian Pork Newspaper

New resources released for biosecurity management
Extension Officer
by ROWENA DAVIS
Numbers of feral pigs explode
The Central Tablelands of NSW. Photo: Local Land Services
AS the highly contagious African swine fever con- tinues to spread across the globe, Australia is watching closely.
FERAL pig numbers are erupting in the Central Tablelands of NSW and farmers are fighting a losing battle.
Senior biosecurity of- ficer Alistair Gordon- Smith said the huge in- crease in feral pig num- bers, extending across that region of NSW, was due to feral pigs being able to breed a couple of times a year.
Its infiltration of Ger- many and the Americas region for the first time is the canary in the coal mine for western countries, and a warning that the disease doesn’t stop at borders or farm gates.
Farmers have lost hundreds of thousands of dollars to wild pigs, which have bred perni- ciously over winter due to wet weather providing them with plenty of food.
Local Land Services encourages landholders to work together to con- trol wild pig numbers across the area.
Economic modelling tells us that an emergency animal disease incursion such as ASF in the Aus- tralian pig herd could cost the economy $5.2 billion and 36,000 jobs.
through the APL website and on the Animal Health Australia Farm Biosecu- rity webpage.
ecurity management plan. Look out for the webinar
With reports of wild pigs killing huge num- bers of young livestock and damaging fences, soil, pasture and the en- vironment, the feral pig plague has cost farmers substantial sums of money in replacing ani- mals and repairing prop- erty.
“It’s always best if landholders can work in with their neighbours,” Mr Gordon-Smith said.
The best defence is strong biosecurity systems, but it only takes one chink in the armour.
Over the next few months, APL will also host interactive webinars along with new extension resources to help all pro- ducers complete their bios-
dates in the APL update. For more information, visit farmbiosecurity.com. au/industry/pigs or contact Rowena Davis at rowena. davis@australianpork. com.au or on 0447 099
An Australian Pork Limited report in 2020 revealed the estimated 24 million feral pigs in Australia cost the agri- culture industry $100 million each year.
The baiting program using 1080 poison was reported to be having an impact and while baiting was the preferred option, trapping or shooting pigs could also help control feral animals.
Australian Pork Limited chief executive officer Margo Andrae said it’s the reason biosecurity has been the number one pri- ority for the pork industry.
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The pig biosecurity management plan included in the new suite of tools for producers.
Local Land Services said wild pig numbers and their range had in- creased dramatically across the Central Ta- blelands over the past twelve months.
Those farmers who don’t want to use 1080 poison, new sodium ni- trate poisons are also available according to Mr Gordon-Smith.
“We know that our pro- ducers are worried about what an emergency animal disease incursion would mean for the Australian pork industry, and they want to do the work to protect themselves,” Ms Andrae said.
For more informa- tion, visit lls.nsw.gov. au/regions/north-west/ key-projects/feral-pig- program
To support anyone who owns or produces pigs in Australia, industry and NSW state government have released a new suite of tools designed to help implement biosecurity risk management strategies, crisis planning and record keeping that apply to small and large producers.
Central Tablelands NSW Local Land Services said feral pig numbers are on the rise following consist- ent wet weather. Photo: Local Land Services
“In the face of an unprec- edented animal pandemic, industry and government have come together to give producers the tools they need,” Ms Andrae said.
ANIMAL HEALTH THROUGH A BETTER ENVIRONMENT
“A collaboration of such scale brings one clear voice of truth and strengthens national on-farm biosecu- rity for all, no matter if it’s one or 10,000 pigs.”
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The resources include a two-page biosecurity checklist, a biosecurity management plan template and a ‘Know your risks’ information flyer.
The checklist and man- agement plan help pro- ducers document manage- ment of biosecurity risks specific to their farm and identify possibilities they may not have considered.
The ‘Know your risks’ flyer was designed to raise awareness among all industry stakeholders, including veterinarians, stock feed companies, nu- tritionists, and local and state governments.
Together with Roxell,
we design solutions to achieve:
better growth feed conversions optimal hygiene
By sharing one biosecu- rity message far and wide, we can minimise the risk of infection.
NSW Minster for Ag- riculture Adam Marshall said the project is a best- practice example of in- dustry and government collaboration to protect key industries.
“The government is proud of the important work we do with industry to ensure all jurisdictions achieve the same out- comes,” Mr Marshall said.
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Australian Pork Newspaper, September 2021 – Page 13
“We will continue to do everything we can to protect our producers who put pork on Australians’ forks.”
The new biosecurity resources are available
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