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Pig Health and Welfare Council launch biennial report
Pig with vet
New and emerging diseases remain a major concern to the British pig industry.
Highlights progress made in the last two years

The Pig Health and Welfare Council (PHWC) has launched its biennial report highlighting progress made in the last two years.

Launched in the House of Commons on Thursday (16 July), the report also underlines the ambitious targets set for each of the Council's subgroups, including antimicrobials, pig meat safety, welfare and surveillance.

Meryl Ward, chairman of AHDB Pork, which is part of the PHWC, said: "It's a proactive partnership between cross-industry organisations and it's the way we work closely together that underpins success in achieving our 20:20 Pig Health and Welfare strategy goals."

New and emerging diseases remain a major concern to the British pig industry, with Porcine Epidemic Diarrhoea (PED), African Swine Fever (ASF) and Porcine Reproductive Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) of high importance.

PHWC chairman professor Jim Scudamore added: “Much of the surveillance sub group’s work in the past year has been devoted to PED.  Development of the PED contingency plan for England, the standard operating procedures and diagnostic tests has required close collaboration across the pig industry, with considerable assistance from Animal and Plant Health Agency and Government.”

The report is available to download at www.pork.ahdb.org.uk.

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Reporting service for dead wild birds updated

News Story 1
 The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has updated its online reporting service for dead wild birds.

The new version allows those reporting a dead bird to drop a pin on a map when reporting the location. It also includes a wider range of wild bird species groups to select from when describing the bird.

The online service, which helps APHA to monitor the spread of diseases such as avian influenza, can be accessed here. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
NI chief vet urges bluetongue vigilance

Northern Ireland's chief veterinary officer (CVO) has urged farmers to be vigilant for signs of bluetongue, after the Animal and Plant Health Agency warned there was a very high probability of further cases in Great Britain.

There have been 126 confirmed cases of bluetongue virus serotype 3 in England since November 2023, with no cases reported in Northern Ireland. The movement of live ruminants from Great Britain to Northern Ireland is currently suspended.

According to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), the virus is most likely to enter Northern Ireland through infected animals or germplasm (semen or ova) being imported.

Brian Dooher, Northern Ireland's CVO, said: "Surveillance for this disease within Northern Ireland has been increased to assist with detection at the earliest opportunity which will facilitate more effective control measures."

Farmers should report any suspicions of the disease to their private veterinary practitioner, the DAERA Helpline on 0300 200 7840 or their local DAERA Direct Veterinary Office.