The pig health and welfare strategy has been put together by a selection of key industry bodies. The initiative, drawn up by the British Pig Executive (BPEX), the National Pig Association (NPA) and the Meat and Livestock Commission (MLC), comes after government calls for better health and safety standards within the sector. The strategy was launched today at an industry conference.
The plan incorporates nine priorities for action including scientific and technical targets designed to allow prevailing animal health problems to be quantified, controlled, eradicated or avoided, together with organisational targets. The strategy will be the subject of a major consultation to make sure it meets the industry's needs and a key element will be the establishment of the Pig Health and Welfare Council next year.
BPEX chairman Stewart Houston said: "It is estimated that pig disease costs British pig producers at least £50 million a year. Improving the health of pigs will benefit customers through betterquality meat and meat products. It will benefit producers and processors by saving costs and improving competitiveness.
"It will benefit the pigs through improved welfare and it will benefit the country as a whole in helping achieve government policy of a sustainable rural economy."
The strategy aims to establish a national structure to provide the focus, drive and planning for a national pig health improvement programme. It also aims to establish the present health, welfare and disease status of the British pig herd and enhance disease surveillanceinformation available to pork processors.
The plan will also see the launch of a number of intervention studies on disease control and eradication, and greater support for health improvement programmes. Nationally-recommended biosecurity protocols and national protocols for new disease prevention and eradication will also be formulated and ratified.
The initiative will also try to improve training in disease identification and treatment, and increase the programme of targeted pig disease research. The implementation of this programme will be the responsibility of a new British Pig Health and Welfare Council. The Council will consist of representatives of all stakeholders and be chaired independently.
Speaking by video link, animal health and welfare minister Ben Bradshawsaid: "The Animal Health and Welfare Strategy represents an important step towards a more comprehensive and strategic approach to animal health and welfare. I am very encouraged that the pig sector is so quickly off the mark with its own strategy and know that government looks forward to working with the industry over the coming years to implement this far-sighted strategy."
Copies of the strategy can be obtained on the BPEX website or from BPEX strategy co-ordinator Andrew Knowles.