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Disease fears over young imported pigs
SERIOUS concerns have been raised about the risk of importing young pigs from the continent to the health of domestic herds by a leading Yorkshire pig breeder.
Chairman of Driffield-based pig-breeding company ACMC Stephen Curtis said that the prospect of weaners being imported into Britain from the European mainland could pose a serious health threat to Britain's pig herd.
Mr Curtis said that an American strain of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) circulating in parts of Europe is far different to the fairly benign strain that has been seen in Britain and raised the question of whether pork produced in the UK from imported stock could be classed as British.
Mr Curtis, an expert in international pig breeds whose company supplies stock all over the world, said: "This can cause severe problems, particularly with abortions, low numbers born and high pre-weaning mortality.
"We desperately don't want this disease here."
The warning comes at a time when the British pig industry is recovering from a long period of recession and is investing considerable sums of money in regional health schemes to improve production efficiency.
The National Pig Association along with other agencies recently launched a wide-ranging investigation into pig diseases which it hopes will cut back on disease issues.
Mr Curtis said that importing weaners against that backdrop would be a "retrograde step" and said that it throws into confusion a product's country of origin.
"How can it be truly British pork if the pigs weren't born here?" he asked.
Currently, British weaner and finished pig prices are higher than those overseas. Producer confidence is stronger than it has been for years, and Mr Curtis said that substantial imports of weaners could reduce prices, dent returns and damage the much-needed investment which is now taking place.
He suggests that producers should organise some serious lobbying of MPs and slaughterer/processors through industry organisations such as the National Pig Association, British Pig Association and National Farmers Union.
"We should highlight the fact that almost 100 per cent of all pig diseases that have entered our pig herds have originated from outside mainland Britain. Industry associations should be encouraged to create our own 'cordon sanitaire' by refusing to import pigs from abroad."
The National Pig Association has run a poll on its website on the issue, with numbers equating to almost a third of the British national pig herd voting on the issue.
The response so far has been overwhelmingly opposed to the trade with farmers concerned about the risks involved.
Some respondents have called on the allied trades to refuse knowingly to supply any farmer who takes delivery of imported weaners.
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Friday 10 February 2012
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