Live link-up to tackle disease outbreak

PIG farmers are being invited to take what will be a technological leap for many of them, to help contain swine dysentery in North Yorkshire.

BPEX has organised a live internet presentation and Q&A session on Monday, run by the Garth Partnership, specialist pig vets based in Beeford, East Yorkshire.

It is only the second BPEX experiment in everybody-welcome video-conferencing and the organisers say it will be as user-friendly as possible. Those who do not wish to take part should be able to simply observe, using standard desktop software and a standard broadband link to the internet.

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Those who cannot get involved through a camera or microphone can submit questions by email or telephone. A summary of proceedings will be available afterwards for those who miss the live link-up.

Log in at www.bpex.org.uk/2ts/events.aspx for 7 pm on Monday. Look for the link button marked BPEX Live. For assistance, call Helen Clarke on 0247 647 8877 or email [email protected]/

The North Yorkshire outbreak is still small but of great concern to farmers because of its possible costs. There are no concerns for the general public.

Cases have so far been confirmed on six farms and farmers are being called on to pledge themselves to extra biosecurity precautions and sign up to share any relevant news from their own farms and get bulletins from others by registering at www.pighealth.org.uk/

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The last serious outbreak of swine dysentery, in East Anglia, caused problems from summer 2006 until the early part of 2009. It led to the slaughter of nearly 3,000 sows and was one of the reasons for a new drive for better hygiene in the industry, started by the Yorkshire & Humber producers in 2010.

Yorkshire pig producers’ spokesman Richard Lister said this week that the North Yorkshire outbreak was a sign that there was work still to do. It was not a disaster yet, but was disappointing. He said: “It is expensive to treat. Containing it depends on all sorts of things but particularly on thorough vehicle washing at the abattoirs.”