An interactive app, designed to help pig producers reduce the risk of disease hitting their units, has been launched at today’s British Pig & Poultry Fair by AHDB Pork.
Called “Think BioRisk”, the app is geared to be used by anyone who steps onto a pig unit, according to AHDB Pork, with its interactive video scenarios being used to demonstrate best practice pig production and common mistakes.
“All units should be working towards, or maintaining, a high herd health status because poor disease management costs money and could prove disastrous for the British pig industry in the case of a disease outbreak,” said AHDB Pork’s veterinary manager, Martin Smith.
“However, when busy, we understand that it’s easy for everyone to become wrapped up in day-to-day activities and, as other priorities take hold, key risks with regard to herd health are often overlooked.
“By helping people understand the weak spots, however, we hope that we can promote better long-term protection of our pig health and the industry.”
App users are invited to “click the mouse” whenever they see an example of a health risk or bad biosecurity, a bit like taking the hazard perception part of a driving test. On completion, feedback is provided on both good and bad practice portrayed in the videos.
“Some examples of the training modules include: visitors, vehicles, movements of people and livestock, pest control, medicine management and deadstock collection,” said Mr Smith (pictured above).
“Everyone wants healthy high performing livestock and, regardless of your farm set-up, there will be small changes that can be made to significantly reduce the risk of introducing or spreading pig diseases.”