The Oxford Sandy and Black Pig Group (OSBPG) has developed an African swine fever (ASF) contingency plan for breeders, keepers and independent pork producers.
The charity, which has more than 2,600 supporters, is deeply committed to raising awareness about the persistent threat of ASF, according to Kim Brook, its founder and a trustee.
She said the contingency plan, put together in collaboration with vet Louise Blenkhorn, of Emerald Veterinary Health, was a practical and accessible biosecurity resource for pig keepers.
Key features include:
- Supplementing existing biosecurity procedures on farms and smallholdings.
- Encouraging the use of mock outbreak exercises to assess gaps in preparedness.
- Recommending biannual simulations to help keepers familiarise themselves with disease scenarios.
Ms Brook noted that recent disease contingency exercises that AHDB and the NPA, among others, have taken part in identified areas for improvement, underlining the value of such exercises in refining emergency protocols and reducing the impact of a potential outbreak.
Growing concern
She said the future of the UK’s domestic pig sector, including its many valued native breeds, is a ‘growing concern’, particularly in the event of a major disease outbreak.
OSBPG has taken a proactive role by sharing its contingency plan with breed clubs and the wider pig-keeping community, including those with ‘pet pigs’, which Ms Brook described as a ‘significant and often overlooked group’.
“The OSBPG charity invites breed clubs, keepers and independent pork producers to use the ASF contingency plan and take practical steps toward safeguarding their pigs,” she said.
“While designed with ASF in mind, the plan also serves as a broader biosecurity framework, supporting preparedness for a range of notifiable and endemic diseases.
“Over the past four years, in particular, the topic of disease preparedness has been regularly discussed at industry meetings and conferences. Yet, despite repeated warnings, a coordinated response across all sectors remains long overdue.
“With more than 18 recognised pig breeds in the UK, encompassing traditional, rare, imported and those regarded as ‘pet’ pigs, the stakes are high. Disease does not discriminate and the time to act is now. Waiting until ASF reaches our shores to implement protocols will be too late.
“In a landscape where the threat of disease continues to grow, preparedness is no longer optional – it is essential. We must all work together to protect the unique and irreplaceable pig breeds of Britain.”
- The plan is available on request.