The pig industry has been applauded for leading the way with its collaborative approach to health and welfare.
The tribute came during the launch on the Pig Health and Welfare Council’s (PHWC) biennial report in the House of Commons by the Chair of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, Neil Parish.
The report highlights the progress made in the last two years and the “ambitious targets” set for each of the Council’s subgroups, which cover antimicrobials, pig meat safety, welfare and surveillance.
“It’s a proactive partnership between cross-industry organisations and it’s the way we work closely together that underpins success in achieving our 20:20 Pig Health and Welfare Strategy goals,” commented AHDB Pork chair, Meryl Ward.
PHWC chairman Prof Jim Scudamore added: “New and emerging diseases remain a major concern to the pig industry with Porcine Epidemic Diarrhoea (PED), African Swine Fever (ASF) and Porcine Reproductive Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) of high importance.
“Much of the surveillance sub group’s work in the past year has been devoted to PED. Development of the PED contingency plan for England, the standard operating procedures and diagnostic tests has required close collaboration across the pig industry, with considerable assistance from Animal and Plant Health Agency and Government.”
