APHA is seeking participants from the UK for a new EU-funded study on the cost-effectiveness of biosecurity on pig farms.
The BIOPIGEE project focuses on practices for the control of salmonella and HEV, but the agency is looking to make the outcomes relevant to PRRS and ASF control, too.
The agency wants to enrol 30 British farms into the study to ensure it has appropriate representation of British herds.
NPA members can view the recruitment letter, including details of how to participate, on the association’s website.
The letter states: “Your contribution will be invaluable to the whole pig industry and will help us design practical guidance on the most cost-effective Salmonella and HEV controls.
“The findings of this study will be used to develop informative tools and workshops for farmers and veterinarians, and a report of the overall study findings. You will also receive an individual report detailing the laboratory findings on your farm.”
APHA’s lead analytical epidemiologist Dr Richard Smith said: “This could be a very fruitful project as we are looking to collect data from at least 300 herds across Europe and that would provide a strong dataset to assess the cost-effectiveness of individual biosecurity practices to help advise where to concentrate their resources.
“It would be very difficult to get the funding to carry out this type of large study again and so I am trying to capitalise on this opportunity.”