Pork SA calls for public’s help in protecting against devastating African Swine Fever

PORK SA is urging the public to be mindful of new biosecurity policies surrounding feral pigs, saying the industry is in real danger if African Swine Fever gets into herds.

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PORK SA is urging the public to be mindful of new biosecurity policies surrounding feral pigs, saying the industry is in real danger if African Swine Fever gets into herds.

Feral pigs are a known carrier of African Swine Fever, a disease that has ravaged China’s pig population.

Even more worrying, the disease is already on Australia’s doorstep, with the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources intercepting a range of meat products contaminated with the disease earlier this year.

When the disease gets into a pig herd it causes death to pigs coming in contact with the virus. This virus has no impact on human health and pork can safely be consumed.

In order to protect the South Australian herd, a number of new government policies have been brought in including a requirement for land managers to destroy all feral pigs on their properties and prohibition on the movement, possession and sale of feral pigs. There are fines of up to $100,000 for people found to be releasing domestic pigs or feral pigs.

There is also a requirement to notify natural resource management boards of feral pigs, except on Kangaroo Island, where numbers are too high to justify the requirement and domestic pigs also have to be confined, or destroyed if they escape.

Pork SA chairman Mark McLean said it was important these new rules were followed.

“We’re pleased with the government reinforcing and strengthening the feral pig policy,” he said.

“Biosecurity is so important, especially with African Swine Fever spreading through Asia.

“The community plays an important role in protecting agricultural food safety and security by not bringing in any meat products from overseas as well as ensuring that food waste containing meat is not fed to pigs as this also can jeapordise animal health and there are significant fines for people involved in this process known as ‘swill feeding’.”

Mr McLean said there were pockets of feral pig populations throughout the state including the Mid North and South East, with the pest tending to follow water courses.

“They’ve even been spotted up near Renmark,” he said.

Mr McLean said after going through a very challenging time with low pork prices in the past two years, the last issue producers wanted to face was a biosecurity threat.

“There are some positive signs for the industry, with a lot more demand for pork,” he said.

“We’ve come through a very tough time, and it’s still hard with the high cost of grain. A number of producers across Australia have made the decision to exit the industry and it’s a real shame because we’ve got some very good farmers who are shutting their doors.”

Mr McLean said he could see a situation developing nationally where demand for Australian pork would outstrip supply, a position the industry was in three years ago before the sector’s downturn.