Affordable Biosecurity For Small-Scale Piggeries

In this article Dr Peter Evans, veterinary liaison officer of the South African Pork Producers’ Organisation, shares affordable and practical tips that small-scale pig farmers can implement to improve biosecurity on their farms and protect their livelihoods. Jeandré van der Walt reports.

- Jeandré van der Walt

South Africa’s small-scale piggeries are often at risk of spreading or contracting diseases, as their biosecurity measures are frequently poor or nonexistent. However, this need not be the case, according to Dr Peter Evans, veterinary liaison officer at the South African Pork Producers’ Organisation (SAPPO).

A GROWING PROBLEM

The number of small-scale pig keepers in peri-urban areas has doubled over the past decade, says Evans, “more than likely due to socio-economic pressures”. Although the role of these pig keepers, who are often found in informal settlements, is limited on the formal pork market, Evans says that at the level of the peri-urban township economy, they play a significant role through the informal selling, slaughtering and distribution of pork.

Given the impact of their contribution, it is crucial for these pig keepers to prevent pig diseases and thereby maintain the sustainability of their livelihoods.

According to Evans, some pig diseases are insidious in nature; they have a negative effect on performance of the animals and increase cost of production because of treatments and/or vaccinations.

FAST FACTS

Biosecurity is important to prevent the spread of disease and maintain the sustainability of pig-keeping.

Biosecurity measures are relatively easy and not too costly to implement.

Small-scale piggeries play a significant role in the peri-urban township economy.

“However, diseases such as African swine fever [ASF] are disastrous in that extremely high mortalities are likely and could result in the closure of the business,” he says.