Resources available to vets working with pig‐keeping clients

WE write to highlight a number of helpful resources for vets to support their small-scale and pet pig keeper clients to navigate the various legislative requirements and good practices aimed at protecting their pigs from disease. There is currently a high risk of entry of African swine fever (ASF) virus through human-mediated routes, such as in meat products, to the UK from the EU and other countries, meaning that the risk of entry is considered to occur very often.1 Dover Port Health Authority has reported ongoing seizures of illegally imported pig meat from countries where ASF is presently active. Being realistic, it is likely that the ASF virus is already present within such meat products somewhere in the UK, although hopefully not yet within a live pig. One of the most likely routes by which ASF could become established in the UK pig herd is through pigs consuming these illegally imported and infected pig meat products. This risk could be particularly prominent for wild (feral) boar, which could access discarded meat products, or pigs kept on small-scale establishments or as pets, where legislative adherence around pig feeding may be variable.2 The arrival of this devastating disease in the UK would have an extremely damaging impact on animal welfare and the economic sustainability of wider pig production. Helpful and practical guidance for new and small-scale pig keepers has been prepared by the AHDB, and by Defra for pet pig keepers, covering the legislation affecting registration of premises, animal identification, licences for movement including for walking, feeding and the management of pigs after their death. Please use these resources to get messages out to your clients – they are all free to use and can make a great addition to your practice newsletter or newsboard. For the AHDB's small-scale pig keeper guidance go to https://bit.ly/4smOSOJ and for Defra's guidance for pet pig keepers go to https://bit.ly/3PsdqHt. The APHA's current poster collection can be found at https://bit.ly/4dEn4Rj These materials and others, including useful recent publications, have also been gathered on the Pig Veterinary Society website. Please make use of these resources at https://bit.ly/4t356fN “The arrival of ASF in the UK would have an extremely damaging impact on animal welfare and the economic sustainability of wider pig production Finally, all members of the public are encouraged to report to the authorities any wild boar found dead using the same contact details above.