A protocol for external biosecurity assessment against wildlife in intensive pig farms: Are we ready for African Swine Fever?

External biosecurity comprises the set of physical and management measures taken to prevent pathogens from entering a farm. Its implementation requires the creation of a protocol for developing Farm-specific Action Plans (FsAPs). This study describes an On-Farm Wildlife Risk Mitigation Protocol that can be applied to a wide range of intensive pig farming conditions and evaluates the risk posed by wildlife-livestock interactions on intensive pig farms in Spain. Our findings suggest that, in intensive pig production, the risk of ASF transmission between wild boar and domestic pig is primarily driven by the presence of wild boar near the farm and via fomites potentially introduced by vehicles or farm personnel. This emphasises the importance of good biosecurity practices as part of staff routines, especially a strict separation between dirty and clean areas at the entrances to farm facilities. Awareness-raising campaigns and training programmes are needed to equip farmers with the knowledge required to make informed decisions about their farms. This study is of significant interest as its results provide a protocol for developing FsAP, an easily transferable tool for disease prevention where intensively produced pigs and wildlife interact. This is particularly relevant in the context of African Swine Fever at the interface between wild boars and pig production.