The Pig Industry Stakeholder Group presented its report to Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney on Monday, outlining more than 60 recommendations for the sector as a whole, including the expansion of the role of Animal Health Ireland (AHI) to the pig sector.
AHI helps livestock producers and processors by providing the knowledge, education and coordination required to establish effective control programmes for non-regulated diseases of livestock.
In the report, the group recommends that AHI should expand its role to the pig sector, to identify areas for “priority action”.
While the current strategic plan of AHI focuses exclusively on diseases and conditions of cattle, the organisation does remain open to working in other sectors, including pigs.
The report says: “The AHI model is now established and has delivered a number of benefits in the cattle sector. Subject to agreement on a sustainable funding model, the group recommends that the AHI role be expanded (via recruitment of a suitable specialist/co-ordinator) to the pig sector as soon as possible.
“AHI could build on existing research from Teagasc allied to feedback from post-mortem data from slaughter plants when deciding on initial priorities.”
A tried and tested model
Speaking to the Irish Farmers Journal following the report, AHI chairman Mike Magan said that AHI can “help to bring unity of purpose” to the pig sector.
“The pig industry is a highly commercial, highly competitve industry. AHI can help to bring agreement on procedures to be adopted.
“AHI is a tried and tested model of scientific, technical and veterinary agreement, and we want to bring that to the pig industry,” he said.
We are an open book at AHI, and we will share our knowledge with the sector every step of the way
To kick-start this process, the Pig Industry Stakeholders Group recommends that seed funding of €250,000 be made available to AHI to cover initial recruitment and setup costs.
“Our policy is to move quickly, and so we will immediately set about our plans for the sector. We are an open book at AHI, and we will share our knowledge with the sector every step of the way,” Magan told the Irish Farmers Journal.
The report outlines a number of elements of the AHI model that are potentially applicable to the pig sector, such as consultation with the pig industry to identify areas for priority action. Priority areas include salmonella, mycoplasma, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and welfare.
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The Pig Industry Stakeholder Group presented its report to Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney on Monday, outlining more than 60 recommendations for the sector as a whole, including the expansion of the role of Animal Health Ireland (AHI) to the pig sector.
AHI helps livestock producers and processors by providing the knowledge, education and coordination required to establish effective control programmes for non-regulated diseases of livestock.
In the report, the group recommends that AHI should expand its role to the pig sector, to identify areas for “priority action”.
While the current strategic plan of AHI focuses exclusively on diseases and conditions of cattle, the organisation does remain open to working in other sectors, including pigs.
The report says: “The AHI model is now established and has delivered a number of benefits in the cattle sector. Subject to agreement on a sustainable funding model, the group recommends that the AHI role be expanded (via recruitment of a suitable specialist/co-ordinator) to the pig sector as soon as possible.
“AHI could build on existing research from Teagasc allied to feedback from post-mortem data from slaughter plants when deciding on initial priorities.”
A tried and tested model
Speaking to the Irish Farmers Journal following the report, AHI chairman Mike Magan said that AHI can “help to bring unity of purpose” to the pig sector.
“The pig industry is a highly commercial, highly competitve industry. AHI can help to bring agreement on procedures to be adopted.
“AHI is a tried and tested model of scientific, technical and veterinary agreement, and we want to bring that to the pig industry,” he said.
We are an open book at AHI, and we will share our knowledge with the sector every step of the way
To kick-start this process, the Pig Industry Stakeholders Group recommends that seed funding of €250,000 be made available to AHI to cover initial recruitment and setup costs.
“Our policy is to move quickly, and so we will immediately set about our plans for the sector. We are an open book at AHI, and we will share our knowledge with the sector every step of the way,” Magan told the Irish Farmers Journal.
The report outlines a number of elements of the AHI model that are potentially applicable to the pig sector, such as consultation with the pig industry to identify areas for priority action. Priority areas include salmonella, mycoplasma, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and welfare.
Read more
Pig Industry Stakeholders Group present report to Minister Coveney
Coveney announces details of €1m package for pig sector
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