This is a subscriber-only article
Pig farmers are calling for more frequent and rigorous spot checks on pork imports as African swine fever (ASF) continues to spread across Asia and parts of Europe.
Speaking to the Irish Farmers Journal, IFA pigs chair Tom Hogan said pig farmers were worried about product being imported into Ireland, particularly from affected counties such as Poland.
Hogan said: “We don’t have an issue with the product coming in, because the EU is about free trade, but we would like to see more spot checks.”
While there is no risk to humans from ASF, it can devastate pig herds and result in mass culls of herds.
China
In China, where the disease is rampant, Hogan said reliable data suggests its national herd has contracted by 35%. By Christmas, he said the Chinese herd could be halved.
The reduction in China’s domestic herd has created huge demand for protein imports, which Hogan believed would benefit both Irish pig and beef farmers.
“They won’t be able to fill their demands for protein with just pigmeat because there’s simply not enough, they will require beef too,” he said.
Pig prices have improved considerably in recent weeks for Irish pig producers, which Hogan welcomed after an extended period of depressed prices.
SHARING OPTIONS: