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Defend your pig farm against African Swine Fever (ASF)
African Swine Fever (ASF), with no known cure or vaccine, poses a grave threat to the swine industry. The stakes are high with mortality rates up to 100%, animal suffering and economic losses, and even trade restrictions as a consequence.
As a responsible pig farmer, it's vital to implement strict biosecurity measures, monitor herds closely, and immediately report any suspicious symptoms. Your proactive actions are key to preventing the spread of ASF, ensuring the sustainability of your farm and contributing to the global effort in safeguarding the swine industry’s future.
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What causes African Swine Fever?
African Swine Fever (ASF) is a highly contagious and deadly viral disease that affects domestic and wild pigs. It is caused by the African Swine Fever Virus (ASFV), a large enveloped DNA virus of the Asfarviridae family. ASF is characterized by high mortality rates, up to 100% in severe cases.
How is African Swine Fever transmitted?
The virus can spread through direct contact with infected pigs, ingestion of contaminated water, feed, and through ticks that act as vectors or rats. It can also spread through contaminated equipment, vehicles, clothing, and in some cases, via airborne routes over short distances.
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What are the symptoms of African Swine Fever?
Recognizing the symptoms of African Swine Fever is crucial for early detection and effective control measures. Some of the key symptoms to look out for are:
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- Acute high fever
- Loss of appetite
- Inability to stand, weakness
- Reddening of the skin
- Vomiting and diarrhea
- Respiratory issues
- Hemorrhage (bleeding, discoloured skin)
- Miscarriage in pregnant sows
- Sudden death
- Joint swelling
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How can you protect your pig farm from African Swine Fever?
There is currently no vaccine available for African Swine Fever (ASF). Therefore, it becomes even more important to take the right measures to prevent ASF from entering your farm. To achieve this,, it's crucial to implement strict biosecurity measures, maintain sanitation, practice hygiene, clean drinking water, enforce quarantine, and control incoming goods and visitors.
Due to its severe impact on pig populations and the pork industry, early detection and reporting of these symptoms are crucial for effective control and prevention measures.
The 5 steps to prevent African Swine Fever
As a pig farmer, it is crucial for you to take the lead in safeguarding your pigs from African Swine Fever and preventing its spread. Our pig field experts highly recommend implementing these four biosecurity measures to ensure the security of your pig farm.:format(webp))
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Contain the threat: set-up a colour system
Using dedicated colors for tools, equipment, and clothing in each location prevents ASF cross-contamination. If detected in one location, it is extremely important to make sure it stays contained. A colours system can help to ensure quarantine measures are strictly followed.:format(webp))
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Prevent the introduction of ASF via drinking water
African Swine Fever (ASF) can spread through drinking water. A study (Niederwerder et al, 2019) has shown that ASFV strain can be transmitted to pigs through consumption of contaminated water. Di-O-Clean is approved as disinfectant against ASF in water and removes biofilm from the water pipelines.:format(webp))
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