Health
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Improving the health and welfare of English pigs is of paramount importance to the industry. It affects our cost of production, our ability to compete in the EU market, our impact on the environment, the safety of the food we produce, our responsibility to the animals in our care and our reputation as a producer of high welfare pork.
The 20:20 Pig Health and Welfare strategy sets down a clear goal which everyone in the industry can contribute towards achieving: continuous improvement in pig health and welfare.
Download the strategy here
BPEX provides a range of pig health initiatives to help producers and vets improve pig health and physical performance:
BPEX Pig Health Improvement Programme (PHIP)
The BPEX Pig Health Improvement Project identify the key disease challenges in each region and aims to enhance the health status of the national pig herd. It supports coordination of health improvement and biosecurity between farmers, veterinarians and the allied industry.
Click here for the latest project newsletter.
Lorry wash project
The BPEX ‘Cleaner Lorries Campaign’ aims to reduce the risk of disease spread via livestock lorries.
Since October 2009 BPEX has been reviewing industry biosecurity standards and one part of this was to seek livestock hauliers’ opinion on the suitability of lorry washing facilities at abattoirs. The main point for action is to make sure abattoir lorry wash facilities are fit for purpose and that good practice is followed to minimise the risk of disease transmission. To find out more about this project and to see what events are taking place. Click here.
BPEX Pig Health Scheme (BPHS)
BPHS has a team of specialist pig vets checking carcases for important pig health conditions in specialist abattoirs throughout Britain. The report sent back to producers gives a picture of their overall herd health, including sub-clinical disease which is not always easy to spot on farm
National Control Programme (ZNCPig)
Food safety is an important issue for pig producers and ZNCPig offers whatever help they need to manage salmonella risk on their units. This includes helping score the level of risk and plan control measures, salmonella sampling and analysis, organising producer workshops, answering questions and giving advice.
Why not have a look at the health related resources by clicking here.