New ‘Muck Off’ campaign seeks to raise hygiene standards

The AHDB has relaunched its Muck Free Truck campaign to strengthen biosecurity across the UK pig industry and reduce the risk of disease spreading through contaminated transport with a bold new “Muck Off” slogan.

© AHDB

The campaign will run throughout October and aims to help tackle ongoing threats including African swine fever (ASF), swine dysentery, porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS), and porcine epidemic diarrhoea virus PEDv.

It calls on farmers to challenge and, if necessary, even refuse dirty trucks, while ensuring their own vehicles are properly cleaned.

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Processors are also reminded to make sure lorries leave sites in a clean, biosecure condition, and hauliers are urged to meet hygiene standards 100% of the time. 

Vehicle disease vectors

Research, the AHDB says, shows that even when hauliers comply with standstill regulations, vehicles remain one of the most significant vectors for disease transmission. 

Lauren Turner, lead animal health and welfare scientist at the AHDB, said: “Clean transport is one of the most effective and visible biosecurity measures available.

“By working together to raise standards, we can protect pig health, safeguard supply chains, and demonstrate that the UK continues to take biosecurity seriously.” 

Industry support

The campaign, which was first rolled out in 2019, is run in partnership with the National Pig Association, Pig Veterinary Society, British Meat Processors Association, Association of Independent Meat Suppliers, Livestock Auctioneers Association and Red Tractor.

“Not only is it essential to raise awareness and protect our industry against African Swine Fever, but it is also a necessary step in preventing swine dysentery, which continues to disrupt the industry,” said Katie Jarvis, NPA chief policy advisor.

She added that the impact a dirty vehicle can have cannot be underestimated.

“We urge all producers, processors, hauliers and wider industry to ensure their vehicles are cleaned before entering pig units,” she said.

It will be rolled out across digital and print channels, with posters, cab stickers, social media content and tailored communications targeting producers, processors and hauliers.

Weekly goody bag giveaways are also hoped to provide incentives for participation.