Just one swine-fever zone left

By Peter Crichton

MAFF announced on Friday (15 December) the lifting of the Woodbridge coastal classical swine-fever (CSF) surveillance zone.

This zone was imposed when CSF first struck the UK on 08 August.

That leaves just one remaining 10km zone, on the Suffolk/Norfolk border.

MAFF estimates that this could be lifted no later than the first week in January, provided there are no further outbreaks, nor any delays in cleaning-down procedures on infected premises.

Besides CSF and, in the east, PDNS/PWMS, further reductions in the size of the UK herd lead trade sources to expect UK finished pig numbers to continue to decline.

• Peter Crichton is a Suffolk-based pig farmer offering independent valuation and consultancy services to the UK pig industry