Pig diseases cost farmers 21million

6 September 2001



Pig diseases cost farmers 21million

By FWi staff

TWO diseases ravaging UK pig herds have cost farmers 21 million so far this year, according to the Meat and Livestock Commission.

Over 300,000 pigs have been lost to Post-weaning Multi-sytemic Wasting Syndrome (PMWS) and Porcine Dermatitis Nephropathy Syndrome (PDNS).

Unlike foot-and-mouth however, farmers are not compensated for pigs that die or are slaughtered because of the disease outbreaks.

Speaking at a conference to pool knowledge, calls were made a properly funded government-research programme into the diseases.

The conference at Stoneleigh, Warwickshire, was attended by 250 people. Delegates were addressed by international experts on the disease.

The aim of the conference was to examine how the disease could be controlled and to identify research that needs to be done.

British Pig Executive (BPEX) chairman Richard Campbell said speakers demonstrated that there are ways of significantly reducing the diseases effects.

Although they pose no known threat to humans, these two disease have already had a massive impact on the British pig industry, he said.

• MAFF backs study on pig diseases, FWi, 10 March 2000
• Pig breeders in disease crisis, FWi, 28 January 2000
• Pig diseases pose serious threat, FWi, 21 January 2000