Developing farm health planning in the small-scale/hobby pig farming sector
The British Pig Association (BPA) is working in partnership with Defra to promote health planning to the small-scale/hobby pig farming sector in England.
In 2006, the BPA recorded almost 900 new purchasers of pedigree pigs but there are likely to be a large number more. In a survey of new members, the BPA found that most do not come from an agricultural background and have no formal training in livestock husbandry.
The BPA are arranging a series of regional workshops that concentrate on pig health and welfare but also cover basic tasks such as biosecurity, identification and safe handling.
The focus will be on health planning without excessive medication alongside the need for prevention of exotic disease as part of the national breed conservation effort. Attendance at the workshops is open to both BPA and non-BPA members. For more information on these workshops visit the BPA website.
Those taking part in the workshops will be provided with a simple template for a health plan, relevant to the needs of small-scale pig producers. The template will be designed for pig owners to use with their local vets.
The BPA will follow the workshops with a survey of participants to find out how many contacted their local vet and drew up a health plan. The BPA will obtain feedback from these vets on the template and arrange a follow up call from a specialist vet.
The project is due to be completed by February 2008.
Page last modified:
August 30, 2007
Page published: 17 May 2007