Farms adopt sanitising measures to protect pigs

TWO major pig farms in Port Moresby, Radho Piggery Ltd (RPL) and Boroma Piggery Ltd (BPL), have taken sanitising measures to protect their pigs from the African swine fever (ASF).
Radho Piggery Ltd managing director Rex Roberts said the National Agriculture and Quarantine Inspection Authority (Naqia) had facilitated a workshop regarding the ASF last year (2019) when there was an outbreak in China and other parts of Asia such as Indonesia and East Timor.
Roberts said their customers go through a sanitising process where they are sprayed with a disinfectant and then are given suits to change into before they enter the piggery. Vehicles were told to park outside while only one or two customers are allowed in.
He said they started the practice in March 2020 when advised by Naqia about the ASF outbreak in Southern Highlands.
RPL manages 450 sows (mother pigs) and the ASF is a threat to the business. He said there was not much attention given to ASF because of Covid-19.
“The ASF is already in the country and we are sitting on the fence on whether we will keep our business or lose it,” he said.
Roberts said the company had not received any support as yet, either information sharing or equipment for sanitising from the Government.
“We do not have any assistance from Naqia yet, we are just waiting for the relevant authorities to come partner with us and see how best we can tackle this issue,” he said.
Roberts said Naqia had been sharing updates when the ASF broke out in parts of Asia.
However, the recorded cases of Covid-19 in the country and the following state of emergency have affected this and now there is little to no updates from Naqia.
BPL managing director Craig Bradfield said their company had been enacting biosecurity measures for the last four months in anticipation of a possible spread into Port Moresby.
“All our entrances into our property have been restricted,” he said.
“We have a truck wash and spray for any vehicles that come in.
He said Naqia had been proactive and had been in contact with the company for the last 18 months.