Wednesday, 18 June 2025
The first workshop, held last week in York, was a resounding success – highlighting the appetite among producers to take a proactive approach to disease risk.
Organised by AHDB in partnership with Livetec Systems and the National Pig Association (NPA), the nationwide series of in-person workshops is open to all producers – from smallholders to large commercial units – and are delivered by pig veterinary practices.
Miranda Poulson, senior animal health and welfare scientist at AHDB, explained the workshops are designed to prepare the pig sector for the real and rising threat of ASF.
“We’re proud to partner with Livetec Systems and the NPA to deliver this series of hands-on contingency planning workshops, supporting pig producers in becoming better prepared for ASF.
“Working alongside veterinary practices across England, these face-to-face sessions will help producers collaborate with their vets to develop bespoke, farm-level contingency plans, supporting the industry to be prepared, should an outbreak occur in the UK.”
Paul Thompson, clinical director at Garth Vets, who facilitated the first event, explained the workshops are focused on helping producers identify clinical signs of disease, understand how ASF spreads and formulate strategic farm-specific plans.
He said:
“Bringing together a diverse mix of producers, from small independents to larger farming operations, there’s something for everyone to take away from these workshops.
“So far, it seems one of the biggest eye-openers for many has been the importance of safeguarding personal property and homes from movement restrictions – highlighting the need for strategic boundary planning on farms to mitigate risks.”
The first workshop held last week in York
With funding provided through the AHDB levy, the sessions aim to build producer confidence and ensure a swift, coordinated response in the event of an outbreak.
Ms Poulson added:
“The threat of ASF is real. When it strikes, it strikes hard. That’s why preparation is critical – not just for ASF, but for any notifiable disease like foot-and-mouth.
“These workshops are a practical step in safeguarding the future of pig farms and the wider supply chain. We strongly encourage producers to speak with their vet about booking a place.”
Producers are advised to contact their vet to find out more.
If your practice is not currently offering a session, plans are in place to expand training through a ‘train the trainer’ event at the Pig Veterinary Society (PVS) autumn meeting.
The team that delivered the workshop