East Anglia pig farmers back health scheme

Pig producers have wasted no time in signing up to improve pig health in East Anglia.

In a further boost to progress the Eastern Pig Health (EPH) scheme, a website will help prpoducers access the latest details. Producers are working together to improve long-term health and biosecurity by sharing information with others in the scheme.

Everyone who signs up to EPH will benefit from access to an online map of pig units and herd health status information, free diagnostic testing, improved biosecurity, online management tools and disease alerts.

Norfolk farmer Philip Richardson, who chairs the steering groups, said: 'It's an exciting position to be in. We're seeing greater transparency between producers than ever before. The first producers to sign up have agreed it has to be 'all or nothing' and are willing to give full disclosure of health status on their units to other members of Eastern Pig Health.'

There are four initial steps for producers and their vets.

After registering online - www.pighealth.org.uk then producers must also give permission for their vets to disclose details of pig health to the scheme.

Then, their vet assesses their unit using a standard protocol, usually combined with a quarterly visit, and enters health status details on the EPH website.

And in return, the producer has full access to a map of all signed-up producers, disease status information and EPH support services.

There will be support and advice from BPEX, specialist advisers, vets and other producers.

Details can also be obtained from Ross Lake, who is the scheme's co-ordinator, on 07792 681203 or email ross.lake@bpex.org.uk.

The initiative is being funded by BPEX non-levy funds and the Rural Development Programme for England, which is jointly funded by Defra and the European Union, and is managed by the East of England Development Agency (EEDA).