February 18, 2014  

UK seeks to improve lorry-washing facilities

With an aim to fight against endemic diseases such as swine dysentery, and imported diseases such as African swine fever (ASF) and porcine epidemic diarrhoea (PED), the National Pig Association is polling its producers about lorry washes at Britain's abattoirs, with a view to publishing a league table.

With lorry wash at Dalehead Foods abattoir in Spalding, the association hopes when abattoirs see how they are rated against their competitors, the poorest performers will be encouraged to invest in improved lorry-washing facilities.

Many pig producers and hauliers consider sub-standard lorry washes to be the weakest link in the industry's armoury against disease-killing viruses.