November 11, 2019

Australia creates new position to deal with feral pigs as ASF threat mounts

Australia has announced the position of national feral-pig coordinator which will be responsible for dealing with the country's growing wild pig population, The Sydney Morning Herald reported.

The position is created in light of the African swine fever which threatens to enter Australia. Australian Pork Limited chief executive Margo Andrae said the coordinator would be based with the producer-owned pig industry body.

There is an estimated 25 million feral pigs roaming across 45% of the country.

Federal Agriculture Minister Bridget McKenzie said costs in relation to the production losses of the domestic agricultural sector could "balloon exponentially" if ASF reaches Australia.

"As a transmitter of deadly viruses like African swine fever, infected feral pigs could carry the disease into locations of critical risk for pork producers," McKenzie added.

Australian pork producers are advised to ramp up biosecruity efforts following ASF outbreaks overseas.

"There would be widespread ramifications for Australian agriculture if our hard-earned international reputation for producing safe, clean and green food and fibre was damaged by a disease outbreak," McKenzie said.

Northern Territory and West Australian governments have recently readied feral-pig hunters for mass culls.

According to Andrae, the industry, which employs about 36,000 through the food chain, would be hit with costs of up to $2 billion should swine fever enter Australia.

"This is a crucial opportunity to get on the front foot nationally to better manage feral-pig populations, both in the immediate context of protecting our industry from African swine fever and to reduce the agricultural and environmental damage feral pigs inflict across so much of the continent," Andrae said.

"This role will ensure that reliable feral pig control methods are understood and used, and strengthen the on-ground work carried out by the states."

- The Sydney Morning Herald