Whether bought from your local butcher or raised on your own property, nothing beats the Christmas ham. For those choosing the home-grown paddock to plate option, please keep in mind some obligations that come with it.
“Swill feeding, which is offering your pigs animal products, is illegal,” said Anja Sandring, District Veterinarian, Western Local Land Services.
“Some of the main examples of swill feeding are carcasses, meat scraps, blood and bones, or products that have been in contact with animal products, like cooking oil, fruit and vegetables and bakery items.
“Swill feeding is a risk factor for the introduction and spread of several Emergency Animal Diseases (EAD), such as Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) and African Swine Fever (ASF).
“Australia is free from FMD and ASF, and an outbreak of those diseases would severely affect the Australian livestock industry and have devastating consequences for producers and communities.”
It is important producers include their pigs in their Annual Land and Stock Returns.
This helps Local Land Services to quickly and accurately respond to EAD outbreaks or other biosecurity events.
If producers are moving pigs from their property, please ensure they are registered with the national tracking system for the movement of all pigs in Australia – Pig Pass.
This helps to ensure food safety, animal disease control and welfare.
If livestock producers have any concerns and are suspecting an emergency animal disease during the Christmas holiday shutdown period, please call the EAD hotline on 1800 675 888 immediately.
For further information and local advice about your pigs and other livestock, speak with a Local Land Services District Veterinarian on 1300 795 299.
Media contact: Charlie Whiteley | charlie.whiteley@lls.nsw.gov.au | 0428 679 974.
