Swine fever probably near the border with the Netherlands
African swine fever is said to have been used on a sow farm in the south of the German administrative region of Emsland. This was announced by the Ministry of Agriculture of the German state of Lower Saxony.
The Friedrich Löffler Institute (FLI) has yet to officially confirm the research results. At 1 pm, agriculture minister Barbara Otte-Kinast of Lower Saxony will give a visible result of the investigation. The company is said to be located 5 kilometers from Emsbüren. This place is about 25 kilometers from the border of the Netherlands, near Twente.
According to German media, an investigation is already underway into how the swine fever got to the company. Agrarheute reports that the introduction of wild boars from hunting trips is currently excluded. Contaminated semen from feed is further examined. It is suspected that grain from countries where the disease circulates widely was used.
high livestock density
Emsbüren is considered a livestock area with a high livestock density. German media believe that an outbreak of swine fever in this area will have major consequences. The pig farm is located on the southern border of the state of Lower Saxony, close to the Netherlands, but also close to the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia.
If swine fever is confirmed, the pigs will be culled from the farm. In addition, there will be a restricted zone within a radius of three kilometers around the pig farm and observation areas within a radius of 10 kilometers.
Measures in the Netherlands
The Producers Organization for Pig Farming (POV) is closely monitoring the situation in our eastern neighbors and is in contact with the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality (LNV). If the outbreak is confirmed, it will be examined today which additional measures are needed or recommended in the Netherlands. Double cleaning already applies in Germany.
According to the POV, an outbreak in the wild boar population would have been much worse news because it would then be uncontrollable. Biosecurity on both German and Dutch companies is in good order. According to the interest group for pig farmers, it is good care for the outbreak in a livestock-dense area, with many pig farms on both the German and Dutch side of the border.
The Ministry of LNV is in close contact with German knowledge, says Minister Staghouwer. ‘In the meantime, we are considering the situation and possible consequences and measures.’