First German pig farm shut down due to ASF

No German pig farm has yet been affected by African swine fever. Although the virus has been spreading in the country since September last year, only wild boars have died from ASF. However, one farm intends to destroy the entire livestock due to the increased threat of ASF. An open-range farm is located too close to the epicenter of the latest outbreaks of the virus.

At the Gut Hirschaue farm near Biskov, Brandenburg, they raise organic pigs. The Department of Agriculture report explains that free-ranging animals can increase the risk of infection in domestic pigs.

This is one of the first German farms to have to slaughter the entire herd due to ASF. Plant manager Michael Staar explains that all the livestock on his farm with a special breed of pigs will have to be slaughtered before March 12, since the location of the farm borders on a high-risk area for African swine fever.

In addition, a new region in Germany has reported a case of ASF: the first outbreak was found in the region of Frankfurt an der Oder, which is a border town adjacent to the Polish border. However, in this region of Brandenburg, a permanent fence has been installed parallel to the border river Oder to prevent the migration of wild boars. The carcass of the animal was found between the shore and the fence.

Ursula Nonnemacher, Minister for Consumer Protection of Brandenburg, said: “First of all, I am glad that the safety fence is apparently working, as the animal was found in front of the fence on the Oder side. But the new case of ASF also shows how big the danger remains ".

The total number of outbreaks of African swine fever in Germany has already reached 776.