The ninth African Swine Fever (ASF) contingency planning workshop, delivered in partnership with AHDB and facilitated by Livetec, took place in Dorset, organised by The George Pig Practice team.
Producers and vets came together to work through how an ASF outbreak could play out in practice and what can be done at the farm level to prepare for and mitigate the impact of such an event.
A first for wild boar country
This was the first workshop delivered in an area with a wild boar population, adding an extra layer of discussion to how ASF might move through both domestic and wild animals. In addition, all the attending farms were linked through a single PRIMO Pyramid system, so it was interesting to discuss and highlight the effects of outbreak movement restrictions on this organisational structure.
Grounded discussion, real-world detail
The session was led by Dr Paul Talling, Biosecurity Advisor at Livetec Systems. Drawing on his direct experience managing notifiable disease outbreaks, he walked participants through what would happen if ASF were confirmed in the UK from the initial government lockdown to the operational and welfare implications that follow.
The exercise prompted honest discussion about the practicalities of containment: how everyday logistics such as waste handling, vehicle access, and slurry management would work under restriction, and how clear records and site mapping can save vital time when it matters most.
Planning as prevention
Rather than dwelling on “doom and gloom,” producers described leaving the session more confident in their ability to cope if an outbreak were to occur nearby. “Thinking through what you’d do before it happens is half the battle,” said Dr. Paul Talling. “You can’t plan in panic.”
By the end of the day, farms had clearer action points: identifying where communication lines needed tightening, how site access could be better controlled and/or simplified, and which elements of contingency plans required updating to reflect current layouts, staffing and procedures.
Working together to protect the sector
This Dorset workshop reinforced a shared message from across the series that directed preparation not only addresses the fear of the unknown but empowers participants to plan and take control of their own scenarios. By bringing producers, vets, and industry specialists together in one room, the session turned uncertainty into practical, farm-level planning.
Coming soon: Workshop in a Box
AHDB intends to release a “Workshop in a Box” in January. It will include:
- a standardised slide deck
- a contingency planning pack
- guided breakout instructions and a farm mapping method
- a pack of frequently asked questions gathered across the series
The Box will enable local delivery of the same content and approach.
