News African swine fever
Germany bans harvesting in ASF areas
The news that Germany is no longer AVP-free was feared for some time, but it hit like a bomb. Strict measures are taken to prevent further spread. For example, premiums are set on the discovery of carcasses of wild boars and there is a threat of a feed shortage now that roughage can no longer be taken from the land.
It started with the discovery of 1 infected carcass, but the number quickly increased and on Tuesday the counter stood at 5 infections. These cases have all been confirmed by the Friedrich Loeffler Institut (FLI). The state of Brandenburg has stepped up the search for carcasses and reported new cases again.
No infections have yet been found outside of Brandenburg. The number of infection detections within the area has increased, with a total of 10 cases reported. Of these, 5 were located in the Spree-Neisse district, where the first carcass was also found. The other 5 were found in Neuzelle.
Financial incentive hunters
Finding and sampling wild boar carcasses in the affected area is crucial. The Brandenburg authorities have therefore published premium rates for finding carcasses. In the core area, the bonus for hunters is €150 per find. A premium of €100 will be paid for the endangered area and the surrounding buffer zone.
Harvests are stopped
Authorities may, when necessary to control animal diseases, restrict or prohibit the use of agricultural or forestry areas for a period of 6 months. The main veterinarians responsible for the 3 affected districts in Germany also use this. In the high-risk districts of Spree-Neisse, Dahme-Spreewald and Oder-Spree, the use of such agriculture and forestry is prohibited until further notice.
This not only places pig farmers in heavy weather, but also arable farmers and feed suppliers are severely disadvantaged. This measure means that no maize may be harvested locally, it is not clear when the harvest will be allowed again. In addition, grass, hay and straw harvested in the last 6 months in the threatened areas may not be fed to pigs. Livestock farmers in Brandenburg are facing a threat, as there has been a possible feed shortage due to the past dry years.
Chanti Oussoren
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