The search, capture and depopulation of illegal wild pigs arranged by the project unit for the eradication of African swine fever in the public lands of Arzana has been completed. 138 pigs were killed as they were not registered in the zootechnical register and for which it was not possible to trace the owner.
These are animals without traceability and health checks , destined for the illegal market for hams and charcuterie products, which therefore, says the Region, "pose a high risk to the food safety of consumers, especially the most fragile ones such as the elderly and children. . Furthermore, these are pigs held in marginal contexts with no respect for animal welfare, some subjected to bloody interventions such as castration and with probable uncontrolled use of drugs ".
"These depopulation activities - the Region continues - are necessary and are part of the actions to combat the African swine fever virus , which see the fight against illegal pig breeding as one of the most important risk factors for the persistence of the virus in those territories. It is now clear that this type of farm has constituted the true transmission belt of the virus between the wild population and domestic animals ".
During the operations, some duly registered farms were also checked for which the intervention of the local veterinary services was requested for a compliance check .
Once again the appeal of the Region and Project Unit "is aimed at those few who still resist to comply especially in areas where the eradication of the virus could be an extraordinary driving force for the relaunch of the sector, in particular of quality delicatessen . In those areas, some virtuous initiatives are already underway to enhance pork-based products to prepare for the relaunch of the sector. The eradication of the virus is now very close and it is necessary to eliminate all the risk factors that could jeopardize the result ".
(Unioneonline / D)
