The solution of putting up fences to contain ASF does not convince Italian farmers
The installation of fences to delimit the areas where outbreaks of African swine fever (ASF) have been confirmed in Italy is emerging as the most immediate action to stop the disease. The European Union Emergency Veterinary Team (EUVET), which has been working in the area since Monday, February 7, believes so, and is evaluating with the Italian authorities where to install the fences.
The fences are also a solution for farmers in the area. Luca Brondelli, president of Confagricoltura Alessandria, an association that brings together farmers and ranchers in Piedmont, pointed out that it was "the only option" not to declare ASF endemic. However, he also expressed his doubts about the effectiveness of the fences given the large extension of territory involved. Practically all of the boar carcasses positive for ASF have been found between the A26 and A7 motorways and the Predosa-Bettole link, and Brondelli pointed out that the delimited area should be limited to the area that is within those roads, something "difficult but not impossible".
Agricultural associations have long insisted on the need to eliminate as many wild boar as possible, which could number 50,000 heads throughout Piedmont. A task that should not be entrusted to hunters, according to agricultural associations, environmentalists and political forces, because hunting would not have solved the proliferation of wild boars, but on the contrary, it would have caused it.
In the infected area, 34 cases of positivity in wild boar have been recorded so far. There are 114 municipalities involved, 78 of which are in the province of Alessandria.
Pig producers are waiting for indications about the slaughter of all animals ordered by the Ministry of Health and also the formalization of the appointment of an interregional commissioner.
Comments
Related Articles
More news
Copyright © 2025 - All Rights Reserved
ISSN 2768-198X
List
Add
Please enter a comment