site.btaSwine from Nikolovo Farm Are Killed to Prevent African Swine Fever from Spreading

106 ANIMAL HEALTH - AFRICAN SWINE FEVER - FOOD SAFETY AGENCY

Swine from Nikolovo Farm
Are Killed to Prevent African
Swine Fever from Spreading


Sofia, July 23 (BTA) - The animals infected with African swine fever in a farm in Nikolovo, Rousse Region (Northeastern Bulgaria) are being humanely destroyed in accordance with a regulation on the protection of animals at the time of killing. According to it, the animal should be killed as fast as possible in order to avoid prolonging the period of suffering, the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency (BFSA) said Tuesday in response to questions posed online and in the media.

Highly-concentrated carbon dioxide is used so that the animals are killed quickly and effectively in order to prevent the disease from spreading.

The BFSA says that extensive research on the method for killing pigs with nitrogen foam began on January 1, 2013 in the Swine Innovation Centre in Wageningen, the Netherlands. The research showed that the animals are unconscious for a short period of time and die of oxygen deficiency. The animals supposedly do not suffer from stress or pain when euthanized using this method. A research using domestic birds has shown that this is possible, the press release says. Experts note that working with nitrogen foam also helps with disinfection, as it contains surfactants.

The BFSA explain they are not using the existing incinerators because these will prolong the process of disposing of the infected corpses and biological masses. Transporting infected corpses and materials would create the risk of spreading the disease further. The Agency notes that in the case with African swine fever, the most suitable method is burial.

The meat from swine slaughtered in the period when the disease entered the farm in Nikolovo will be tracked and processed under official supervision. Each shipment of swine for slaughter is accompanied by a laboratory test report of live animals with a negative result for African swine fever.

When it comes to fodder and exports, the BFSA says that fodder factories in Bulgaria are under the official supervision of the Agency. Probes are being taken to guarantee the safety of the fodder and the health condition of the animals. The documents for each component that is contained in the fodder will be checked in accordance with Bulgarian legislation. LI/TH
/TH/