Exploring the role of small-scale livestock keepers for national biosecurity—The pig case

Abstract

Small-scale keepers are less likely to engage with production organisations and may therefore be less aware of legislation, rules and biosecurity practices which are implemented in the livestock sector. Their role in the transmission of endemic and exotic diseases is not well studied, but is believed to be important. The authors use small-scale pig keepers in Scotland as an example of how important small-scale livestock keepers might be for national biosecurity. In Scotland more than two thirds of pig producers report that they keep less than 10 pigs, meaning that biosecurity practices and pig health status on a substantial number of holdings are largely unknown; it is considered important to fill this knowledge gap. A questionnaire was designed and implemented in order to gather some of this information. The questionnaire comprised a total of 37 questions divided into seven sections (location of the enterprise, interest in pigs, details about the pig enterprise, marketing of pigs, transport of pigs, pig husbandry, and pig health/biosecurity). Over 610 questionnaires were sent through the post and the questionnaire was also available online. The questionnaire was implemented from June to October 2013 and 135 questionnaires were returned by target respondents. The responses for each question are discussed in detail in this paper. Overall, our results suggest that the level of disease identified by small-scale pig keepers is low but the majority of the small-scale pig keepers are mixed farms, with associated increased risk for disease transmission between species. Almost all respondents implemented at least one biosecurity measure, although the measures taken were not comprehensive in the majority of cases. Overall as interaction between small-scale keepers and commercial producers exists in Scotland the former can pose a risk for commercial production. This investigation fills gaps in knowledge which will allow industry stakeholders and policy makers to adapt their current disease programmes and contingency plans to the reality of small-scale pig-keeping enterprises' health and biosecurity status. We predict that some conclusions from this work will be relevant to countries with similar pig production systems and importantly some of these findings will relate to small-scale producers in other livestock sectors.

Small-scale and backyard livestock owners needs assessment in the western United States

“…Similarly, Gillespie et al (2015) reported that small-scale pig holders in England owned poultry (74.5%) and sheep (48.4%) in addition to dogs and cats (79.3%) [18]. A concern with mixed farms (i.e., with different animal species) is that they may be more prone to disease transmission and animal contacts, and therefore pose a unique risk to introduction and spread of endemic and exotic diseases [18,27,28].…”

“…In the present study, about one-third considered their animals as pets, similar to urban livestock owners surveyed in 48 cities [20]. The small-scale and backyard owners keep animals to ensure a better source of food, to be assured where their food comes from and how is it produced [14,20,28]. Moreover, they perceived their eggs and meat were higher quality, more nutritious, safer to consume and tasted better than those raised in commercial settings, and also perceived that their chickens were healthier and experienced better welfare [14,20,22].…”

“…In a survey conducted in England, the majority of smallholder and pet pig owners consulted either mixed or farm-veterinary practices and were satisfied with the overall service that their veterinarian offered [18]. In contrast, the majority of small-scale pig holders in a study in Scotland reported that a veterinarian visited the pigs less than once per year or never [28]. Also, most of the owners of small poultry flocks in Canada did not use veterinary services for their flocks [19].…”

“…In developed nations, it commonly falls to the local animal experts to assist and advise peri-domestic animal producers—largely companion-animal veterinarians in urban areas. Veterinarians can have a major role on detecting endemic and emerging diseases, and implement mitigation strategies to reduce disease transmission [28].…”

The Roles of Additive Effect between Swine Keeping Systems and Agro-Ecological Zones in Production and Socioeconomic Traits

“…It means that, changes in educations and keeping systems had no contribution on experiences. Experiences of a farmers will then be resulted from informal education and how farmers tethered their farming business (Fynbo and Jensen, 2018;Boogaard et al, 2011;Lassen et al, 2006;Correia-Gomes et al, 2017).…”