AHDB Pork has launched ‘Think BioRisk’, an interactive app designed to reduce the risk of disease in the pig industry.
The app is designed to be used by anyone who steps onto a pig unit, with its interactive video scenarios highlighting best practice pig production and common mistakes.
Martin Smith, AHDB Pork’s veterinary manager, commented: “All units should be working towards, or maintaining, a high herd health status because poor disease management costs money and could prove disastrous for the British pig industry in the case of a disease outbreak.
“However, when busy, we understand that it’s easy for everyone to become wrapped up in day-to-day activities and, as other priorities take hold, key risks with regard to herd health are often overlooked.”
‘Think BioRisk’, which was launched at the British Pig & Poultry Fair, has been developed to highlight the importance of not overlooking certain factors that may impact on pig health through biosecurity breeches.
“By helping people understand the weak spots, we hope that we can promote better long-term protection of our pig health and the industry,” Smith continued.
“Whenever users see an example of a health risk or bad biosecurity, they have to click the mouse. It’s a bit like the hazard perception part of a driving test. And, on completion, full feedback is provided on both good and bad practice portrayed in the videos.
"Some examples of the training modules include: visitors, vehicles, movements of people and livestock, pest control, medicine management and deadstock collection.
“Everyone wants healthy high performing livestock. Regardless of your farm set-up, there will be small changes that can be made to significantly reduce the risk of introducing or spreading pig diseases.”
The interactive app can be downloaded from: thinkbiorisk.pork.ahdb.org.uk
This story was originally published on a previous version of the Meat Management website and so there may be some missing images and formatting issues.
