FARM VISIT ▶▶▶
in our region, but further north we have ASF endemic to the wild warthog population. In 2019 we had a few outbreaks of ASF in informal piggeries, which were quickly contained and eradicated. Since we are used to farming in a country which has ASF- and [Foot-and-Mouth Disease] FMD-positive areas, we established the Registered Pig Compartment system which is managed and administrated by [Department of Agri- culture, Forestry and Fisheries] DAFF.” He continues: “Each registered piggery operates as a quaran- tine unit with strict biosecurity and access control. This en- sures the prevention of any uncontrolled access and move- ment into our piggeries, and the screening of workers and vehicles is regularly carried out. “We follow strict control measures with feed and raw materi- als and all fences are pig and scavenger proof and maintain at least two barriers, one of which will prevent nose to nose contact between livestock and any outside contact. “We even have a washing and disinfection station at our farm entrance located one kilometre before the piggery. All com- partments are also serologically screened twice a year for ASF, [Classical Swine Fever] CSF, FMD and [Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome] PRRS,” he concludes.
Main challenges There are a number of challenges facing pig farmers in South Africa besides disease risk, with low national pork consump- tion being just one of them. The current Covid-19 pandemic isn’t helping much either. “Sadly, we have a very low per capita consumption of pork in world terms,” Kriek explains. “The total lies somewhere between 4.6kg and 4.9kg per person per year. “This is further complicated by a strong misperception of pork and religious or cultural resistance to pork. This is a limit- ing factor to increase local consumption and we are strug- gling to gain access to large international markets, although
we produce world class pork in very well-designed and well-operated piggeries. “Because we have a very healthy national herd in terms of controlled diseases, the importation of new genetic material is very strict and difficult which makes it challenging to get easy access to the latest genetic developments. “The national infrastructure is ageing, and we often struggle with electricity supply, due to load shedding, and access to good and stable telecommunications and internet networks. For that reason we have standby generators on all our production sites. “Another challenge is that our currency is weak and volatile. Since we are dependent on imports for a variety of raw mate- rials, inputs and equipment, we are exposed to an additional level of uncertainty.”
Supportive of Covid-19 lockdown “As a producer of essential products in the South African food supply chain, we can continue operating during this virus pandemic, but it is more difficult to get our work done be- cause of the national lockdown. “We are supportive of the lockdown and have made early preparations to continue. We had to move to a skeleton staff of 30 people who we could comfortably accommodate on- farm and still provide food and entertainment for in our brand new training centre. “The biggest effect is market related. Our pig prices have started to come down as there are fears of continuous demand and processing capacity between farmer and consumer. “Our biggest impact, however, is from the world markets in raw materials. We have seen major increases on all major in- puts and raw materials. Also, commodities not being hedged in advance is problematic,” he adds.
▶PIG PROGRESS | Volume 36, No. 5, 2020
Taaibosch Pig- gery is quite a large operation which is part of the Taaibosch Group.
www.pigprogress.net/ worldofpigs
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