Pork producers to act on challenges

The Pork Producers’ Association in Namibia will today hold a strategic planning session aimed at mapping challenges and crafting actions for those challenges. The agriculture ministry recently announced a change on import conditions of fresh frozen pork with regards to Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS). PRRS is a virus and is of economic importance to the pig industry across the globe. This is because it can cause reproductive failure in sows and respiratory problems in weaners up to finisher pigs.Chief veterinary officer Albertina Shilongo said fresh frozen pork will be strictly imported into Namibia under the requirements that the country where it originates from is free from PRRS. In the case where the country is not free from PRRS and has no free zone or compartment, the importation will only be allowed under certain conditions. These are that pigs which raw meat was derived from have been isolated or quarantined for a minimum of 37 days at the farm or establishment approved for export where they were reared. Another requirement is that the pigs must be subjected to an enzyme-linked immunoassay test using blood samples between day 10 and 15 of their quarantine period. Lastly, pigs must be slaughtered in blocks per session per day to avoid any possible cross-contamination with animals from other sources. The conditions do not affect the direct transport under the veterinary direct transport permit. Clinical signsShilongo said the importation of fresh frozen pork meat which does not comply with the above-mentioned requirements will be rejected and sent back to the country of origin or destroyed at the importer’s cost. Meat products which are cooked or processed for commercial purposes may still be imported into Namibia under the veterinary import permit. PRRS is also referred to as blue ear disease, as cyanosis causes a blue colouring of the ears, vulva and abdomen.The display of clinical signs can vary depending on the age, husbandry, herd’s immune status and the virus strain.In acute cases, pigs can suffer from systemic effects, which include weight loss, fever between 39 to 41°C, lethargy, reduction in appetite and diarrhoea, along with respiratory effects such as respiratory distress and pneumonia. It can also affect reproduction and cause things such as as mummified foetuses, premature farrowing, stillbirth, abortion and pre-weaning death.

Pork producers to act on challenges

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-04

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Pork producers to act on challenges

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-04

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