ASF Germany: Wild boar cases in NRW grow to 165

Whilst the amount of wild boar victims keeps on rising, geographically the African Swine Fever outbreak in the German state North Rhine-Westphalia does not spread. The latest tally is 165 animals, according to the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (FLI).

The outbreaks have been taking place in only 2 districts, i.e. Olpe (78) and Siegen-Wittgenstein (87). All infected wild boar have been found in an infected zone, which has been fenced off and is under surveillance.

The amount of dead wild boar found in September is 44, in line to match the months of August (54) and July (53).

The situation in North Rhine Westphalia is being monitored closely as this is Germany’s most populous state, and bordering to pig producing countries the Netherlands as well as Belgium.

A little bit more to the south of NRW, in the state Hesse, they would wish that the situation is geographically more under control. ASF keeps being a heavy burden for local pig farmers. Even last week, the infected zone in the district Bergstrasse had to be expanded.

In Hesse state, since ASF was found mid-2024 until now in total 2,247 infected wild boar have been found. Bergstrasse district counted for 1,110 one of them.

As a result of the virus, many barns in the restricted zones in the south of the state have been empty since the outbreak of ASF. Because commercial marketing is virtually impossible, many pig farmers are no longer keeping their pigs, reported Germany’s leading agricultural title Top Agrar. The title attended a pig meeting in Bad Hersfeld organised by LLH, an educational and advisory institution of the state of Hesse.

Yes, various slaughterhouses in Hesse as well as in Schleswig-Holstein in the north do slaughter animals from restricted zones, yet the low prices paid are barely enough to cover costs. Many producers therefore prefer empty pig houses.

For the short term, that might be a solution. However, yield loss insurance often only pays for one year and is now expiring for many affected farmers. Farms would now be considering how to use their fattening barns for other purposes, such as poultry.

Top Agrarquoted Angelika Paul from the Hesse Pig Health Service, who spoke about biosecurity that could do with an upgrade here and there. She advocated for the so-called “compliant status” to be addressed as quickly as possible. Otherwise, in the case of ASF, there is no exemption for moving pigs out of the restricted zones. And the animal disease insurance fund also reduces its benefits in the event of damage.

Tags: African Swine Fever, Pigs, Germany, outbreak, wild boar