Spain is the world’s leading exporter of pork European Union (EU), It is also third in the world after the United States and China, with sales abroad amounting to 7,040.15 million euros in 2024 – There were 2.5 million tons of national pork – and a positive trade balance of over 8.1 billion. Among the main destinations are China (1,097 million euros and 539,064 tons), France (1,072 million, 289,865 tons) and Italy (796 million, 274,591 tons).
Catalonia is the first producing region, and it was there, in Collserola (Barcelona) that it was discovered African swine fever (ASF) outbreak On two wild boars. The resurgence of this “old” dating is occurring after ranchers have been forced to do so in recent years Strong investments in biosafety measures. COAG estimates between €135,000 and €240,000 of investment per operation, to which we must add more than €75,000 per year in maintenance and operating expenses.
A typical farm invested between €80,000 and €150,000 just to install a double “anti-pig” fence, according to COAG.
This agricultural organization estimated, based on a study of the real investments of its livestock partners, that on a typical pig farm in Spain with 1,000 to 2,000 pigs, between 80,000 and 150,000 euros were invested in Biosecurity perimeter fencing With double anti-pig fence in recent years. Added to this are between 25,000 and 40,000 euros in construction Sanitary crossings and acquisition of disinfection archesas well as between 30,000 and 50,000 euros in Construction of mandatory changing and shower rooms For farm workers. To all of the above, COAG refers to the operational costs of biosafety such as maintenance, Cleaning, auditing and training products of employees, totaling more than 75,000 euros annually.
“Ensuring a very high degree of biological safety”
COAG’s pork sector head, Jaime Bernes, explains that these are “real data, not estimates” and warns that “every farmer who continues in this sector does so because… Invest what an apartment costs in Barcelona “There should be a process of evidence of external threats.” Bernice criticizes this They invested in their own cattle farm “To ensure a very high degree of biosecurity,” while the administration has abandoned the balance of wild animals and opened the doors to the countryside: “Now the wild boars and before the rabbits, the wolf, the bear…”, he points out.
“We have invested in our livestock farm to ensure a very high degree of biosecurity, while the management has abandoned the balance of wild animals and opened the doors to the countryside: now wild boars and before rabbits, wolf and bear…”, Jaime Bernes (COAG)
The representative of this agricultural organization is committed to reducing the pressure on livestock in Zone Zero of the outbreak. “We have a farm in the first diameter, 6 kilometers from the outbreak area, and another 36 in the second diameter, and we propose That the pigs little by little can go to natural slaughter “To reduce the density of the area,” Bernice claims. This farmer also remembers that the farm administrators would leave the farm empty for a year, so in his opinion they should be compensated so that they would get the same amount they would have gotten when the farm was full. It is this support that justifies the need to eliminate that part of pig production that contains a neighbor of ASF-positive wild boars.
Spanish pig hanging by a thread
COAG’s livestock director considers developing a government hunting plan to control wild animals a “top priority.” “We cannot continue to dangle by a thread, The wild boar, which travels 15 to 20 kilometers at night, does not escape, says Bernice, who considers that both UME, forest agents and Mossos Diquadra enforce. “Great job” To avoid a crisis in a sector that represents – remember – “40% of final livestock production and 20% of agricultural production.”
“In the event of losses, we negotiate a 2-year deferral of interest plus capital with 3 financial entities,” Pere Roque (ASAJA Catalonia)
From Asaga, its head in Catalonia, Pere Roque, explains that modernizing biosecurity systems means investments Between 200 thousand and 300 thousand euros. He also points out that “the sector has had a sweet moment,” and that now, with the resurgence of African swine fever (ASF), they are already working on three possible scenarios: public financing of €50 million through the Catalan Institute of Finance (ICF), direct aid such as the recently approved €10 million from the Catalan Ministry of Economy and private financing. “In case of losses We are negotiating a moratorium “2 years of interest plus principal with 3 financial entities,” says Roque, who also agrees with COAG on the need to significantly reduce wild boar numbers.