PIG FARMS: William Lai said ‘disease prevention should be considered a battle,’ with every farm a castle defending the nation from the risks posed by African swine fever
Taipei Times
Date: Dec 24, 2018
By: Ou Su-mei / Staff reporter
Premier William Lai (賴清德) yesterday inspected the disposal of leftover pig food at
Premier William Lai, second right, speaks at a pig farm in Taichung’s Cingshuei District yesterday. Photo: Ou Su-mei, Taipei Times
a hog farm in Taichung and called on farmers and all Taiwanese to join hands to guard against African swine fever.
The government has been stepping up measures against the disease since China reported its first infection in August and illegal Chinese pork imports continue to be intercepted by customs officials.
Following President Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) visit to Yunlin County hog farms on Saturday, Lai yesterday visited Rueising livestock farm in Cingshuei District (清水) to inspect processes meant to reduce the chances of infection.
When foot-and-mouth disease reached Taiwan in 1997, the nation suffered economic losses exceeding NT$170 billion (US$5.5 billion at today’s exchange rate) and culled more than 4 million pigs, leaving a scar on the domestic hog industry, Lai said.
[FULL STORY]
