Wild pigs remain a big question mark in a Pan-Canadian Action Plan on ASF.Ottawa—An outreach program to educate small-scale pig producers about the importance of biosecurity measures to prevent African Swine Fever is under development by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in collaboration with the Canadian Pork Council (CPC) amid preparations for a Pan-Canadian Action Plan for keeping the disease out of Canada.The federal government “continues to work with provincial governments for support in communicating with and reaching out to small-scale farms as we move forward in prevention and preparedness efforts on ASF,” the CFIA said. Collaborations like the CFIA-CPC initiative on vigilance around biosecurity by small-scale producers “have been instrumental in preventing ASF from entering Canada.”The issue was discussed at last month's federal-provincial agriculture ministers meeting and provincial support for building biosecurity awareness is important, CFIA said.So is cooperation among the two levels of government in dealing with the country's growing wild pig population, CFIA said. “Wild pigs have been flagged as a key part of the Pan-Canadian Action Plan. Discussions on it continue with industry and academia experts as well.”A recent University of Saskatchewan study has determined the number of wild pigs is rising by nine per cent a year and can be found from British Columbia to Quebec.The animals are causing an ecological disaster, the study said. They root up the vegetation like a rototiller and contaminate water supplies. They are a mix of wild boar and domestic swine and threaten native species such as nesting birds, deer, agricultural crops, and farm livestock.“Wild pigs are so widespread that they are a major challenge to control in Canada and eradication is only possible with a comprehensive plan to deal with this highly efficient invasive species,” the study said. “In Saskatchewan they are already posing significant risks to agriculture and livestock production. Our mapping of their expanding territory shows just how quickly they are spreading. This is a rapidly emerging crisis.”In June, CFIA hosted ASF preparation exercises involving provincial officials and industry representatives in Quebec and Western Canada to discuss how to keep the disease out of Canada and respond if it's found here. The disease is deadly for pigs but poses no threat to humans.The Quebec session involved a simulated scenario in which ASF was suspected on a hog farm in Quebec and drew phone and videoconference participation from across the province and New Brunswick. The discussions included initial disease control measures, voluntary movement stoppages by industry and plans for establishing quarantines and reporting infected premises.Jaspinder Komal, Canada's Chief Veterinary Officer, said, “The exercise met all of the planned objectives, including validating the strategies to be used to coordinate actions of the different parties if ASF is suspected in Quebec. The day's activities were timely, relevant and beneficial to improve preparedness against ASF and other animal diseases. They confirmed the value of carrying on with preparedness activities, exploring additional training and updating response plans.”In Western Canada, more than 30 government and industry representatives met in Winnipeg for similar discussions on a response plan if the disease is found in the West. Among the topics were organizing a multi-province Incident Command Structure (ICS) to respond to an ASF outbreak, planning for destruction and disposal of pigs for disease control and market purposes, monitoring interprovincial and export movement of pigs at various stages of production using zoning and compartmentalization for disease response and eradication.“Participants committed to creating a formal ICS and to forming a steering committee consisting of federal, provincial and industry partners. The committee will identify planning gaps and work out a joint Emergency Operations Centre structure.”Alex Binkley is a freelance journalist and writes for domestic and international publications about agriculture, food and transportation issues. He's also the author of two science fiction novels with more in the works.