{"id":18522,"date":"2022-04-21T10:54:41","date_gmt":"2022-04-21T08:54:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.carnisostenibili.it\/?p=18522"},"modified":"2022-04-21T10:54:41","modified_gmt":"2022-04-21T08:54:41","slug":"intensive-farming-bastion-of-animal-welfare","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.carnisostenibili.it\/en\/intensive-farming-bastion-of-animal-welfare\/","title":{"rendered":"Intensive farming, bastion of animal welfare"},"content":{"rendered":"

On a protected farm, intensive livestock farming is a barrier to the spread of diseases such as African swine fever and Avian flu \u2013 the opposite of what animal rights propaganda wants us to believe.<\/em><\/p>\n

At the end of 2021, the cases of Avian flu<\/strong> affected some poultry farms in Lombardy and Veneto regions. Then, at the beginning of 2022, African swine fever<\/strong> on the border between Piedmont and Liguria. In the first case, millions of animals were sacrificed to prevent the disease from spreading<\/strong> further. The virus is currently isolated only in wild boars<\/strong>, but with the fear of its possible entry into farms, which would result in a catastrophe for the entire swine production<\/strong> chain.<\/p>\n

Before going any further, it is necessary to remember that African swine fever in no way affects humans<\/strong> but animals only. Similar considerations for Avian flu<\/strong>\u2013 although it can rarely affect humans, it is not transmitted with poultry meat<\/strong>, which must be consumed after cooking.<\/p>\n

Some like to make us believe that this series of health alarms in farms<\/strong> is due to the high concentration of animals in “intensive farms<\/strong>“. But the opposite is accurate, and we see why.<\/p>\nOn a #ProtectedFarm, #IntensiveLivestockFarming is a barrier to the spread of diseases such as #AfricanSwineFever and #AvianFlu. <\/a><\/span>Share on X<\/a><\/span>\n

Let’s start with Avian flu<\/strong>, a disease that can be supported by several viral strains, some of which are highly pathogenic. When one of these viruses<\/strong> manages to overcome the biosecurity<\/strong> defences of the farms, trouble starts. The virus quickly passes from one animal to another, and there is no cure for it. Mortality is high, production is compromised<\/strong>, and the continuation of activities is impossible.<\/p>\n

The measures to eradicate the disease<\/strong> are draconian. In infected areas, it is essential to sacrifice the animals and delimit a perimeter of many kilometres<\/strong>, where all activities are suspended<\/strong>. You cannot sell animals or even buy them, except with special permits and under close supervision of the veterinary services. Only after ascertaining the absence of the virus<\/strong> for a reasonable number of weeks will the activities be able to resume slowly.<\/p>\n

Among the first preventive measures<\/strong> taken in these cases is a ban on outdoor farming when there are positive animals in wildlife. Because the Avian flu virus<\/strong> travels with wild birds<\/strong> and through the migratory birds<\/strong>, it can move even for hundreds of kilometres. Then, once it arrived, it used every means to move from one farm to another, helped by excellent resistance to the external environment.<\/p>\nThe #AfricanSwineFever in no way affects humans but #animals only. About the #AvianFlu: it can rarely affect humans, it is not transmitted with #poultry #meat, to be consumed after cooking. <\/a><\/span>Share on X<\/a><\/span>\n

It can withstand for over 30 days<\/strong> during the cold season in favourable humidity conditions. This is how it manages to overcome even the strict biosecurity measures<\/strong> typically used on farms. Earlier than Italy<\/strong>, it happened in other countries close to us, such as France<\/strong> and Germany<\/strong>, and even earlier in many countries in Eastern and Northern Europe<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Not very different is what happens with African swine fever<\/strong>. We are also faced with a virus that leaves no escape and causes high mortality for animals. The “plague-spreaders” are wild animals<\/strong>, no longer birds, but the wild boars<\/strong>, a natural reservoir of this virus.<\/p>\n

The fact that many pigs<\/strong> died due to the virus alarmed the whole pig meat industry<\/strong>. If the virus were to enter a farm, the blocking of the activities could even compromise the export<\/strong> of cured meats and sausages. As in the case of poultry, one of the first measures to stop the virus<\/strong> was a ban on keeping pigs outdoors<\/strong>, forcing the culling of animals in the wild and semi-wild system. The chances of contact with potentially infected wild boars are too high.<\/p>\nThe #AvianFlu #virus travels with wild birds and through the #MigratoryBirds, so it can move even for hundreds of kilometers. <\/a><\/span>Share on X<\/a><\/span>\n

In their different expressions, these two health emergencies<\/strong> have the same denominator: outdoor breeding<\/strong>. Indoor farms, better known as intensive farms<\/strong>, where animals are better protected from the aggression of pathogens, thus demonstrate all their effectiveness in preserving animals’ health<\/strong>. In other words, only intensive animal husbandry<\/strong> can provide the animals with welfare conditions<\/strong>, as health is a prerequisite.<\/p>\n

A further demonstration that intensive livestock farming<\/strong> is a bastion of animal welfare<\/strong> and not the other way around. And it is thanks to the immediate measures put in place by the veterinary services<\/strong> that Avian flu and African swine fever viruses could be prevented from spreading, protecting sectors that associate a solid social value<\/strong> with the economic and strategic importance<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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On a protected farm, intensive livestock farming is a barrier to the spread of diseases such as African swine fever and Avian flu \u2013 the opposite of what animal rights propaganda wants us to believe.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":18523,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[675],"tags":[2138,4591,1188,4614,4615,4594,4616,4617,2154,4619,4442,2056],"class_list":["post-18522","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-animal-welfare-en","tag-intensive-livestock-farming","tag-african-swine-fever","tag-animal-welfare-in-italy","tag-avian-flu","tag-avian-flu-virus","tag-biosecurity","tag-biosecurity-measures","tag-health-emergencies","tag-intensive-animal-farming","tag-intensive-farming-en","tag-intensive-livestock-farming-and-cage","tag-italian-poultry-meat"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t