African Swine Fever (ASF) has been confirmed at the Sokolovac farm owned by Belja, one of the largest pig producers in Croatia, which is part of the Podravka Agri system.
The Ministry of Agriculture announced yesterday that new cases of the disease have been recorded at facilities in the settlements of Sveti Đurađ, Nemetin, Sokolovac, and Vardarac, leading to the expansion of protection and surveillance zones in the Osijek-Baranja and Vukovar-Srijem counties.
Belja has confirmed that their farm is located within the protection zone and that all measures will be implemented in accordance with the instructions from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Water Management. The Sokolovac farm is one of the key facilities in the Belja system, with a capacity of approximately 12,000 fattening pigs per cycle, which means it could potentially have a significant impact on domestic production.
The protection zones encompass areas around the disease hotspots where the movement of pigs is prohibited, and strict biosecurity controls are being enforced to prevent further spread of the virus.
Although African Swine Fever does not pose a threat to human health, the consequences for livestock farming and the economy of the region are serious. The Ministry emphasizes the necessity of cooperation with veterinarians and strict adherence to all prescribed measures to minimize damage.
