Project: Assessment and control of diseases in domestic and ferial pigs

In 2004, the MAGRAMA requested the implementation of a program to control diseases in domestic and ferial pigs in the area of the Natural Park of Los Alcornocales, as they pose an epidemiological risk given that they are transmitters of diseases common to both sectors.

The pork industry is one of the largest sectors in the Spanish economy, which is why it is essential to maintain a system of annual epidemiological monitoring in order to prevent or immediately detect any outbreak of disease in this population.
This growing population of ferial pigs, which come from the indiscriminate breeding between the indigenous population of wild boar and species of domestic pigs released into the area surrounding the Park, devoid of any livestock and hunting interest, can end up creating problems that affect the conservation of wildlife in the area, threatening its ecological value and the natural balance of the ecosystem.
Controlling the population of ferial pigs required capturing them by using cages or mobile traps located in the places where a greater amount of traces of these animals are detected, thus establishing daily capture routes. The subsequent slaughter of the animals captured was carried out using firearms and the corpses were eliminated in accordance with that set out in the legislation in force.
To maintain a continuous monitoring of the health status of these animals, samples were collected for analysis, the results of which were added to the results obtained during the monitoring, control and consulting work on the implementation of the national programs for disease control in domestic pigs, vaccination programs and sanitation ratings of the farms, which are performed on a regular basis throughout all of Spain.