Appropriate on-farm implementation of biosecurity and animal health practices is crucial for the prevention of disease introduction, early disease detection, and emergency animal disease (EAD) preparedness. For the pig industry in Australia, this is particularly important given the increasing risk of African swine fever (ASF) due to ongoing outbreaks in neighbouring regions. This study investigated attitudes and behaviours of pig owners and producers from New South Wales (NSW), Australia, around farm biosecurity, to identify gaps and barriers in biosecurity knowledge and implementation, and best strategies to improve biosecurity engagement. The study focused on those owning or producing pigs for purposes other than large scale commercial pig production as this sector of the industry are likely to have a lower engagement with biosecurity than commercial producers. A cross-sectional survey using an online questionnaire and qualitative interviews were used to gather information on biosecurity knowledge, behaviour and attitudes, including ASF preparedness. A total of 186 usable survey responses were obtained from Australian pig owners and producers, with fourteen interviews conducted. Based on their self-reported reason for keeping pigs, most survey respondents described keeping pigs for home consumption or as pets. Biosecurity engagement and a score based on biosecurity practices were significantly higher (suggesting greater biosecurity) amongst respondents who kept pigs for commercial or semi-commercial reasons, than those keeping pigs for non-commercial reasons. Most respondents (89.2 %) were aware of biosecurity planning; however, only 30.7 % had a written plan. The main barrier to developing a plan was the perception of already having good practices in place. Engagement with biosecurity practices such as isolating incoming animals and visitor biosecurity, was low. Despite most reporting a high level of ASF concern, awareness of this disease was low. The interviews, while highlighting a disconnect between non-commercial producers and industry, also demonstrated a desire by participants to increase their level of knowledge and improve biosecurity practices across all groups. There was still, however, some reluctance to adopt practices for which the direct benefit was less evident. This study demonstrates a need to improve engagement with biosecurity practices and increase awareness of emergency animal diseases among pig producers in NSW, especially those who do not keep pigs commercially or semi-commercially, with wider ramifications for the Australian pig industry and to inform understanding of a holistic approach to the interactions between larger scale producers and smallholders globally.
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