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Prof. Dr. Blaha
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"Gratifying trend in research"
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Pig health instead of pig disease
(IPVS)
Eradication programmes will form one of the main areas of focus at the world congress of pig vets, which
will be held in Germany this year. This topic is addressed by a significant proportion of the international
research papers submitted to the congress and which will be presented to the public for the first time at
the end of June, reports Thomas G. Blaha, chairman of the congress's scientific committee. The aim of
eradication programmes is to prevent pigs from becoming ill at all. "It is gratifying that research
around the word is increasingly focusing on keeping animal stocks healthy," says Professor Blaha. This,
he continues, is to everyone's advantage: pig breeders, pig farmers and the consumer. The congress will
convene under the motto: "Healthy pigs for wholesome pork."
Certification as a means of strengthening consumer confidence
The congress, organised by the International Pig Veterinary Society (IPVS), will not just deal with the
question of how to avoid disease. It will also look at ways in which the health of animal stocks can be
clearly documented for the consumer and how swine breeding and finishing centres can maintain their
disease-free status in the long term. "Of particular significance here are insights from the USA on
trichinella-free certification and the Danish experience with the reduction of salmonella at stock level,
for instance." There will also be reports on the progress of mange reduction, Professor Blaha announced.
Special series of presentations for practical vets
For the first time in the history of the IPVS, this year's congress will include a series of presentations
that will deal with topics of particular practical relevance. It bears the motto "Science Meets Practice"
and is aimed primarily at practising vets. This so-called "Practitioner's Line" will not only include
presentations from scientists, but practitioners and experts will also have the opportunity to hold
in-depth discussions and exchange experiences across national boundaries. The event will be simultaneously
translated into German and English.
1,000 international scientists
The IPVS is expecting at least 1,500 participants at the congress. These will include 1,000 international
scientists and experts. The congress, held every two years, will convene for the 18th time and is being
held in Germany for the first time since 1976. Alongside eradication programmes, the Hamburg congress will
also focus on meat quality and food safety, animal welfare and environmental protection as well as the
impact of globalisation on pork production.
The congress programme
The 18th IPVS World Congress will be held between 27th June and 1st July 2004 in Hamburg. The congress
traditionally starts on Sunday evening with a get-together meeting. On Monday, leading representatives
from the scientific community, the EU commission and the World Organisation for Animal Health in Paris
will provide an overview of the most important international trends. After this, the actual scientific
programme and the "Practitioner's Line" will begin. For three further days, parallel meetings will take
place in up to six rooms. Six high-level symposia on special topics have been integrated into the congress.
On Friday, the last day, tours to important institutions for research, pig husbandry and fighting disease
are on offer.
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