| Hardcopy Reference: |
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| Title: |
A cost–benefit analysis of Salmonella-control strategies in Danish pork production |
| Author(s): |
Stine Gissel Goldbach, Lis Alban |
| Publication Year: |
2006 |
| Reference: |
Preventive Veterinary Medicine 77 (2006) 1–14 |
| Country: |
Denmark |
| Summary: |
This economic analysis is an evaluation of the socio-economic profitability of different control strategies along the stable to table chain. It was found that only hot-water decontamination would be profitable from a socio-economic point of view because it was the only alternative with a positive net present value: €3.5 million.the least profitable alternative was use of home-mixed feed with a net present value of -€262.3 million, whereas for sanitary slaughter it was -€43.6 million, and for acidified feed it was -€79.9 million. Furthermore, regardless of the alternative chosen, it is the pig industry (farmers and slaughterhouses) that would have to pay for the benefits of the rest of society. After our analysis was concluded, the Danish pig sector decided to increase focus on slaughterhouse hygiene and at the same time to introduce hand-held steam-sucking on some slaughterhouses. The effect of this will be shown in the years to come. |
| Abstract: |
In Denmark, it was agreed to lower the Salmonella prevalence in pork to 1.2% before the end of
2006. The current control did not seem to be sufficient to attain this goal. Therefore, four alternatives
to the existing Danish control strategy for Salmonella in pork were compared in a cost–benefit
analysis: (1) hot-water decontamination of all pigs at slaughter, (2) sanitary slaughter of pigs from
herds with high levels of Salmonella, (3) use of home-mixed feed in herds with slaughter pigs and (4)
use of acidified feed for slaughter pigs. The data originated from official statistics, published papers
as well as expert opinion. The partial cost–benefit analysis was restricted to slaughterhouses
affiliated with the Danish Meat Association and Danish human cases ascribable to pork from these
slaughterhouses. Only hot-water decontamination was socio-economically profitable. Hot-water
decontamination had a net present value over 15 years of €3.5 million. For sanitary slaughter the net
present value was -€43.6 million, for home-mixed feed it was -€262.3 million and for acidified
feed it was -€79.9 million. For all alternatives the costs were born solely by the pig sector, whereas
primarily the consumers and public authorities received the benefits. The conclusionswere robust in
sensitivity analyses. |
| Database: |
Economics |
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