The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Rural Development has opened the period to apply for the grants aimed at Livestock Health Defense Groups (ADSG) to offset the cost of carrying out prevention, control, and eradication actions of diseases implemented throughout 2024. Specifically, the Andalusian Government has established a 15-day period, starting from April 10, to complete the process electronically.
In terms of financial resources, the total budget allocated to these competitive grants exceeds 6.8 million euros to support actions included in regulations and health programs that do not have European funding. Among the subsidized measures are various actions included in national and regional planning, as well as others from the ADSG’s own program approved by the Andalusian Government.
Specifically, the subsidized actions aim to prevent, monitor, and control diseases such as Bovine, Ovine, and Caprine Brucellosis; Bovine and Caprine Tuberculosis; Bovine Infectious Rhinotracheitis; Ovine Catarrhal Fever (commonly known as ‘Blue Tongue’) or Aujeszky’s Disease. They also support surveillance and control measures of Salmonella serotypes in poultry farms; actions included in the health program for fish farms; and vaccination programs against Porcine Respiratory and Reproductive Syndrome, Ovine and Caprine Contagious Agalaxia, Enzootic Abortion in sheep, Avian Mycoplasmosis, and Infectious Bursitis (also known as ‘Gumboro Disease’).
The Andalusian Government advocates for public-private collaboration in this area where ADSGs carry out important work to improve the health and zootechnical level of livestock farms, ensuring the highest possible animal welfare.
ADSG of Andalusia
Livestock Health Defense Groups are formed by livestock farmers and have the technical direction of veterinary services responsible for implementing programs aimed at maintaining the good health status of Andalusian livestock. For the development of this work, ADSGs collaborate with the Local Agricultural Offices (OCA) and the official laboratories of Andalusia, under the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Rural Development.
Currently, the Andalusian autonomous community has a total of 78 Livestock Health Defense Groups. Specifically, Almería and Cádiz each have seven ADSGs in their province; Córdoba and Málaga have nine groups in each territory; and Granada, Jaén, and Seville have 13 ADSGs in each case. In addition to these groups, there are four that operate in the province of Huelva and three ADSGs that operate at a regional level.