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African swine fever prevention a daunting task

A veterinarian suggests the more he learns about African swine fever, the more daunting the task of keeping it out of the U.S. hog herd becomes.

Dr. Scott Dee with Pipestone Veterinary Clinic in southwest Minnesota says his research on the survival of foreign animal diseases in livestock feed goes back to the PEDv outbreak in 2014.

“And we clearly see, not just at Pipestone Research but also at Kansas State University, (African swine fever) is very stable in feed. It lasts for far beyond 30 days in feed, and especially enjoys soybean meal for some strange reason.”

He tells Brownfield large quantities of soy-based products come into the U.S. from China, where the African swine fever outbreak continues to worsen.

Dee says in tests, ASF has survived in feed for nearly two months.

“So the more we learn about it, the longer it seems it has durability in the right ingredient.”

He recommends pork producers stay informed by talking with their vet, and to talk to their feed millers about what’s being done to mitigate foreign animal disease threats.