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NPB says holding times on feedstuffs might reduce risks

Extended holding times for feedstuffs to reduce swine disease risks in the U.S. is a tool identified by the National Pork Board to include along with strong biosecurity. The Board’s Dr. Dave Pyburn says peer-reviewed research shows it’s possible for swine disease viruses, like African Swine Fever, to survive in shipments of certain feed ingredients, “I want to be very clear we have never actually found it in feed that’s been imported into this country. We don’t have any known, or provable infection that’s been caused by feed with either PEDV or African Swine Fever virus in this country but it’s possible that it could happen.”

The research finds a holding time of 78 days after the date of manufacture of amino acids, minerals and vitamins will degrade FMD and ASF viruses. Those ingredients come mostly from China. For those getting “organic” bean meal from China for swine, the degradation time is much longer at 286 days, “So, I don’t think anybody’s going to do that with soybean meal. I think a better choice there is maybe don’t be looking to get soybean meal from countries where they have active virus, whether it’s Foot and Mouth or African Swine Fever.”

Pyburn says most import soybean meal is purchased by organic swine and poultry operations. The Pork Board urges pork producers to talk with their feed suppliers and know where their feedstuffs are coming from.