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AFIA: Data gaps on foreign feed affected by ASF
The American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) says it’s working with the pork industry to educate producers about potential risks for African Swine Fever, which is spreading in China and parts of Europe, but is not in the U.S, “We don’t have any evidence that the virus is in feed or feed ingredients. But the research that’s out there shows that IF the virus is contaminated in those ingredients that it could potentially survive the transport.”
Leah Wilkinson, vice president of public policy and education for the American Feed Industry Association, says there has been only one study on the holding times. She tells Brownfield feed ingredients, including amino acids and vitamins, are imported mostly from China and it’s important for everyone to know how they are made, “Probably very difficult for contamination to occur. They’re either synthetic processes or the heat that they go through, just the way the processes are set up.”
Wilkinson says there are gaps in research, not just for the risk of African Swine Fever but other foreign animal diseases. She tells Brownfield the AFIA Foundation is looking for opportunities to fund more research and the board of trustees will consider a proposal this week.
AUDIO: Interview with Leah Wilkinson ~
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