With the spread of both COVID-19 and African swine fever (ASF), humans can be their own worst enemies. That message was delivered by South West Ontario Veterinary Services practitioner Dr. George Charbonneau during the recent virtual edition of the 2021 London Farm Show. Why it matters: The North American swine sector is on high alert […] Read more
Tag Archives african swine fever — page 5
Preventing human failings in COVID and African swine fever
Viruses have different superpowers they use to spread among animals and people
Early control would ease ASF damage in U.S.
Officials predict costs of an outbreak could be reduced to $15 billion from $50 billion if it was controlled within two years
Glacier FarmMedia – African swine fever could become endemic in the United States if it arrives in North America. Paul Sundberg of the Ames, Iowa-based Swine Health Information Centre said the virus is a looming threat that could cost the American pork industry $50 billion over 10 years. Why it matters: The American and Canadian […] Read more
Small pig farm survey part of ASF initiative
Learning more about small-lot producers could make it easier to communicate with them about African swine fever
Glacier FarmMedia – Whether pigs are kept as pets or for a personal pork supply, Canadians who keep a small number of pigs on their property are the target respondents for an online survey expected to be distributed in early 2021. Why it matters: There’s little good data on what motivates small-scale hog producers, and […] Read more
Livestock feed imports restricted to limit disease risk
There are cascading effects in the global feed and ingredients system as countries, including Canada, clamp down to limit African swine fever risk
North America’s livestock feed system continues to change to manage the risk of disease travelling on feed. The changes have meant world-leading restrictions on feed imports to Canada and a decline in imports of soybean meal into the U.S. from areas of major swine diseases. It’s also meant that some large farms are adopting supplier-to-farm […] Read more
Hog producers look for swine fever investment
Arrival of African swine fever would be devastating to the Canadian sector
Glacier FarmMedia – Canada’s hog producers are calling on the federal government to invest $50 million over three years to combat African swine fever. In an open letter released Sept. 11, the chair of the Canadian Pork Council Rick Bergmann spells out the impact an outbreak of the disease would have on the industry. The […] Read more
China’s hog herd recovery forecast questioned
Inventory levels aren’t expected to reach pre-ASF levels this year, and sow herd quality is likely to be lower than before
Glacier FarmMedia – Claims from China that hog production in that country will recover by next year to pre-2018 levels do not pass the smell test, says economic analyst Brett Stuart of Global AgriTrends. African swine fever forced the culling of an estimated 60 per cent of the Chinese herd after an outbreak began there […] Read more
Swine fever found in Germany putting pork exports at risk
Country had been fencing off borders against wild boar
Berlin/Hamburg | Reuters — Germany confirmed on Thursday that African swine fever (ASF) had been found in a dead wild boar near its border with Poland, threatening pork exports to China from Europe’s biggest pork producer, which were worth US$1.2 billion last year. Authorities in the German state of Brandenburg quarantined a 15-km area around […] Read more
China announces step forward on African swine fever vaccine
The pork sector has welcomed news that a viable ASF vaccine might be in the works out of China, but it’s early days yet
Glacier FarmMedia – The world may be one step closer to a workable vaccine for African swine fever (ASF), but one expert warns that a local debut is a long way off — if the vaccine makes it to Canada at all. According to a research article, recently published in a Chinese science journal, researchers […] Read more
U.S. says it would ban pig shipments if swine fever detected
Chicago | Reuters — The U.S. Department of Agriculture said Friday it will prohibit shipments of all pigs for at least three days if the nation ever finds a case of a fatal hog disease that has ravaged China’s herd. The federal government is preparing to contain and eradicate African swine fever if it spreads […] Read more
African swine fever spreads near German border
Paris | Reuters — Poland recorded 55 outbreaks of African swine fever in wild boar near the German border last month, the world animal health body said on Thursday, in a sign the deadly virus is spreading near one of the European Union’s biggest pork exporters. A report posted on the World Organization for Animal […] Read more
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