Manhattan, Kan. - With the recent
occurrences of African Swine Fever Virus (ASFV) and Classical Swine Fever Virus
(CSFV) in countries important for U.S. trade, there have been many questions
about how to best prevent foreign animal disease transmission into U.S. swine
herds. While feed and ingredients are not the most likely sources of
introduction and transmission, they are a documented vector for disease. Thus,
the extension of on-farm biosecurity practices to the feed mill is important.
“We have made updates to the ‘Feed Safety Resources’ link on KSUSwine.org
to answer producer questions about African Swine Fever Virus in feed,” explains
Cassie Jones, K-State Department of Animal Sciences & Industry associate
professor. “The updated site includes frequently asked questions about ASFV in
feed.
For example, many producers have approached members of the KSU
Swine Nutrition Team with questions about which ingredients are high risk, and
what they can do to help keep their feed safe. The FAQ document describes that
an ingredient may be high risk for foreign animal disease transmission based on
its geographic, agricultural and transportation practices. Ingredients that may
be dried on roadsides in countries with circulating ASFV would be higher risk
than those fermented in a biosecure facility in a country free of foreign
animal disease.
The website, http://bit.ly/KSUFeedSafetyResources,
also includes a biosecurity audit for producers to use for suppliers or in
their own facilities to help identify risk for disease entry into feed. There
are also links to important research articles on viral transmission in animal
feed, and includes questions to ask suppliers to help reduce risk of ASFV
transmission.
“We encourage producers to visit this site to learn more about the
risk of pathogen transmission through feed, and their options for control.”
Jones says.
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