There are 14 item(s) tagged with the keyword "african swine fever".
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Considering the ongoing highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreaks and the looming threat of an African swine fever (ASF) outbreak, biosecurity should be on everyone’s mind. Jason Galvis, Ph.D., a research scholar, and Gustavo Machado, Ph.D., an associate professor at North Carolina State University (NCSU), recently published a study about the role of vehicle movement in swine disease dissemination. I spoke with Machado to discuss their findings and, more importantly, if the feed industry contributes to disease transmission and what we can do to prevent it.
Since the outbreak of the porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) in 2013, the feed and livestock industries have worked to gain a better understanding of pathogen transmission through feed and the supply chain. Multiple studies have documented the distribution of viral pathogens in mills after contamination, the stability of viruses in feed and ingredient matrices, and virus reduction using chemical mitigants or extended holding times.
If it were to enter the United States, “African swine fever (ASF) would be the most significant animal disease issue the United States has ever seen,” said Cassie Jones, Ph.D., undergraduate research coordinator in Kansas State University’s Department of Animal Sciences and Industry. This is because once the disease is found in feral pigs or ticks, it would be nearly impossible to eradicate, so the focus now, particularly for swine producers and feed manufacturers, should be on prevention.
Every year, the American Feed Industry Association sponsors awards that recognize industry leaders who are making an impact on the health and nutrition of livestock and poultry. Read about this year’s animal nutrition award winners below.
Have you ever seen dogs, specifically beagles, at your airport terminal? Not ones riding in carry-on bags preparing to travel, but working dogs? If you have, there is a chance that working dog was trained at the “Beagle Brigade” facility. This facility, run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, is formally known as the National Detector Dog Training Center located in Newnan, Ga.
Biosecurity is often defined as procedures intended to protect humans or animals against disease or harmful biological agents. For the animal food industry, biosecurity manifests as putting in place plans or programs intended to prevent feed, people and vehicles from introducing and/or spreading pathogens to livestock and poultry.
As mothers, we often find ourselves stating words of caution to our children and while some of those get adhered to, others are ignored, despite our pleading. But that is “how our children learn,” so they say, by making choices based upon the information available. When it comes to the introduction of foreign animal diseases like African swine fever (ASF), our desire is that our message and words of caution get heard, and the feed industry acts accordingly NOW to do its part to prevent the introduction or spread of ASF into the United States.
African swine fever (ASF) is top of mind for industry members and government officials alike since its confirmation in the Dominican Republic last July. For the first time in a long time, the highly contagious swine disease is in our hemisphere and although the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) had already been preparing for a “what if” ASF outbreak situation, efforts have significantly increased, and all stakeholders are engaged.
The Institute for Feed Education and Research (IFEEDER), Animal Nutrition Association of Canada (ANAC) and United Soybean Board (USB) have joined with the Swine Health Information Center (SHIC) to launch a research project that will evaluate several methods for cleaning and disinfecting feed mills following a potential African swine fever (ASF) outbreak.
If Dr. Cassie Jones’ presentation on African swine fever (ASF) at last week’s Purchasing and Ingredient Suppliers Conference didn’t scare you, then I really don’t know what will! Jones, the undergraduate research coordinator in Kansas State University’s Department of Animal Sciences and Industry, gave a chilling update on the status of the virus that has ravaged parts of the Eastern Hemisphere over the past three years.
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