May 11, 2005

South Korea says pig cholera antibodies to be blamed for tainted feed

The cholera antibody found in some pigs on the southernmost island of Jeju last year resulted from contaminated feed, and not from vaccinations, South Korean veterinary officials said Tuesday.

About 50 pigs in eight farms across the island were found to have cholera antibodies in November 2004, even though they had not been inoculated. The discovery prompted Japan to ban imports of Jeju pork, sending South Korean officials scrambling to find the cause.

The National Veterinary Research and Quarantine Service said it reached the conclusion after extensive field tests.

"The findings showed that cholera antibodies can form in pigs that have not been inoculated," the service said. "The affected pigs might have developed antibodies after eating feed contaminated with blood of vaccinated pigs."

The agency said it will carry out a thorough check into feed given to Jeju pigs and cull pigs that test positive for the antibody.

Based on the findings, the government will seek to start talks with Japan to call for the lifting of the ban, government officials said.

South Korean representatives plan to visit Japan in June to begin negotiations on the resumption of pork exports to Japan around November.

Pork from pigs raised on the mainland is not exported to Japan because most have to be inoculated. However, Jeju-brand pork was exported to the country before the ban because they are not given shots against cholera.

The island sold 628 tonnes of pork worth US$2.8 million from May to October. The South Korean pork market stood at 880,000 tonnes in 2003.