March 8, 2023

US researchers to study stability of ASF in feed ingredients

Researchers from the US Swine Health Information Center (SHIC) received a grant to study the stability of African swine fever (ASF) in soybean products shipped into the country, in order to reduce the risk of imported feed ingredients from spreading ASF, World-Grain reported.

The four-year project, funded by the US Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture, will also look into improving ASF diagnostic capabilities and surveillance tools.

Globally traded soybean products, which are commonly used in complete swine feeds, pose a risk if imported from countries or regions where the ASF is endemic.

Dr Megan Niederwerder, associate director of the SHIC, is the project director. Pork producers will benefit from this study because it will better prepare them to deal with foreign animal disease vectors.

For the benefit of US swine health, SHIC, which was established by the National Pork Board solely with Pork Checkoff funding in 2015, continues to concentrate efforts on prevention, preparedness, and response to novel and emerging swine diseases.

-      World-Grain