PORTAGE LA PRAIRIE, Man. — Whenever African swine fever hits North America’s hog farmers, it will shock and shake everybody in the pork industry. How the crisis would unfold is hard to predict, but the broad outlines of response can be seen by the preliminary preparations made by farmers, industry and government. “Immediately upon first […] Read more
Tag Archives African swine fever — page 2
ASF compartmentalization moves a step forward
Canada is one step closer to a compartmentalizing regime that hog farmers and the rest of the industry hope protect them against market impacts of African swine fever. Practical application can be developed now that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency has released its National Standards and National Framework for the Canadian ASF Compartment Program. From […] Read more
U.S. study tracks potential spread of African swine fever
African swine fever is a highly contagious hemorrhagic viral disease in pigs with a mortality that can reach 100 percent on a farm and can spread rapidly. Infected pigs may not show symptoms before they die, making transmission even more dangerous and costly. Symptoms include fever, diarrhea, vomiting, blotchy skin, loss of appetite, weakness, coughing […] Read more
Traceability gaps hurt regionalization
North America’s African swine fever strategy is based on regionalization agreements, but U.S. behind in traceability efforts
With regionalization, rather than a whole country or continent being banned from the world market, only the region in which an outbreak has occurred would face the most severe restrictions, like a ban on hog movement.
Discovery of African swine fever would shut down movement
Regardless of anybody’s needs, all parts of the hog and pork industry need to be prepared for a 2020-like shutdown because that is almost certainly the sort of situation that will occur the first day a foreign animal disease like ASF is identified in North America.
Dogs put to work in fight against animal disease
Beagles and Labrador retrievers are used in North American airports to help catch banned food that could spread disease
Beagles are employed in U.S. and Canadian airport passenger areas to catch food products that can’t be imported. Labrador retrievers are often used in cargo areas because they’re bigger and can get on top of bulky containers.
Borders are significant — in both good and bad ways
Borders matter. They can work well. When they’re used like they are at Emerson-Pembina to limit the spread of disease, dangerous people and illegal goods, they can help trade flourish. But when they’re used to chop up trade and business, they can become a human-made nightmare.
Preparing for the inevitable
The wave of African swine fever continues to wash across the world, growing ever closer to Western Canada’s pig herds. But even if it reaches the Prairies, it doesn’t mean hog farmers will drown, veterinarians, emergency response officials and the pork industry believe. “By preparing and taking the necessary steps, we can minimize the damage […] Read more
Alberta Pork supports raising levy for lobbying federal gov’t.
Provincial producers approve a five cents per hog increase in the checkoff to pay for national body’s lobbying efforts; move is partly driven by concerns about the threat of African swine fever
The rising threat of African swine fever has partly prompted Alberta Pork to pass a resolution to create an extra levy of five cents per hog to strengthen lobbying of Ottawa by the Canadian Pork Council. The five-year levy will only go into effect if other provincial pork organizations commit to a similar amount. It […] Read more
ASF preparedness program now accepting applications
The $23 million federal program is intended to help hog industry keep out African swine fever and manage it if it does
A $23 million federal program intended to help keep African swine fever from entering Canada and manage it if it does arrive is open for applications. The ASF Industry Preparedness Program is part of more than $45 million in funding announced in August that will also see nearly $20 million invested in the Canadian Food […] Read more
