February 11, 2014
US studysuggests that PED may be spread through feed
New information has become available whichsuggests that the pig-killing virus, known as porcine epidemic diarrhoea or PED, which is transmitted through hog manure or from pig to pig,may also be spread through pig feed.
On February 9, Steve Dritz from Kansas State University (KSU) said, "The magnitude of risk that swine feed can be a potential vector for porcine epidemic diarrhoea (PED) virus transmission is currently unknown," the notice said. "We believe that further investigation is urgently needed to define the relative risk of feed or feed ingredients for transmission of PED virus."
Swine feed that contains porcine origin blood plasma is the concern. It''s a relatively new feed ingredient used as a protein source for early-weaned pigs. The product is produced by American Protein Corporation, which is headquartered in Ames, Iowa.
Dried plasma comes from pigs and is used as an ingredient in some pig starter, also known as creep feed which is given to piglets while still on their mother (sow), or in the first days of post weaning.
An Ontario feed company is taking precautions to protect its consumers with the new information about feed possibly causing the spread of PED. Grand Valley Fortifiers, based in Cambridge, Ontario, is asking its customers to stop feeding products that contain porcine origin blood plasma.
It said it is recalling all these feed products in question and will credit farmers if they''ve bought the feed products. The company has stopped selling feeds that contain animal by-products (dried plasma), and moved to handling a new line of nursery feeds, under the brand name Natures Blend.
The US has been dealing with PED, which has infected over 2,000 hog farms in 22 different states, since last Spring, killing millions of pigs.PED is almost 100% fatal for piglets, while older animals typically recover from the virus. Since then, it has also spread to Canada, with the first case being identified January 22 on a farm in Middlesex County. There are now eleven confirmed cases in Ontario.