Farmscape for September 4, 2018

In light of African Swine Fever in China Manitoba Pork is encouraging pork producers to reevaluate biosecurity.
African Swine Fever has now been reported over a vast area in China.
The virus affects pigs of all ages causing high mortality and, while it doesn't affect humans and isn't considered a food safety risk, it is highly transmissible, it is trade limiting and it is federally reportable.
Jenelle Hamblin, the Manager of Swine Health Programs with Manitoba Pork. says the world is a smaller place than it once was with people and products moving in short amounts of time for many reasons.

Clip-Jenelle Hamblin-Manitoba Pork:
As a sector we need to be normally aware of the people that are coming onto our premises and where they've been prior to coming but, in the case such as this, it's important to consider any overseas travel that may have occurred.
African swine fever has been found to live in products for many months therefore we also have to keep in mind any pork products that could potentially be coming into North America.
It would be a really good idea to review your biosecurity protocols with your veterinarian and your staff, talking about overseas travel of anyone coming onto your farm including staff, family members, any contracted workers or even going as far as considering exchange students if that's something your family participates in.
As well the food from other parts of the world.
Things that we could do to prevent bringing anything onto our premises is not bringing back food from overseas or not accepting gifts of food from overseas or from people coming from overseas and also never bringing any types of food scraps into your barn.
Also you could take a look at your feed ingredients and where they are originally being sourced from.
Lastly keeping on top of the developments that are happing in China in regards to African Swine Fever and being aware of what's happening in the sector.

Hamblin acknowledges containing the virus in China will be a challenge due to the varying range of biosecurity in place.
For Farmscape.Ca, I'm Bruce Cochrane.

       *Farmscape is a presentation of Sask Pork and Manitoba Pork