Feed Industry Responds to PEDv Study

Sep 01, 2014

"The American Feed Industry Association strongly supports research that provides accurate information pertaining to porcine epidemic diarrhea virus, a challenge currently facing U.S. swine production. Recently released research (conducted by Pipestone Veterinary Services and South Dakota State University and reported in BMC Veterinary Research), confirms feed can be a carrier of the virus. However, it's important to note that being a carrier of the virus does not mean that feed is the source. The prevalence of the disease on an infected farm can contaminate many items.

"There are still many unknowns related to the outbreak of the virus, and AFIA's goal is to work with industry partners, swine producers, veterinarians and the government to conduct and evaluate research to better understand the cause and transmission routes of PEDV. As a step to find answers, AFIA and industry partner, the Institute for Feed Education & Research, pledged $100,000 to the National Pork Board in May of this year."

Source: AASV

Video: Season 6, Episode 7: Takeaways from the Second International Conference on Pig Livability

This year’s conference fostered open, engaging conversations around current research in the swine industry, bringing together hundreds of attendees from 31 states and six countries. Two leaders who helped organize the event joined today’s episode: Dr. Joel DeRouchey, professor and swine extension specialist in the Department of Animal Sciences and Industry at Kansas State University, and Dr. Edison Magalhaes, assistant professor in the Department of Animal Sciences at Iowa State University. They share key takeaways from the conference, including the importance of integrating data when evaluating whole-herd livability, building a culture of care among employees and adopting new technologies. Above all, the discussion reinforces that this industry remains, at its core, a people business.