PED hits one of largest farms in U.S.

Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea virus has hit Circle Four Farms of Utah, one of the largest hog farms in North America.

It’s owned by Smithfield Foods Inc., now owned by Chinese WH Group, and the largest hog-raising and pork-packing company in the world.

The outbreak in Utah has been confirmed by the United States Department of Agriculture and state officials. Hog farmers in Utah were warned in May to take care to keep the virus from infecting their herds; all hog shows at local fairs were cancelled.

There have been about 5,500 outbreaks of PED virus in 30 states, wiping out about eight per cent of the nation’s newborn pigs and driving hog and pork prices to record highs in late July and early August.