Pork Producers Should Be Concerned with Preventing African Swine Fever

Farmers regularly face risks in their operations and for livestock farmers one of the biggest risks to their animals is a disease outbreak. While most farmers have many tools and resources available to them to help manage a common disease outbreak, foreign animal diseases, such as African Swine Fever (AFS) pose an entirely different risk to livestock operations, including the possibilities of quarantine, isolation or depopulation of herds.

With current ASF infections in many countries, including recently the Dominican Republic and Haiti, pig farmers in the US should be vigilant regarding herd health, enhancing biosecurity practices and participating in the Secure Pork Supply program. Combining these efforts, along with understanding how to quickly identify the signs of ASF will prepare farmers to respond effectively to this disease should it appear in the U.S.

Specific guidelines are being developed by state government, with assistance from commodity groups and associated industries that will frame how Michigan will approach a foreign animal disease outbreak. These specifications will include industry guidelines and be hyper-focused on maintaining business continuity for farms during an outbreak event. Resources and information are being developed, for example, that will assist farmers if they need to readily adapt to a permitted movement system during an outbreak event.