Farms.com Home   News

USDA Launches "Protect Our Pigs" Campaign to Support the Pork Industry, Pig Owners, Veterinarians in the Fight Against African Swine Fever

The United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced today new efforts to help prevent the introduction and spread of African swine fever in the U.S. Through an outreach and awareness campaign called "Protect Our Pigs," APHIS will support commercial pork producers, veterinarians, and pig owners with information and resources to help safeguard America's swine population and the pork industry.

African swine fever is a deadly, highly contagious viral disease that affects both domestic and wild pigs. It does not impact human health but quickly spreads between swine populations. People can also unknowingly spread the disease on their clothing, farming equipment, or by transporting uncooked pork products. African swine fever has never been detected in the U.S. but has recently been confirmed in countries as close as the Dominican Republic and Haiti. There is no treatment or effective vaccine for the disease.

"African swine fever is already devastating pork industries and economies around the globe, and if detected in the U.S., it could ravage our swine population, nation's pork industry, and farming communities," said USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs, Jenny Lester Moffitt.

The U.S. is one of the world's largest pork producers and the second largest exporter of pork globally. If the disease arrives here, it is estimated it could cost the U.S. $50 billion dollars over 10 years.

Click here to see more...

Trending Video

Vaccinating Pregnant Sheep & Ensuring Lamb Parentage | Daily Sheep Farming Life

Video: Vaccinating Pregnant Sheep & Ensuring Lamb Parentage | Daily Sheep Farming Life

Welcome to another day at Ewetopia Farms, where we focus on raising high-quality registered Suffolk and Poll Dorset sheep. In today’s vlog, we vaccinate four groups of pregnant ewes, administer their final de-licing treatments, and meticulously record each sheep's group for accurate lamb parentage tracking. Watch as we share our best practices for sheep care and flock management, ensuring the health and well-being of our flock. Whether you’re a fellow farmer, an animal lover, or simply curious about sheep farming, you’ll find insights and inspiration here at Ewetopia Farms. Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe to join us daily on our journey!