Swine Farm Management: Tackling ASF through effective feed strategies

African Swine Fever (ASF) has become a significant challenge for swine farm management globally and continues to persist in Asia Pacific. With numerous outbreaks affecting pig populations across the region, ASF poses a severe threat to the swine industry and food security. Effective management and control measures are crucial to mitigate the impact of this disease.

ASF is a viral disease that affects domestic and wild pigs. The virus is primarily transmitted through direct contact with infected pigs, their tissues, blood, or secretions, and also indirectly through contaminated materials like feed, equipment and vehicles. The epidemiological scenarios differ across regions due to variations in virus virulence and host immunity. 

ASF's high environmental resistance and ease of transmission via direct or indirect contact exacerbate its spread. As a result, feed has been repeatedly evaluated as a potential vector and its management can play a critical role in mitigating disease transmission.

Dr. Francisco Domingues, Anitox Technical Director for Swine, answers leading questions highlighting the disease's implications a the rigorous control measures, including feed hygiene, essential for mitigating its spread.

Understanding the impact of ASF on swine producers

The consequences of ASF contamination are severe and include high mortality rates among infected pigs, significant economic losses for farmers due to the culling of animals and the subsequent disruption of production, and trade restrictions that can affect the broader pork industry.

Dr. Domingues explains, “Recovery from ASF contamination typically requires extensive decontamination and biosecurity measures, and it can take several months to a few years for a farm to fully resume operations and rebuild its pig population. Unfortunately, the economic losses are very significant and can cost as much as $7,000,000 to restock a 10,000 sow farm.”

In the event of contamination, producers must thoroughly review all aspects of their biosecurity system to minimize the risk of a new outbreak. This includes not only the traditional components such as the movement of people, trucks, animals and supplies but also considering feed as a potential threat, as it has been proven to be a fomite for viruses that can introduce diseases to farms. Therefore, implementing and establishing feed mill biosecurity and feed biosecurity has become a fundamental part of any sustainable swine production system today.