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Study shows swine viruses could be spread through feed

New research resulting from the PED outbreak in pigs shows the potential for PRRS and other viruses to be spread through feed.

Swine Health Information Center (SHIC) executive director Dr. Paul Sundberg says the study examined the ability of multiple pathogens to contaminate ingredients like soybean meal and dried distillers grains.

“Just about all the veterinarians who worked with PED looked at that outbreak and said it sure looked feed-related in some manner.  Because it broke at just about the same time in multiple locations, and the only common input is feed.”

The study was conducted by Pipestone Applied Research and South Dakota State University.

Sundberg emphasizes this is only a model and says the next step involves mitigating threats with feed additives.

It could be added to feed as it’s milled in order to take out those viruses, neutralize them, and make sure that they won’t be getting to the farm from the mill and infecting pigs.”

Sundberg tells Brownfield this is a very important risk factor no one has looked at before, and their mission is to figure out how to prevent pathogen transmission via feed.

 

 

 

 

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