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Michigan’s pork industry preparing for ASF

Michigan’s pork industry is stepping up biosecurity protocols to better protect against African Swine Fever and other threats.

Dale Rozeboom with Michigan State University tells Brownfield while the disease is not in the U.S., there are areas farmers can take biosecurity up a notch.

“The spread is happening by people, by live animal movement, and by the spread of food.”  

He recommends farms evaluate how food for staff is handled on facilities, where visitors have been and what breeding stock is being used.

Rozeboom says if ASF was to be found in the U.S., it could immediately shut down exports and have catastrophic economic impacts throughout the food and ag supply chain.

“The long-term goal is to keep the rest of the industry protected and in business when we may have a herd or two that become infected.”       

Michigan pork producers are invited to regional swine health meetings this January which will cover the impacts of ASF and how they can be better prepared.

AUDIO: Brownfield interview with Dale Rozeboom