By John Deen
The World Organization for Animal Health recently announced that 25% of the world’s pigs are expected to die from African swine fever (ASF), a highly contagious disease that causes hemorrhages in pigs. ASF has not yet made its way to the United States.
University of Minnesota expert John Deen is available to comment on how ASF has affected animal agriculture and how the swine population could be rebuilt.
John Deen
"ASF has caused a major realignment of animal agriculture. It has spread throughout China and neighboring countries, resulting in less pigs and pork. More than 60% of the world’s pigs were in these countries, with pork being the preferred meat for consumption. Estimates of a 50% reduction in pigs in Southeast Asia are due to pigs killed by the disease, as well as farmers liquidating their herds out of fear of infection.
“Rebuilding the swine herd will not only take time but a transformation in the ways that pigs are reared. The University of Minnesota's College of Veterinary Medicine leads in the area of securing herds from the introduction of diseases, including ASF, and is helping the Chinese industry identify methods to protect and expand their herds."
John Deen is a professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Minnesota. His expertise includes swine health and welfare, epidemiology of swine diseases, in both the U.S. and other pig producing countries.
Source : umn.edu