Chinese officials say the outbreak of African Swine Fever likely stems from the feeding of food scraps to pigs. They found 62 percent of the first 21 outbreaks of the disease were related to the feeding of kitchen waste. Nebraska Pork Producers Association President Darin Uhlir says that practice is not used in the U.S. because corn and soybeans are normal feed sources here. He says given the size of Chinese farms, it’s not surprising they used kitchen waste to save money.
He says despite the detection of ASF in kitchen waste, U.S. pork producers need to keep monitoring their feed sources closely to help prevent any occurrence or spread of the disease.
Uhlir says getting the full story and the truth of what’s happening in China with ASF is his group’s main concern.
Chinese officials say they are setting up a registration system for vehicles transporting live hogs, poultry and other livestock to control the spread of the disease.
