Pigs are seen at a backyard farm on the outskirts of Harbin, Heilongjiang province, 
China, Sept. 5, 2018.

China to crack down harder on fake African swine fever vaccines

Industry insiders believe use of illicit vaccines has caused a new, chronic form of the disease

Reuters – China’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs says it will crack down further on illegal production and sales of African swine fever vaccines in a sign of the extent of a problem that is damaging the world’s largest pig industry. The ministry, which has been warning against such behaviour since 2019, said tougher measures were needed

German pig prices up again

German pig prices up again

German pig prices have risen again as sales inside the EU help markets recover from Asian import bans on German pork, traders and industry sources said on Wednesday. German pig prices on March 3 rose to 1.40 euros a kg slaughter weight from 1.30 euros the previous week, said the association of German animal farmers


South Africa African swine fever outbreak expands

South Africa’s Western Cape region has reported its first cases of African swine fever at two small farms, after outbreaks in other parts of the country, the provincial head of agriculture said. Recent outbreaks have also been reported in the Free State, Eastern Cape and Gauteng provinces, agricultural authorities said. “A survey to determine the

China’s soymeal futures plunge on pig disease concerns

China’s soymeal futures slid nearly five per cent in their sharpest decline in eight years on Feb. 26, as investors took profit and new African swine fever outbreaks stirred concerns over demand. The most actively traded soymeal futures on the Dalian Commodity Exchange for May delivery fell 4.86 per cent to 3,485 yuan (US$539.57) per


Two pandemics and Brexit leave U.K. pig sector in peril

Two pandemics and Brexit leave U.K. pig sector in peril

Reuters – For British pig farmers like Simon Watchorn, the start of 2021 has brought fresh problems after a pandemic-ridden 2020. British pork producers have seen their profits eroded by COVID-19 and an outbreak of deadly African swine fever (ASF) in Germany, and are now having also to deal with Brexit red tape that has

Piglet at a pig farm in Guizhou Province, China in May 2020.

Contaminated feed a risk that can’t be ignored, says expert

It’s clear that viruses, including African swine fever, can be transmitted via feed ingredients

New research is showing that animal feed can carry viruses, including the one that causes African swine fever. It’s a threat that must be thwarted, Scott Dee, veterinarian and director of applied research for Minnesota-based Pipestone Veterinary Services, told attendees at the virtual 2021 Banff Pork Seminar in January. “We’ve got to work together,” said


A report recommends the province’s department of agriculture prepare a response plan for livestock diseases "identified as significant to Manitoba.”

Province underprepared for animal disease, says auditor general

Commodity groups support the audit’s recommendations

Producer groups say they support the auditor general’s recommendations that the province do more to prepare for an animal disease outbreak, but say government staff are working hard to help. “They’ve been highly engaged and they’ve given everything that they can,” said Jenelle Hamblin of the province’s chief veterinary officer and Manitoba Agriculture staff. “I

Germany finds 30 more African swine fever cases in wild boars

Another 30 cases of African swine fever (ASF) have been found in wild boars in eastern Germany, authorities said on Jan. 20, in a continuing outbreak among wild animals which has halted German pork exports to Asia. The new cases were in the eastern state of Brandenburg and bring the number of confirmed instances of


Germany finds more African swine fever in wild boar, cases reach 480

The number of African swine fever (ASF) cases found in wild boar in Germany has now reached 480, Germany’s Agriculture Ministry said on January 8, continuing an outbreak of the disease among wild animals which halted German pork exports to Asia. The cases have occurred since the first outbreak in September 2020 and were in

File photo of domestic hogs on a German farm.

Germany finds three new African swine fever cases in wild boar

Three more cases of African swine fever (ASF) have been confirmed in wild boar in the eastern German state of Brandenburg, the state government said on Oct. 8. The new discoveries bring the total number of confirmed cases to 53 since the first one on Sept. 10, the Brandenburg state Health Ministry said. All were