Feed industry associations says link to PEDv is unclear
August 19, 2014 | 04:42 PM
The link between animal feed and porcine epidemic diarrhea virus revealed by researchers is unclear, an official of the American Feed Industry Association said late Monday.
“Recently released research (conducted by Pipestone Veterinary Services and South Dakota State University and reported in BMC Veterinary Research), confirms feed can be a carrier of the virus.” said Richard Sellers, the senior vice president of legislative and regulatory affairs for the American Feed Industry Association said in an email.
“However, it’s important to note that being a carrier of the virus does not mean that feed is the source,” Sellers said. “The prevalence of the disease on an infected farm can contaminate many items.”
“There are still many unknowns related to the outbreak of the virus, and AFIA's goal is to work with industry partners, swine producers, veterinarians and the government to conduct and evaluate research to better understand the cause and transmission routes of PEDv,” Sellers added.
He noted that AFIA has pledged $100,000 to the National Pork Board for PEDv research.
The National Pork Producers Council declined to comment on the study, but a spokesman added, “The U.S. pork and feed industries and allied industry partners have funded projects and research to determine if feed is playing a role in the outbreak of PEDv and to look at potential mitigations for the disease.”
“Recently released research (conducted by Pipestone Veterinary Services and South Dakota State University and reported in BMC Veterinary Research), confirms feed can be a carrier of the virus.” said Richard Sellers, the senior vice president of legislative and regulatory affairs for the American Feed Industry Association said in an email.
“However, it’s important to note that being a carrier of the virus does not mean that feed is the source,” Sellers said. “The prevalence of the disease on an infected farm can contaminate many items.”
“There are still many unknowns related to the outbreak of the virus, and AFIA's goal is to work with industry partners, swine producers, veterinarians and the government to conduct and evaluate research to better understand the cause and transmission routes of PEDv,” Sellers added.
He noted that AFIA has pledged $100,000 to the National Pork Board for PEDv research.
The National Pork Producers Council declined to comment on the study, but a spokesman added, “The U.S. pork and feed industries and allied industry partners have funded projects and research to determine if feed is playing a role in the outbreak of PEDv and to look at potential mitigations for the disease.”
