Feed management options may play an important role in risk reduction

Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea (PED) hit its zenith in January and February of 2014 and this part of the winter appears to be prime time to guard against the threat. Can feed strategies, including feed supplements, play a role in risk reduction?

This is a question gaining more attention as the now broad multi-level efforts to understand and protect against PED threat continue to advance both in Canada and the U.S. Bio-security protocols for feed are in place as part of emerging strategies. Specific products that support clean feed and animal health , and also provide an alternative to higher-risk feed options, may also play an important role.

Since the virus outbreak first established in the U.S. over 18 months ago, approximately 8 million pigs in North America have died as a result and approximately 50 percent of U.S. swine farms have been infected. To the end of the year in Canada there were less than 80 cases with the majority in Ontario – the root cause in the province being contaminated feed.

Transfer through plasma is an important link tied to the potential for feed transfer. Specifically, giving piglets dried porcine plasma is not advised. Swine feed that contains porcine origin blood plasma – a relatively new feed ingredient used as a protein source for early-weaned pigs – is the concern. The effect of shifting away from antibiotics use may also have a positive impact.

Watch the next edition of FeedScape for more information on these angles based on the latest science. For now, here’s a sampling of some important perspectives from leading experts in the effort to control PED, from a recent town hall teleconference in Alberta, Canada, hosted by Alberta Pork.

Perspectives on risk reduction

“It looks like Ontario has done a good job of cleaning up PED there. But PED is still going to be around in the U.S. and I would just say that we all have to continue our bio-security and continue the vigilance – we need to keep up our efforts in order to keep this disease out. The virus does move more in the winter time.”

– Julia Kleenside, Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development (ARD) swine veterinarian

“The virus continues to be a burden to most of the pork producing regions across the planet and we are not excluded from that. One thing we’ve learned is that it’s very easy to move this virus, so the right protocols are critical.”

– Dr. Egan Brokhoff, Leading swine veterinarian and owner of Prairie Swine Health Services

“With regard to feed, we want people to stick to our original decision process that recommends non-usage of blood plasma related products in pig feed. At this point in time, despite the immense pressure from the spray-dried plasma people for us to promote the usage of it, we’re sticking to our recommendation of avoiding usage.”

“ . . . When we look at what’s coming down the pipeline for us as producers in the industry, the fact that we’re going to be without growth promoting antibiotics in the near future in all feeds. If that’s the case we certainly would like to look at weaning pigs at the 28 day mark instead of 21. The types of diets that are necessary for pigs at those ages are way more conducive to non-usage of blood plasma products.”

– Dr. Frank Marshall, Leading swine veterinarian and owner of Marshall Swine Health Services

Feed management options may play an important role in risk reduction

Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea (PED) hit its zenith in January and February of 2014 and this part of the winter appears to be prime time to guard against the threat. Can feed strategies, including feed supplements, play a role in risk reduction?

This is a question gaining more attention as the now broad multi-level efforts to understand and protect against PED threat continue to advance both in Canada and the U.S. Bio-security protocols for feed are in place as part of emerging strategies. Specific products that support clean feed and animal health , and also provide an alternative to higher-risk feed options, may also play an important role.

Since the virus outbreak first established in the U.S. over 18 months ago, approximately 8 million pigs in North America have died as a result and approximately 50 percent of U.S. swine farms have been infected. To the end of the year in Canada there were less than 80 cases with the majority in Ontario – the root cause in the province being contaminated feed.

Transfer through plasma is an important link tied to the potential for feed transfer. Specifically, giving piglets dried porcine plasma is not advised. Swine feed that contains porcine origin blood plasma – a relatively new feed ingredient used as a protein source for early-weaned pigs – is the concern. The effect of shifting away from antibiotics use may also have a positive impact.

Watch the next edition of FeedScape for more information on these angles based on the latest science. For now, here’s a sampling of some important perspectives from leading experts in the effort to control PED, from a recent town hall teleconference in Alberta, Canada, hosted by Alberta Pork.

Perspectives on risk reduction

“It looks like Ontario has done a good job of cleaning up PED there. But PED is still going to be around in the U.S. and I would just say that we all have to continue our bio-security and continue the vigilance – we need to keep up our efforts in order to keep this disease out. The virus does move more in the winter time.”

– Julia Kleenside, Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development (ARD) swine veterinarian

“The virus continues to be a burden to most of the pork producing regions across the planet and we are not excluded from that. One thing we’ve learned is that it’s very easy to move this virus, so the right protocols are critical.”

– Dr. Egan Brokhoff, Leading swine veterinarian and owner of Prairie Swine Health Services

“With regard to feed, we want people to stick to our original decision process that recommends non-usage of blood plasma related products in pig feed. At this point in time, despite the immense pressure from the spray-dried plasma people for us to promote the usage of it, we’re sticking to our recommendation of avoiding usage.”

“ . . . When we look at what’s coming down the pipeline for us as producers in the industry, the fact that we’re going to be without growth promoting antibiotics in the near future in all feeds. If that’s the case we certainly would like to look at weaning pigs at the 28 day mark instead of 21. The types of diets that are necessary for pigs at those ages are way more conducive to non-usage of blood plasma products.”

– Dr. Frank Marshall, Leading swine veterinarian and owner of Marshall Swine Health Services