Thursday, October 9, 2014

PED spreads in feed not well handled

The World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) says dried blood plasma can be safely used as an ingredient in nursery-pig rations, but also cautions that if it’s not handled properly, it could spread Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea virus.

Dried blood plasma imported from the United States and incorporated in rations marketed by Grand Valley Fortifiers of Cambridge has been blamed for 17 disease outbreaks in Ontario last winter.

The company stopped using the product as soon as it became aware of the risks, alerted its customers to stop feeding rations that incorporated the ingredient and recalled feed from the market.

The OIE has issued a fact sheet saying dried blood products are safe to use if they’re properly handled and biosecurity protocols are followed.

It does, however, also say PED can lurk in dried blood plasma.

The OIE information has been welcomed by the International Feed Industry Federation which issued a statement saying the OIE findings are based on scientific work or an OIE ad hoc group on PED and highlight the feed industry’s “strong commitment to food safety.”

The virus has killed an estimated eight million piglets, or 13 percent of the U.S. hog herd, since it was first identified in the U.S. last year, pushing U.S. pork prices to record highs.

The disease has also been found in Mexico, Japan and other countries.