African swine fever outbreak has cut Vietnam hog herd by 20%: USDA undersecretary

CHICAGO: African swine fever has killed off about 20 per cent of Vietnam's hog herd, and it is not clear whether the outbreak has been contained, US Department of Agriculture Undersecretary Ted McKinney said on Friday.

There were some reports that the number might be higher, said McKinney, who spoke to reporters on a conference call from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, during a government and agricultural industry trade mission.

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Vietnam government officials said this week the spread of the disease has shown signs of slowing and are urging farmers to restore pig herds battered by the outbreak.

"It's tough to say whether African swine fever is contained," said McKinney, who has met with overseas buyers as well as Vietnamese government officials during the trip.

Still, McKinney pointed to one positive sign: The chief executive of a large Vietnamese feed company told him the spread of ASF does not seem to have accelerated in the country.

U.S. pork exports have jumped and hog processors have been vying for business in China, the world's biggest pork consumer, and other markets in Asia, where African swine fever has devastated hog herds, pushed pork prices to record highs and sent imports rocketing. Though not harmful to humans, the disease is deadly to pigs, with no vaccine available.

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USDA pork export sales data issued on Friday for the period from Oct. 4-10 included "a significant quantity" of sales that may have occurred in previous weeks – including exports to Mexico jumping to a weekly record of 132,381 tonnes, from 2,692 tonnes a week earlier.

In addition to pork, Vietnamese buyers also are purchasing poultryRead More – Source