Source: Chris Scott, MEATINGPLACE, 11/14/18


Concerns about further spread of African Swine Fever (ASF) in China have reignited after a major feed producer confirmed that its animal feed was indeed contaminated, contrary to earlier reports.

Tangrenshen Group says the disease was uncovered in feed samples that originated at one of its subsidiaries, according to Reuters, citing a report in the South China Morning Post. Chinese authorities have been inspecting feed producers after ASF was first confirmed in August, and the discovery came six weeks after the outbreaks appeared contained in the wake of transport limits and other biosecurity measures.

The latest outbreak occurred over the weekend at a pig farm in the Anhui province in southeast China just as the feed giant told the Shenzhen Stock Exchange that earlier tests did not find ASF in its feed products. Tangrenshen Group now says it is investigating how the feed was contaminated, the report said.

ASF has the potential to accelerate a structural shift in Chinese pork production and increase the country’s import needs by early next year, according to Rabobank. China produces nearly 700 million pigs annually, about half of the world’s total.

For more stories, go to www.meatingplace.com.