Source: MEATINGPLACE, 3/12/14

The National Pork Board announced Tuesday more than $1 million in additional funding to fight the further spread of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus, which has spread to 26 states since it was first reported in May 2013.

The funds for new research are made up of $650,000 through supplemental funding approved by the Pork Checkoff at last week’s board meeting and $500,000 through a new agreement with Genome Alberta, the board said in a news release.

The new project also will align swine, feed and veterinary groups to bring an even higher level of collaboration in the fight against the disease.

“This has become one of the most serious and devastating diseases our pig farmers have faced in decades,” said Karen Richter, a Minnesota producer and president of the National Pork Board. “While it has absolutely no impact on food safety, it has clear implications for the pork industry in terms of supplying pork to consumers. Our No. 1 priority is to address PEDV.”

Steve Meyer, president of Paragon Economics and a Pork Checkoff consultant, estimates the loss of more than 5 million piglets in the past several months, with 1.3 million lost in January alone.  

Part of the Checkoff’s supplemental funding of $650,000 will be used for feed-related research to better understand the potential role feed may play in PEDV transmission. Also, a portion of the funding will be used to identify ways to increase sow immunity and to better understand transmission and biosecurity risks. This brings the current level of Checkoff-funded research to approximately $1.7 million since June 2013.

In a related move, Genome Alberta is cooperating with the National Pork Board to identify research gaps in understanding PEDV and stem its spread. Genome Alberta has committed approximately $500,000 toward a coordinated U.S./Canadian effortand is seeking additional funds from Canadian, provincial and regional agencies.

All Checkoff-funded PEDV-related materials are available at pork.org/pedv.

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