The final day of the American Association of Swine Veterinarians (AASV) annual meeting focused in on one of the most important topics facing the U.S. swine industry – foreign animal disease (FAD). Industry leaders from the U.S. and Canada shared valuable insights ranging from FAD preparedness to feed biosecurity and included perspectives from state animal health officials to practitioners who have experience dealing with African swine fever (ASF) in China.
Nearly 900 swine industry veterinarians, students, exhibitors and industry leaders attended the event in Indianapolis from Feb. 26 to March 1. Watch for more stories from Farm Journal’s PORK’s coverage of the sessions and events.
Here’s a quick recap of some of the quotable moments from the FAD session on Tuesday.
“The U.S. Swine Health Improvement Plan (US SHIP) is the future and I’m fully behind it. We all need to be. I went to the first delegate meeting as an invited scientist and I left almost levitating. I’ve never seen such enthusiasm, collaboration and camaraderie throughout the industry.” - Scott Dee, DVM, director of applied research at Pipestone, during “Validation of Extended Storage Protocols”
“Biosecurity is the silent hero. We really should be doing those things that would be in place during a foreign animal disease event all the time.” - Beth Thompson, DVM, Minnesota State Veterinarian, in “State Animal Health Officials Panel Discussion: Animal disease preparedness and response”
“Our united goal as an industry is to identify the industry standard of where we need to be and get the entire industry to that place as quickly and efficiently as possible because we are only as strong as our weakest link.” -Jordan Gebhardt, DVM and assistant professor at Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine, in “U.S. Feed Security Response”
“There is a lot of work underway, but there is a lot more to be done. Things we need to remember on this pathway: working together to prepare in advance really matters, looking out for each other will be critical, cooperation maintains health and markets.“ – Egan Brockhoff, DVM, practicing veterinarian in Canada and University of Calgary lecturer, in “African Swine Fever and Plant-Based Feed Ingredients: Canada’s approach to risk management of imported feed products”
“The ever-expanding march and further distribution of African swine fever around the globe and its disruptive effects are evident. New systems, approaches, policies and ways of thinking are needed. Much is at stake.” -Rodger Main, DVM and professor and director of the Iowa State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, in “Swine Health Improvement Plan Pilot Project Moving Forward!”
“I’m encouraged by the US Swine Health Improvement Plan and the progress that’s been made. There are some major hurdles out there – but I hope we can bring it all together so we don’t have producer fatigue.” - Bret Marsh, Indiana State Veterinarian, in “State Animal Health Officials Panel Discussion: Animal disease preparedness and response”
“It’s unlikely ASF virus risk will decrease based on decisions made by other countries. Biosecurity needs to be a foundation of all production systems.” -Joseph Yaros, DVM, president of Pipestone Management China Division, in “African swine fever: A practitioner’s perspective”
“There are no do-overs. If we have the opportunity to stamp out the disease (ASF) early, we have to take that opportunity. The last thing we want is for it to become endemic.” -Jeff Kaisand, Iowa State Veterinarian, in “State Animal Health Officials Panel Discussion: Animal disease preparedness and response”
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