Conflicting reports of the severity of African swine fever (ASF) in China continue to raise questions for the U.S. pork industry. On Wednesday, Chinese authorities reported an outbreak on a farm in Yili prefecture with 466 pigs. Reuters reports that 280 pigs died, and the remaining pigs were culled.
During a National Association of Farm Broadcasters press conference on Wednesday, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack shared insight from a recent conversation with the Chinese Ag Minister about the status of this deadly disease wreaking havoc on the Chinese pork industry.
“I asked him about the status of African swine fever. And this is what he told me, he told me that they have it under control,” Vilsack said.
Admittedly, Vilsack said he would expect China to say nothing less.
“I suspect that what we have is a situation where there are probably some hotspots that are taking place in China,” Vilsack explained. “Having said that, the reality is he advised me that the Chinese pork prices are coming down which would suggest that they are at least seeing an increase in supply.”
The price drop could be related to the amount of pork they are purchasing, he added, resulting in lower prices for consumers.
“But I suspect it’s also because a portion of their industry is back online. I think the truth is probably somewhere in between,” Vilsack said. “They don’t have it totally under control, but I don’t think it’s anywhere near as devastating as it was perhaps six or nine months ago.”
More from Farm Journal’s PORK:
African Swine Fever: How Will Uncertainty in China Play Out for Exports?
China Investigates Dead Pigs Dumped Along Yellow River
Will TADD Process Inactivate ASF Virus in Transport Trailers?
