Impact of Swine Virus Still To Be Revealed

As yet, Arkansas has been able to stave off a widespread virus that has infected and killed millions of pigs throughout North America during the past nine months.

However, local industry experts anticipate a continued risk for exposure of Arkansas pig herds to the Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea virus, particularly during the upcoming livestock show season. 

“We’re very concerned,” said Jerry Masters, executive vice president of the Arkansas Pork Producers Association. “This virus is devastating producers in so many states throughout the country.”

The American Association of Swine Veterinarians reported March 15 that 4,758 positive cases of PEDv had been identified in the United States since June 2013.

The symptoms include diarrhea and nausea, and PEDv is fatal to piglets, according to the USDA.

Although local herds are not infected, they are seeing the effect, as are consumers, through bumped-up prices.

And it might get worse.

Pork production levels are still high for now, due partly to record-high slaughter weights, said Ron Plain, an agricultural economics professor and writer for The Pig Site, an international news source on the pork industry.

However, the retail pork price in February averaged $3.73 per pound, according to the Chicago Mercantile Exchange Group. This is a 24-cent rise from the previous February.

Lean hog futures are projected at $121.30 for April, according to the CME. The lean hog index for April 2013 was about $82.

Industry experts say the impact the PEDv outbreak will have on pork prices this spring and summer is yet to be determined.

So far, 27 states have reported the virus, including several that border Arkansas, according to AASV data.

Commercial swine herds in Arkansas are already practicing biosecurity to keep out PEDv, according to a letter from Preston Scroggin, executive director of the Arkansas Livestock and Poultry Commission.

However, officials are worried, in particular, that local 4-H and Future Farmers of America students might purchase show pigs in other states and unknowingly bring in the virus.

 The livestock commission put out a mandate in February requiring that show swine must, as part of the entry permit process, have a certificate of veterinary inspection that states the pigs did not come from a farm known to be affected by PEDv and have not been exposed to PEDv within the last 60 days.

A letter dated Feb. 12 and signed by Scroggin; Richard Jackson, the livestock commission’s agricultural program manager; George Pat Bradley, state veterinarian; and Brandon Doss, assistant state veterinarian, states: “No one wants to be the person responsible for bringing this disease into Arkansas and cause the state of Arkansas great financial harm.”