Animal feed not a likely source of FMD spread, study confirms
The risk of a transmission of Foot-and-Mouth Disease by animal feed itself is negligibly small. A research project from EFSA and some German institutions shows that such a transmission could only occur under special and rare circumstances.
Even after adding a large amount of the virus to various feed stuff, after a short time there was no sign of the virus anymore, the research showed. However, transmitting can occur through feed-related activities, such as transport, other material or the movements of people.
People are biggest risk
“The biggest danger for a transmission of FMD to pig holdings is through people, material, infected live animals or infected food products.” dr. Hemann-Josef Baaken, spokesman for the management of the German organisation for animal feed Deutschen Verbandes Tiernahrung e.V. (DVT), says in an interview with schweine.net.
‘’Animal feed producers are very much aware of the dangers and their responsibility,’’ Baaken stresses. “We have informed all our members of the importance to take every possible hygiene precaution and we assume that the companies follow our advice. That means the application of disinfectants, to wear protective clothing and also to follow the relevant biosecurity rules for pig and cattle farms and to recommend those rules to others too.”
Online meetings
That advice does not only apply to feed companies but also to their sub-suppliers and workplace traffic. DVT also asks feed companies to hold online meetings instead of physical contacts with their clients wherever possible , to thoroughly disinfect the wheels, wheel covers and other parts of the transport vehicles after each visit and to shut doors and gates of the visited premises after a visit.
Baaken: ‘’It’s very clear: these biosecurity measures should be followed at all time, not just when there is a real risk or danger. Feed companies have already adhered to the general hygiene measures of HACCP. In the mix feed industry the slogan is: Safety First. The awareness is at a very high level and nobody has an interest, also from an economic point of view, to introduce a serious animal disease.’’
