ASF suspected at a Cherkizovo pig farm
Russia’s Veterinary and Phyto-Sanitary Surveillance Service (Rosselhoznadzor) last week (March, 22) reported suspected outbreaks of African Swine Fever (ASF) at Cherkizovo units, while the meat producer said independent tests had come back clean.
Genetic material from the ASF pathogen were identified, this month, in samples from pigs supplied to a meat processing plant in the Penza region, according to Rosselhoznadzor.
The suppliers were Tambovmyasoprom and Resurs, both part of Cherkizovo. A Cherkizovo representative, however, said tests carried out at independent laboratories found no ASF. The company said the units account for a small share of its overall pork production.
The samples have been sent to the Russian Scientific Research Institute of Veterinary Virology for confirmation of the diagnosis, a representative of Rosselhoznadzor commented.
Medium and large Russian pig farms are generally well protected against ASF. The virus is more common on small farms and spread in part by wild boars.
Meanwhile, in the Tver region in the hunting area Medveditce a new ASF outbreak has been reported. A couple of boars have been found dead. Veterinary inspectors have burned their carcasses and sterilize the area around the outbreak. This is the sixth outbreak of ASF in the Tver region this year.
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