February 5, 2014
Canada''s pork prices maynot rise due toPED virus
The Canadian pork industry, which represents approximately 1,600 pork producers in the province of Ontario, may incur costs of CAD45 million (US$40.5 million) due to porcine epidemic diarrhoea (PED), said Ontario Pork''s spokesperson, Mary Jane Quinn.
However, it might not end up costing more to buy pork, as a price increase isn''t anticipated,she added.
The virus was discovered at a Simcoe County farm on January 31, and was the fifth Ontario farm where the virus was found in just more than a week.
The virus does not pose a public health threat, Ontario''s Agriculture and Food Ministry said. However, it is highly contagious and usually fatal for piglets, while older pigshave better chances ofrecovery.
After circulating widely in Europe and Asia, the virus was first seen in the US in April 2013. The virus has been found in more than 20 states and pig losses have been in the millions in the country.
The USDA announced that the disease is directly related to a decrease in pig production.As the virus has been in the US since spring, Quinn said the price of imported pork may be affected.
In Canada, however,as the virus has just been discoveredwith deaths occurring in piglets, the disease''s effect on domestic prices will be unknown for another eight or nine months, when the pigs'' growth cycle is complete. Canada''s pork producers, especially those based in Ontario,are concerned, Quinn said.
The governments of Ontario and Canada are providing CAD2 million (US$1.8 million) to help Ontario Pork support industry-wide investmentsin improving bio-security measures at critical points across the province, the agriculture ministry announced. These measures include assembly yard and truck washing stations.
Ontario Pork has a plan tocontrol the spread and is reaching out to the industry to do its part as the sector anticipatesa vaccinewhich is still in its preliminary stage, Quinn said.
A ministry spokesperson told news agencies thatmore pigs are expected to test positive for the virus.