Pipestone Applied Research studies PEDv in feed ingredients

Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea (PED) has been a devastating disease to the swine industry, resulting in the losses of over 8 million piglets. In an effort to reduce the risk to Pipestone sow units, Pipestone Applied Research was the first in the world to prove that contaminated feed could serve as a vehicle for PED virus (PEDv) transmission. As a follow up, Pipestone’s newest study focused on how PEDv survives in individual feed ingredients in order to focus intervention efforts and reduce further risk.

Key takeaways from the project:

1. Ingredients tested include corn, soybean meal, DDGs, several porcine by-products, vitamin/trace minerals, fats, synthetic amino acids, limestone, and choline. We learned that in approximately 50% of these ingredients the virus was able to survive for extended periods; however, in others it was not able to survive in even for a day.

2. Specifically, live virus was recovered from soybean meal for 180 days, from complete feed for 45 days, and from DDGS, choline, amino acids and choice white grease for 30 days, respectively. In contrast, live virus was not detected in porcine plasma at day 1.

3. Application of a liquid antimicrobial (SalCURB) successfully neutralized virus, independent of ingredient type.

4. The Pipestone team is working hard to determine how to manage these newly discovered risk factors.

Those impacted:

1. Swine Producers

2. Veterinarians

3. Feed mills

For more information, or to set up an interview, contact Molly Peterson at mpeterson@pipevet.com or 605.270.2099.