What is African swine fever in Pigs and how to prevent it

What is African Swine fever?

All ages of domestic and feral pigs are susceptible to the infectious viral disease known as African swine fever (ASF). The condition can take a variety of severe to extremely minor forms. Up to 100% of pigs may be infected and die in its most severe form. There is no available medication or vaccination.

Preventing African Swine Fever

By generating an acidic environment in the stomach that is hostile to the ASF virus, organic acids can aid in the prevention of ASF (African swine fever) in pigs.
In order to reduce the pH level in the stomach and make it more difficult for the virus to thrive, certain acids, such as Digestal, which comprises three organic acids and one mineral acid, can be introduced to the pigs’ feed or water supply.
Furthermore, organic acids may possess antibacterial qualities that aid in the destruction of other pathogens that might be present in the pigs’ environment.

Controlling the African Swine Fever Water Risk

As farms grow overwhelmed and dispose of pigs beside waterways (Many pig farms are purposefully positioned next to streams, swamps, pits, etc.), contaminating pigs’ drinking water, there is a substantial chance that African swine fever will spread through the water.

Numerous ASF pigs are slaughtered in abattoirs and their blood is washed into drains, increasing the risk. Since all drains eventually lead to common water bodies, which are both the direct and indirect sources of farm drinking water, this path of contamination may be responsible for the virus’s rapid and “mysterious” spread across many states, even on “closed” farms.

What Can You Do?

African Swine Fever cannot exist in water, hence the pH of the drinking water needs to be lowered below 3.9.

Example:

For every 1000 liters of drinking water, mix 300 ml of digestive.
The pH of the water falls to less than 3.9 at this ratio, making it safe for pigs to drink.

Controlling the African Swine Fever Feed Risk

African swine fever can easily infect pigs through contaminated feed. This problem has arisen on numerous farms and is challenging, but fortunately, the risk can be reduced by killing the virus in a feed solution with a very low pH.

What Can You Do?

Example (A)

Compounding 1 Tonne of feed

500ml of Digestal should be combined with 1 kilogram of PKC, Wheatoffal, or Soyameal. The combination should then be added to a feed mixer with the remaining 1 tonne of feed.
Let the mixer run until the ingredients are thoroughly combined.

Example (B)

Calculate the entire amount of water required to completely submerge the meal that will be provided, and then use Digestal to drastically lower the pH (3.9).

Assume 75 liters of water will cover 25 kg of dry feed.
After that, you soak the feed in 75 Liters of water with 30ml of Digestal and wait at least two hours before serving the pig.

African Swine Fever is unable to survive in pH environments below 3.9.

Surface Disinfection:

Digestal can also be used to clean tanks, walls, floors, pipes, and structures.
Use 100 liters of water and 1 liter of digestal to disinfect the ASF-contaminated pens and rooms.

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