Monthly Archives: October 2020

African swine fever virus (ASFV) can survive in soy-based products for 30 days with T ½ ranging from 9.6-12.9 days in soybean meals and soy oil cake. As the US imports soy-based products from several ASFV-positive countries, knowledge of the type and quantity of these specific imports, and their ports of entry (POE), is necessary information to manage risk. Using the data from the International Trade Commission Harmonized Tariff Schedule website in conjunction with pivot tables, we analyzed imports across air, land, and sea POE of soy-based products from 43 ASFV-positive countries to the US during 2018 and 2019. In 2018, 104,366 metric tons (MT) of soy-based products, specifically conventional and organic soybean meal, soybeans, soy oil cake and soy oil were imported from these countries into the US via seaports only. The two largest suppliers were China (52.7 %, 55,034 MT) and the Ukraine (42.9%, 44,775 MT). In 2019, 73,331 MT entered the US and 54.7% (40,143 MT) came from the Ukraine and 8.4% (6,182 MT) from China. Regarding POE, 80.9% to 83.2% of soy-based imports from China entered the US at the seaports of San Francisco, CA and Seattle, WA, while 89.4% to 100% entered from the Ukraine via the seaports of New Orleans, LA and Charlotte, NC. Analysis of five-year trends (2015 to 2019) of the volume of soy imports from China indicated reduction over time (with a noticeably sharp decrease between 2018 and 2019), and seaport utilization was consistent. In contrast, volume remained high for Ukrainian soy imports, and seaport utilization was inconsistent. Overall, this exercise introduced a new approach to collect objective data on an important risk factor, providing researchers, government officials, and industry stakeholders a means to objectively identify and quantify potential channels of foreign animal disease entry into the US. Patterson G, Niederwerder M, Spronk G, Dee S. Quantification of soy-based feed ingredient entry from ASFV-positive countries to the United States by ocean freight shipping and associated seaports. Transbound Emerg Dis

This study focuses on the critical role instructional communication plays in effective risk and crisis communication. More specifically, we examined efforts made by the United States’ swine industry to teach biosecurity practices in response to the African Swine Fever virus, a highly contagious novel disease. To do so, researchers interviewed 14 research, veterinary, and extension specialists to assess the swine industry’s capacity to function as a community of practice (CoP). Strategies were coded under the three major functions of CoPs: mutual engagement, shared repertoire, and joint negotiation. Respondents indicated that the industry was successful primarily because they engaged in effective instructional communication as a learning CoP to create a clear shared repertoire and negotiate consistent messages to teach better biosecurity practices among diverse people and facilities. Although the goal of biosecurity remains the same–maintaining a line of separation between infected areas and uninfected areas–the means for achieving it may differ among locations and the instructional strategies for achieving it must be tailored for diverse populations to achieve the desired affective, cognitive, and behavioral learning outcomes. Implications for instructional communication research to address other risk situations and crisis events are also proposed. Edwards A, Sellnow T, Sellnow D, Iverson J, Parrish A, Dritz S. Communities of practice as purveyors of instructional communication during crises. Comm and Educat

Background: Increasing uncertainty and variability in weather due to climate change puts enormous stress on the sustainability of agricultural communities in several parts of the continental United States. Rural agriculture-based communities, such as those in North Carolina, Nebraska, and Illinois are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of flooding. These extreme weather events affect many animal facilities, and flooding can cause long-term impacts on animal health and productivity. Objectives: This scoping review investigated the potential short- and long-term ramifications of flooding on beef cattle and swine farms with theoretical locations in the Midwestern U.S. The goal of this review is to create a concept map to identify research gaps related to efforts to support those animals and peoples ravaged by floods. This was accomplished by performing a scoping review using search terms “beef OR swine AND flood” to assess direct effects and then “beef OR swine AND direct effect” to evaluate secondary and tertiary effects. Results: Our findings were based on a total of 89 peer-reviewed publications, with 50 publications relating to beef cattle, 24 relating to swine, and 15 containing information applicable to both. On beef farms, the effects of flooding can be broad and long-lasting. The short-term risks of flooding are reasonably well-understood, including the comingling of unfamiliar cattle, nutritional restriction, and disease transmission. However, long-term impacts, including potential effects on reproduction, nutrition, and carcass quality, have been less studied. In particular, further research is needed on mold species that contaminate hay post-flood, the effect of moldy hay ingestion on cattle, and the effects of heavy metal consumption on cattle and consumers. Little research is available regarding the effects of flooding on swine farms, likely due to the highly intensive nature of swine operations. In general, swine farms suffer from acute infectious diseases and biosecurity risks after flooding events. Conclusions: The potential ramifications of flooding on livestock farms differ among farm operations. Beef farms should prepare for long-term impacts on nutrition and reproduction, while swine farms should prepare for short-term impacts on biosecurity. Crist S, Mori J, Smith R. Flooding on beef and swine farms: A scoping review of effects in the midwestern United States. Prev Vet Med. 2020 Sep. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prevetmed.2020.105158