Suspected African swine fever outbreak at farm linked to China’s top animal feed maker
Dabeinong says affiliated firm culled nearly 20,000 pigs, state media reports
One of China’s top animal feed producers on Tuesday said an affiliated firm had culled nearly 20,000 pigs due to a suspected case of African swine fever, according to a report by the China Securities Journal.
Beijing Dabeinong Technology Group reported the information to investors in an online platform on Tuesday, the state-owned journal said. The company could not be reached for comment.
China has reported more than 30 separate outbreaks of the deadly disease in nine provinces and municipalities since the first case in early August and has slaughtered tens of thousands of animals.
Dabeinong has expanded from feed production into pig farming in recent years, building large sow farms to supply the world’s top pork market. It was the 15th largest producer in China last year, according to China Swine Industry Association data.
Like many other companies, it has bought or invested in other pig farming firms in an attempt to grow more rapidly and fill a gap left by the exit of small farmers.
According to the report, it owns a 40 per cent stake in two pig farming companies in northeast Liaoning province, including one in Beizhen city, under the administration of Jinzhou city, where the suspected case was found.
China’s agriculture ministry reported late on Monday a new outbreak of African swine fever on a farm with 19,938 pigs in Jinzhou. It did not identify the farm, but said 221 pigs had died from the disease, and that local authorities had culled all animals according to regulations.