Discovery follows first outbreak in six weeks at a pig farm in southeastern province of AnhuiFears raised the disease will spread further across the country
China’s pork industry is under renewed pressure following the first reported African swine fever contamination in animal feed supplies, raising fears the disease will spread further across the country.
The discovery occurred during inspections at a major Chinese animal feed maker, prompted by a new outbreak of African swine fever on the weekend at a pig farm in Anhui province, southeast China, which ended a run of six weeks without incident.
On Sunday the major Chinese animal feed maker Tangrenshen Group reported the disease had been found in samples provided by its 51 per cent-owned subsidiary, Bili Meiyingwei Nutrition Feedstuff.
In a statement to the Shenzhen Stock Exchange the company said the origin of the contamination remained unclear and the matter was still under investigation.
The discovery increases concerns for pig farmers trying to avoid the disease. It also raises the economic pressure on feed manufacturers already struggling with low margins and slowing demand.
Small pig farms in Anhui have been ravaged by African swine fever but authorities had recently lifted restrictions in four cities there after no new cases were reported.
