What characteristic of African swine fever (ASF) makes feeding swill to pigs risky?

Feeding swill to pigs poses a significant risk primarily because the African swine fever (ASF) virus can survive in certain pork products for extended periods. This longevity allows the virus to remain infectious even when it is introduced into pig feed. Swill often contains scraps or byproducts from the kitchen, which may include infected meat or products that still harbor the virus. If pigs consume contaminated swill, there is a high likelihood that they could contract ASF, leading to widespread outbreaks within pig populations.

Understanding the stability of the virus in the environment and in various food products is crucial for biosafety measures in pig farming. While proper cooking can kill many pathogens, the survival ability of the ASF virus presents unique challenges in prevention. Therefore, it is essential for those involved in swine production to avoid feeding swill to pigs to protect their herds from this potentially devastating disease.