Hormel Foods' experience with foreign animal diseases (FADs) and swine vesicular virus (SVV) at a large processing plant: 1) The company has a protocol to notify USDA personnel if pigs show FAD signs and minimize movement of affected pigs until a disease diagnostician arrives to collect samples. 2) Testing is done to rule out FADs, with samples sent to nearby and Plum Island labs. Affected pig lots are quarantined until negative results. 3) The company took steps like training and producer letters after perceived issues with communication and coordination between stakeholders in FAD investigations.

1. Hormel Foods’ Experience:
FAD, SVV and the impact
at a large processing plant
A.J. Shute

2. Agenda
• Overview of HFC’s
FAD protocol
• SVV – Experiences,
observations,
thoughts, data
• Questions

3. Animals arrive at plant:
• Notify plant USDA FSIS personnel
immediately of any pigs showing clinical
signs of a Foreign Animal Disease (FAD).
• FSIS will determine if it is necessary to bring
in a Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostician
(FADD).

4. • Minimize movement and segregate any lot of
pigs which show any clinical signs of a
foreign animal disease.
Animals arrive at plant:

5. • Avoid all unnecessary cross-traffic of
employees from the plant processing areas
to the livestock lairage area until a Foreign
Animal Disease Diagnostician (FADD)
arrives and gives further instruction.
Animals arrive at plant:

6. Collect information @ source farm:
• Are there any other loads arriving from the
affected premises ID today?
• When were first signs of disease evident?
• When were the last animals transported from
the farm and what was their destination?

7. • When were these animals delivered to the
farm and where did they come from?
• Premises ID of source farm?
• Name and contact number of the owner or
caretaker?
• Does this producer care for other livestock?
Collect information @ source farm:

8. Prepare for sample collection:
• The FADD will likely need to collect samples
which may include tissue, oral swabs, blood,
or fluid from vesicles.
• Have a planned location and method to
assist in collecting these samples in the
livestock area.

9. FADD arrives:
• Meet with the FADD upon their arrival to your
facility.
• Review the sampling protocol and begin
arranging for any equipment or personnel
needs the FADD may have.

10. • The FADD will review the animals, determine
a priority for the sample and will determine
which labs will receive the sample.
• Verify that the samples will be split with
samples being sent to the nearest NAHLN
lab as well as Plum Island.
FADD arrives:

11. Testing:
• Notify producer that the lot was sampled for
FAD and no further movement should occur
until the investigation is completed.
• Laboratory results will be reported to the
State Veterinarian and the FADD. Plant
FSIS and company personnel will be notified
of the results.

12. Where to stop?
• The affected lot should be quarantined
pending negative test results.
– Other carcasses in cooler?
– Other live pigs in the barn?
– Rendered material?
– Future deliveries?
– Past deliveries?

13. Hormel Foods’ hold policy:
• The lot will be defined as any animals from
an affected premises ID which are currently
in lairage or the non-slaughter pen.
– Eased in the SV era. Looking at individual loads
of pigs as a “lot”.

14. Hormel Foods’ hold policy:
• Non-ambulatory hogs which have passed
ante-mortem inspection may be harvested
and released for normal distribution.
• Any non-ambulatory pigs which have not
passed ante-mortem inspection must be
quarantined pending a negative FAD result.

15. Hormel Foods’ hold policy:
• Any non-slaughter pigs must be located and
held pending a negative FAD test.
• The lot will not include animals which have
previously passed ante-mortem inspection
for harvest and any dead animals may be
sent to rendering.

16. Opportunities for improvement:
• Confusion on who/when someone will be
contacting the owner/farm.
• Confusion on what party should be notifying
whom on animal movement.
• Perceived disparity & frustration.
– by plant; by shift; moving target

17. HFC action steps:
• Training with our buying staff and livestock
receiving crew on FAD/SVA.
• Letter to producers on 9/28/16 & 10/8/15
(followed a pub from NPPC on 10/6/15).
• Pictures to producers to share with their
caretakers.

20. Economic impact:
• Minimal. Makes me &
• Lab fees, some personnel cost involved
• Need to euthanize acute animals
• Lost opportunity $
• TIME, INCONVENIENCE, HASSLE

21. What we have learned:
• Are we ready in the event of an actual FAD
outbreak…
• Ivan Pavlov > behavioral conditioning
• Communication between stakeholders;
jurisdiction
• Really nice to have nearby labs to run FADs
and excellent support staff

22. What we have learned:
• In our experience:
– Farm staff not equipped to see SVV
– Most cases occurring during warmer weather months
– From farms that have been selling hogs; usually more
than 50% sold
– Closeout or zbarns especially problematic
• SVV is frustrating!

23. QUESTIONS
ajshute@hormel.com