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crazytown

(7,277 posts)
Thu Oct 31, 2019, 10:31 AM Oct 2019

Scientists Say a Quarter of Pigs Around the World Could Die of Swine Fever

Source: Time

(SYDNEY) — Around a quarter of the world’s pigs are expected to die from African swine fever as authorities grapple with a complex disease spreading rapidly in the globalization era, the World Organization for Animal Health’s president said Thursday.

A sharp reduction in the world’s pig population would lead to possible food shortages and high pork prices, and it might also cause shortfalls in the many products made from pigs, such as the blood-thinner heparin that’s used in people, said Dr. Mark Schipp, the organization’s president.

The disease’s spread in the past year to countries including China, which has half the world’s pigs, had inflamed a worldwide crisis, Schipp told reporters at a briefing in Sydney.

“I don’t think the species will be lost, but it’s the biggest threat to the commercial raising of pigs we’ve ever seen,” he said. “And it’s the biggest threat to any commercial livestock of our genera

Read more: https://time.com/5714688/swine-fever-global-pig-population/

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Scientists Say a Quarter of Pigs Around the World Could Die of Swine Fever (Original Post) crazytown Oct 2019 OP
K&R. dchill Oct 2019 #1
Imagine a world without ham or bacon ! packman Oct 2019 #2
That image leaves out the pork tail, a staple of several ethnic cuisines. Eugene Oct 2019 #3
What's that old saying packman Oct 2019 #5
That's it. paleotn Oct 2019 #19
All parts of the pig are so good, we should have pig milk and pig butter too. spike jones Oct 2019 #4
Well, in my opinion, we shouldn't be using pigs as food. Coventina Oct 2019 #6
I agree!!!! Thanks! 40RatRod Oct 2019 #7
Just curious, are aware of how pigs became domesticated? Rural_Progressive Oct 2019 #15
Feral pigs are a human created problem. Coventina Oct 2019 #16
One more reason to go vegan. lagomorph777 Oct 2019 #17
Hear, hear! softydog88 Oct 2019 #18
Or kosher. Igel Oct 2019 #21
County of origin label Python boot Oct 2019 #8
'Congress removed the country of origin label'? crazytown Oct 2019 #9
I will not buy meat from Walmart because of this practise. efhmc Oct 2019 #10
This is very interesting: efhmc Oct 2019 #11
Any crisis is good Igel Oct 2019 #20
By that do you mean it is a good excuse or a good idea? efhmc Oct 2019 #22
Would it include Male chauvinist pigs? milestogo Oct 2019 #12
If it did then there are alot of Republicans that are in danger especially in the White House. nt cstanleytech Oct 2019 #14
Many diseases make the hop from swine to humans. roamer65 Oct 2019 #13
 

packman

(16,296 posts)
2. Imagine a world without ham or bacon !
Thu Oct 31, 2019, 11:19 AM
Oct 2019



Or ribs, or pork loin, or the ham-bone soup, or pork belly or hock flavoring with greens , or footballs. or sausage casings ---- God, I could go on like Bubba did with the shrimp.

My family , in the olden days, used to make the best pig's feet in their gelatin but now when I mention it to my wife, she thinks I'm nutty.

paleotn

(17,778 posts)
19. That's it.
Thu Oct 31, 2019, 05:52 PM
Oct 2019

When I was just out of college, at my first job, one of the older factory guys nearing retirement was fond of pig ear sandwiches and would bring them for lunch on occasion. Still makes me a bit squeamish.

Coventina

(26,846 posts)
6. Well, in my opinion, we shouldn't be using pigs as food.
Thu Oct 31, 2019, 11:45 AM
Oct 2019

I don't know what's required to make heparin, but if it's an abusive practice such as how premarin is made, I disapprove of that as well.

Rural_Progressive

(1,105 posts)
15. Just curious, are aware of how pigs became domesticated?
Thu Oct 31, 2019, 02:26 PM
Oct 2019

It's an interesting story, basically they decided to hang with humans so they could get forage through human refuse piles. Pretty much the deal became they got easy food and humans got to eat them.

Are you familiar with how many piglets a sow births in a litter and how often a sow has litters? One of the more destructive forces in a number of states are feral pigs. Their numbers have to be controlled, what do you think should be done with the carcasses?

I guess my point is, of all the animals humans use as food pigs are probably the best choice so why don't you think they should be used as food?

Coventina

(26,846 posts)
16. Feral pigs are a human created problem.
Thu Oct 31, 2019, 04:45 PM
Oct 2019

If humans were responsible, this wouldn't be happening.

Pragmatically, yes, it is probable that many feral pigs must be killed, but that is not an excuse to eat them.

I don't condone the eating of any animals by humans, I'm not putting pigs into a special category.

Python boot

(74 posts)
8. County of origin label
Thu Oct 31, 2019, 11:57 AM
Oct 2019

Congress removed the country of origin label (COOL) requirement for meats in the grocery store. Not cool! Smithfield Farms is now partially owned by China. Swine fever is rampant now in China.

efhmc

(14,709 posts)
11. This is very interesting:
Thu Oct 31, 2019, 12:05 PM
Oct 2019

"In China, previously they had a lot of backyard piggeries. They’re seeing this as an opportunity to take a big step forward and move to large scale commercial piggeries."

roamer65

(36,739 posts)
13. Many diseases make the hop from swine to humans.
Thu Oct 31, 2019, 01:04 PM
Oct 2019

Last edited Thu Oct 31, 2019, 02:51 PM - Edit history (3)

I wonder if this one will as well.

They say in the article it won’t, but I’d prefer to talk to an epidemiologist on that fact.

Eating pork contaminated by the virus turns a human into a recombinant DNA test tube. Will this virus be able to make the “hop”?

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