A farrow-to-finish hog barn in Perth County has been hit by
an outbreak of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea virus.
It’s the 63rd case in Ontario since the virus was
first identified on a farm in Middlesex County in late January.
It’s also the first case in Ontario since June 13.
The virus can’t tolerate warm temperatures, so it was
thought that the spread would decline sharply, if not stop, during the summer.
It spread much faster and further during the cold winter.
In the United States, where the outbreaks began last year,
hog-industry analysts blame it for reducing hog slaughter by about seven per
cent.
Hog prices are at record highs and corn, which is the
biggest cost of production, is in a steep price decline.
