SEROLOGICAL TESTING OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN PIG HERD FOR EVIDENCE OF EXPOSURE TO EXOTIC VIRUSES AND AFRICAN SWINE FEVER

摘要

South Africa has a small but well regulated pork industry, with annual slaughterings of approximately two million pigs, producing in excess of 125 000 tonnes of meat. Over 70% of this production finds its way into processed products which are normallyin balance with local consumption. Certain products, however, notably cured spare ribs but including small quantities of lard and frozen primal cuts, are regularly imported from various countries as illustrated in table 1. Because of the relatively small internal market for pork in SA--the annual per capita consumption is 3.6kg, small surpluses and shortages in production have a disproportionate effect on the producer price. The development of exports to remove surpluses would stabilize the market andstimulate expansion of the industry. In order to position itself to compete favourably in world markets, it is necessary for a country such as South Africa, situated at one end of a large continent and with thousands of kilometres of borders, to demonstrate an exceptional health status in its pig population.