Kemin acquires patent application to control African swine fever in feed

Feed ingredient manufacturer Kemin Industries, based in Des Moines, Iowa, has acquired a U.S. patent application for a method to control the African swine fever virus (ASFv) in feed and feed ingredients using Sal CURB liquid antimicrobial – a pathogen control product manufactured by Kemin.

Data generated by Kansas State University and Megan Niederwerder in support of the patent application, "Mitigating the Risk of African Swine Fever Virus in Feed with Antiviral Chemical Additives," demonstrates that Sal CURB is an antimicrobial solution known to maintain the Salmonella-negative status of complete feeds and feed ingredients for up to 21 days, in addition to controlling mold. Sal CURB uses a blended solution of formaldehyde and propionic acid.

A research team including Scott Dee, director of research at Pipestone Veterinary Clinic, Niederwerder, and additional colleagues at Kansas State University, previously demonstrated that an array of viral pathogens could survive in feed ingredients under simulated transboundary shipping models. Among the pathogens examined in the study, ASFv was shown to remain stable and infective in a wide array of feed ingredients – posing a high threat to the global agriculture industry. Niederwerder's continuing research on ASFv was then able to home in on plausible means of infection via feed and water.

While feed is not the only transmission route for ASFv, the high number of animal exposures to this vector increases the likelihood of infection dramatically. African swine fever has been reported throughout China and in several other countries across Asia, Europe, and Africa. For more information, visit kemin.com/africanswinefever or kemin.com/salcurb.