A central Alberta pig farmer whose herd was quarantined after a number of animals tested positive with influenza A (H1N1), also known as swine flu, culled his entire herd, says Alberta Pork.
Arnold Van Ginkel, who owns a farm near Rocky Mountain House, made a “business decision to kill his pigs based on the fact the disease remains present in his herd,” said an Alberta Pork news release.
“I am disappointed that I have to cull these animals, but the presence of the H1N1 virus in my heard left me with few options,” said Van Ginkel in a release.
“With the quarantine still in place, I was facing another partial cull overcrowding and no prospects for marketing my animals once they were given a clean bill of health.
“The only real option left was to have a complete cull and end the uncertainty for my farm and for the entire pork industry.”
Alberta Pork says the farmer will apply for government financial assistance programs to make up for his loss.
