Entire Alta. herd of 3,000 hogs culled due to swine flu

ROCKY MOUNTAIN HOUSE, Alta. — A central Alberta pig farmer whose herd was infected with the new swine flu virus has culled his entire herd.

Arnold Van Ginkel says in a news release that the virus is still present in his herd.

He says the animals can’t be marketed because they are under quarantine and he is facing a problem with overcrowding.

Federal and provincial animal health experts were on hand last week when about 3,000 animals were destroyed at the farm near Rocky Mountain House, Alta.

Van Ginkel had previously culled 500 animals from his herd, which is believed to have been infected by a worker who had been vacationing in Mexico.

The former resident of Holland says the decision to cull his herd was extremely stressful for his family, but he will now start over.

Alberta Pork, which speaks for the province’s hog producers, says Van Ginkel will apply for government assistance to aid his recovery.

[link to www.edmontonsun.com]