As producers, officials and scientists alike work to protect the U.S. hog herd from African swine fever (ASF), the import of feedstuffs has come under scrutiny as a possible vehicle for the virus’ spread.

Research has shown it’s possible for swine dis­­ease vir­­uses to survive in shipments of certain feed ingredients during transoceanic shipping to U.S. ports and even to inland feed manufacturing points.

“The science on viral transmission through feed and feedstuffs is still relatively young, but it has yielded some interesting and potentially useful information on...