OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. — Beginning November 1, the practice of garbage or waste feeding will be
prohibited in Oklahoma after the passage of House Bill 2155.
“Garbage feeding increases the risk of foreign animal disease transmission to the swine industry,” said Dr. Rod
Hall, State Veterinarian. “Outdoor domestic swine generally do not have strong biosecurity or fencing. This
creates an increased risk for diseases to spread to the feral hog population as well.”
Many foreign animal diseases such as foot and mouth disease, African swine fever and classical swine fever
are known to be transmitted to live animals through contaminated meat and waste products. These diseases,
along with many others, present a constant threat—with African swine fever’s threat growing abroad.
“It would be detrimental for any foreign animal disease to enter the United States, but one step worse would be
for the diseases to become established in the feral hog population,” said Dr. Hall. “Our goal is to mitigate those
risks as much as possible and House Bill 2155 will do so without impacting producers.”
Prohibiting this practice will not be a wide-spread change for the industry; there is only one herd currently
licensed in the state. After November 1, Oklahoma will become the 24th state to prohibit garbage feeding to
swine.
For states that approve of food waste feeding to swine, the Swine Health Protection Act, within the federal code
of regulations, is intended to protect the commerce, health and welfare of the people of the U.S. by ensuring
food waste fed to swine does not contain active disease organisms that pose a risk to domestic swine.
For questions, please contact the state veterinarian’s office at 405-522-0270.