European Hog News:

[Mustang Sally Farm]

Friday, July 29, 2011
Secret Film Claims Cruelty to Pigs in Abattoir
UK - Animal rights group, Animal Aid has released film footage it claims was shot secretly a pig slaughterhouse in Essex and that the group says shows severe animal cruelty.


The film, which Animal Aid says was recorded on a number of secretly installed cameras over a period of four days at Elmkirk Ltd (Cheale Meats), an Essex-based, family-run slaughterhouse – shows three different workers stubbing their cigarettes out on the faces of pigs, while one of the men landed a violent punch on the face of a pig who was walking by.

Animal Aid says that in addition, three seriously injured pigs were forced to crawl from the lairage, through the race and into the stun pen.

Animal Aid said it also filmed bad practice in the stunning process causing suffering to the pigs and it says there was also incorrect use of electric goads.

Animal Aid said that Cheale Meats is the ninth UK slaughterhouse to be secretly filmed by them in the past two-and-a-half years.

Animal Aid added that it sent the Cheale Meats evidence to the Food Standards Agency (FSA). It says it recevied a reply saying that: "Defra is not prepared to commence prosecution proceedings where the initial allegation is based on CCTV footage gained without the consent of the relevant Food Business Operator."

Kate Fowler, Head of Campaigns at Animal Aid says: "Since we first began investigating English slaughterhouses, we have been pressing everyone involved – regulators, industry bodies and the government – to act decisively to end the cruelty.

"At first, they appeared contrite and promised action but now their words ring hollow.

"If Defra won’t prosecute these flagrant breaches of the law; if the vets can’t or won’t act to stop the cruelties; and if the slaughterhouse owners look the other way, who is there to stop animals from being abused at the most vulnerable time of their lives? It seems that all involved are content to keep quiet and to allow these cruelties to continue. So much for the UK having the best welfare standards in the world!"

A statement from the solicitor for Cheale Meats, Jamie Foster, a Partner at Clarke Willmott LLP, said: "I am currently reviewing and taking instructions from my clients in relation to video footage provided by Animal Aid. Given the source of this material, Elmkirk would not accept that all or any of the activities shown on this video relate to their premises.

"Elmkirk Ltd have had CCTV installed for a decade. I am therefore surprised that Animal Aid felt it necessary to target our client's premises as we understood that the stated purpose of their activities was to encourage abattoirs in this Country to install CCTV.

"Clearly any footage which relates to our clients premises has been obtained unlawfully. I have been involved in cases previously where such evidence has been ruled to be inadmissible or the Prosecution has declined to rely on evidence which has been obtained by burglary or other unlawful means.

"A complaint has been made to Essex Police by our clients in relation to any unlawful entry into our client's premises by an employee of Animal Aid. The outcome of that complaint is awaited."

[Mustang Sally Farm]

Outdoor Bred Pig Meat Upgrades Sausages
UK - Snowbird Foods is re-launching its top selling Gourmet range of sausages exclusively using outdoor-bred, single-source pig meat to guarantee high quality, absolute consistency and total traceability.




Managing director Philip Paul watches the first run of Snowbird's new Traditional Lincolnshire Gourmet Sausage as it goes through the production process.It is the first time such a scheme has been undertaken in the UK by a manufacturer of fully cooked and frozen sausages and the London-based company, part of the VION Food Group, has teamed up with leading pig farmers to deliver a major improvement to the quality of its award winning products.

A specific breed of pig raised on Red Tractor Farm Assured holdings has been selected for this unique operation because it delivers high meat yield, improved quality, total traceability, absolute consistency - and just the right amount of fat to enable Snowbird to make the perfect sausage.

The company has also upgraded its specification to require a significantly greater quantity of shoulder meat in the recipe.

"As sector leader in the market for fully cooked and frozen sausages, we are really excited by this move to embrace the whole food chain, with pig farmers more deeply involved in the whole process of making higher quality sausages and customers welcoming the move," said Snowbird managing director, Philip Paul.

"We have worked for years to deliver the quality of products our customers want so it was a natural extension of this work to involve suppliers and they are excited to have the opportunity to be involved as our quality partners," he added.

Welcoming this move, BPEX Foodservice trade sector manager, Tony Goodger, said: "more and more foodservice businesses are looking to buy pork and pork products that come from assured pigs. By purchasing assured pork products caterers can be confident that the meat used has come from pigs that have been sourced from independently audited farms that meet high animal welfare conditions and offer the reassurance of full traceability."

To celebrate the launch, Snowbird has developed a Traditional Lincolnshire recipe as the new flagship product for its award-winning Gourmet range of sausages which is available exclusively to caterers and ready meal manufacturers. Cumberland, Pork, Pork & Leek, Olde English Pork, Pork & Mustard, Pork and Ale and other recipes are also available.

With a meat content in excess of 75 per cent, the Traditional Lincolnshire Gourmet Sausages have an exciting blend of herbs and spices which include sage, parsley and ground white pepper and are in natural casings.

Fully cooked to a golden brown and frozen at the factory stage, they are ready to heat (or simply defrost) from frozen and meet all Food Standards Authority 2012 requirements for low fat and low salt. Snowbird Gourmet sausages are available in weights from 12.5g to upwards of 150g. The standard link is 60g.

[Mustang Sally Farm]

Wednesday, August 10, 2011
EU Pig Prices: House Prices Made Again in Germany
EU - Currently, the individual EU member countries’ slaughter pig markets appear in varying ways. The quotations indeed remained on a constant level in a number of EU countries.
 

The slaughter pig supply is reported to be of quite some size but is nonetheless demanded swiftly by the slaughter companies in many countries.

In Denmark the quotation went into reverse, quoting minus 3 cents for this week, after an eight weeks’ period of constant prices. A 1 cent minus was reported from Great Britain, and the Swedish corrected price went down by 1.5 cents as a result of changes in the exchange rate. It is true that the price given by the producers’ association for livestock and meat went up by 2 cents in Germany. But the slaughter companies responded to that with significant resistance. On Friday afternoon already, Toennies and other major slaughter companies announced that they would not take part in this increase. Instead, they plan to pay a house price only of EUR 1.53 per kg this week. It needs to be noted that this week Westfleisch is not going to pay a house price, just as they did three weeks ago.

Trend for the German market: Although the slaughter companies pursue a policy of making house prices, the usual quantities on offer can be placed smoothly. It remains to be seen for the week ahead which one will prevail: the positive market assessment made by the producers or the massive blockage performed by the slaughter companies. From today’s point of view, everything seems possible. In any case it needs to be stated that the current price level is a ruinous one for both the piglet producers and the pig feeders.

Week D NL DK B F PL CZ IT ESP AUT GB SWE IR
Week 24 1.506 € 1.455 € 1.516 € 1.495 € 1.493 € 1.500 € 1.580 € 1.601 € 1.683 € 1.407 € 1.726 € 1.034 € 1.401 €
Week 25 1.506 € 1.455 € 1.515 € 1.482 € 1.485 € 1.528 € 1.568 € 1.639 € 1.683 € 1.407 € 1.700 € 1.026 € 1.401 €
Week 26 1.506 € 1.455 € 1.516 € 1.482 € 1.479 € 1.552 € 1.578 € 1.671 € 1.683 € 1.407 € 1.667 € 1.079 € 1.401 €
Week 27 1.506 € 1.465 € 1.516 € 1.482 € 1.478 € 1.519 € 1.564 € 1.671 € 1.683 € 1.407 € 1.637 € 1.085 € 1.401 €
Week 28 1.546 € 1.475 € 1.516 € 1.519 € 1.482 € 1.518 € 1.563 € 1.677 € 1.683 € 1.448 € 1.659 € 1.091 € 1.401 €
Week 29 1.546 € 1.455 € 1.516 € 1.507 € 1.493 € 1.503 € 1.611 € 1.690 € 1.683 € 1.448 € 1.666 € 1.075 € 1.401 €
Week 30 1.476 € 1.417 € 1.516 € 1.445 € 1.493 € 1.488 € - € 1.700 € 1.683 € 1.417 € 1.620 € 1.091 € 1.401 €
Week 31 1.476 € 1.408 € 1.517 € 1.445 € 1.499 €     1.706 € 1.683 € 1.417 € 1.605 € 1.092 € 1.401 €
Week 32 1.496 € 1.408 € 1.490 € 1.445 € 1.500 €     1.696 € 1.683 € 1.417 € 1.594 € 1.076 € 1.401 €

[Mustang Sally Farm]

Vision for Future of the UK Pig Industry
UK - BPEX has just produced a new health and welfare strategy with support from across the industry and launched by Chief Veterinary Officer at a press conference in London yesterday, 24 August.
 

Improved pig health and welfare could easily be worth as much as £25 million a year to the British industry.

An extra 50g weight gain per day as a result of improved health would return between £2 and £3.50 per pig – between £15 and £25 million a year.

BPEX has just produced a new health and welfare strategy with support from across the industry and launched by Chief Veterinary Officer Nigel Gibbens.

20:20 Pig Health and Welfare builds on the success of the first strategy launched at the end of 2003.

One of the key elements is the Pig Health Improvement Project (PHIP). The national Stage 1 is underway and in addition there will be pilot projects with groups of producers across the country. It aims to change completely the way endemic pig diseases are managed, mitigated and controlled across the country.

This will require a radical change in the mindset of all involved – from a rather singular, self-contained approach to a far more inclusive, co-ordinated and collaborative one.

BPEX Chairman, Stewart Houston, said: "Improving the health and welfare of pigs is of paramount importance to all of those involved in the industry in England.

"It affects our cost of production, our ability to compete in a highly competitive EU market, our impact on the environment, the safety of the food we produce, our responsibility to the animals in our care, our reputation as a producer of high welfare pork, bacon, ham and other pork products and ultimately our ability to produce a secure supply of food in an increasingly volatile world.

"Despite the progress we have already made we remain behind many of our immediate competitors on key measures of efficiency. Improving pig health is key to closing this competitiveness gap," said Mr Houston.

The key elements of the strategy are:

Support pig producers in delivering their objectives for continual improvements in pig health and pig welfare
Eliminate or control significant enzootic pig diseases locally, regionally and nationally
Eliminate or control significant infections of food safety and public health concern (eg Salmonella)
Develop and promote new knowledge on the assessment of welfare outcomes
Promote the open exchange of information on the disease status for herds and regions
Promote and encourage responsible and appropriate use of antimicrobials
Maintain freedom from notifiable exotic and emerging diseases of pigs
Deliver an integrated approach to improving pig health and welfare with all stakeholders, allied support industries, retailers, foodservice and Government.
BPEX Interim Head of Research and Development, Derek Armstrong, said: "The really encouraging part is that there are a lot of organisations committed to working together to deliver a coherent vision of health and welfare."

[Mustang Sally Farm]

Thursday, August 25, 2011
Vision for Future of the UK Pig Industry
UK - BPEX has just produced a new health and welfare strategy with support from across the industry and launched by Chief Veterinary Officer at a press conference in London yesterday, 24 August.
 

Improved pig health and welfare could easily be worth as much as £25 million a year to the British industry.

An extra 50g weight gain per day as a result of improved health would return between £2 and £3.50 per pig – between £15 and £25 million a year.

BPEX has just produced a new health and welfare strategy with support from across the industry. It was launched by Chief Veterinary Officer, Nigel Gibbens.

20:20 Pig Health and Welfare builds on the success of the first strategy launched at the end of 2003.

One of the key elements is the Pig Health Improvement Project (PHIP). The national Stage 1 is underway and in addition there will be pilot projects with groups of producers across the country. It aims to change completely the way endemic pig diseases are managed, mitigated and controlled across the country.

This will require a radical change in the mindset of all involved – from a rather singular, self-contained approach to a far more inclusive, co-ordinated and collaborative one.

BPEX Chairman, Stewart Houston, said: "Improving the health and welfare of pigs is of paramount importance to all of those involved in the industry in England.

"It affects our cost of production, our ability to compete in a highly competitive EU market, our impact on the environment, the safety of the food we produce, our responsibility to the animals in our care, our reputation as a producer of high welfare pork, bacon, ham and other pork products and ultimately our ability to produce a secure supply of food in an increasingly volatile world.

"Despite the progress we have already made we remain behind many of our immediate competitors on key measures of efficiency. Improving pig health is key to closing this competitiveness gap," said Mr Houston.

The key elements of the strategy are:

Support pig producers in delivering their objectives for continual improvements in pig health and pig welfare
Eliminate or control significant enzootic pig diseases locally, regionally and nationally
Eliminate or control significant infections of food safety and public health concern (eg Salmonella)
Develop and promote new knowledge on the assessment of welfare outcomes
Promote the open exchange of information on the disease status for herds and regions
Promote and encourage responsible and appropriate use of antimicrobials
Maintain freedom from notifiable exotic and emerging diseases of pigs
Deliver an integrated approach to improving pig health and welfare with all stakeholders, allied support industries, retailers, foodservice and Government.
BPEX Interim Head of Research and Development, Derek Armstrong, said: "The really encouraging part is that there are a lot of organisations committed to working together to deliver a coherent vision of health and welfare."

[Mustang Sally Farm]

Pork Roast Sales up 40 Per Cent
UK - Supermarket chain, Morrisions, reports a near 40 per cent increase in sales of pork roasts in the past year.


Savvy British shoppers are increasingly turning to pork joints as a cheaper red meat roast alternative in a bid to try and save the pennies.

Figures from Morrisons have revealed a 39 per cent increase in the volume of sales of fresh pork joints compared to last year, with beef and lamb experiencing slower growth at just four per cent.

And the supermarket's policy of using only British pigs for its fresh pork joints means the rise is also good news for the British farming industry.

The rise in sales can be attributed to the big difference in price between the meats. The average cost of a pork joint in store during Q2 of this year (May to July) was just £3.61 compared to beef at £7.02 and lamb at £7.52.

Richard Hodgson, Group Commercial Director at Morrisons, said: "We are noticing more and more customers approaching our specialist butchers in store and asking them the best way to feed their families on a budget.

"Customers are sticking increasingly cooking roast dinners from scratch and our pork joints are proving to be the affordable favourite."

Louise Welsh, Agriculture Manager, said: "More of our customers are turning to these easy to cook pork joints for mealtimes and it is no surprise because pork offers everything our customers are looking for – a good quality, nutritious meal which offers value for money.

"This boost in sales is good news for our British pig farmers too. We're now buying over a million pigs a year from British farmers and only sell 100 per cent fresh British pork in our stores."

[Mustang Sally Farm]

Friday, September 23, 2011
ACMC Tip: Lighten Up for Breeding Sows
UK - The significance of light for maintaining pregnancy is well recognised, says Paul Thompson, veterinary consultant to pig-breeding company ACMC Ltd.
 

He points out that it is also important to ensure the weaned sow and service area is well lit, i.e. to an intensity of at least 200 lux and on a 16-hour light, 8-hour dark pattern.

Furthermore, good lighting in these areas highlights hygiene issues and aids heat detection.

It must be remembered that insufficient light can contribute to delayed returns to service.

[Mustang Sally Farm]

Thursday, November 03, 2011
Recipe for Success in Pig Industry
UK - Communication, communication, communication – that is where the future success of the pig industry lies, according to the winner of this year's David Black Award, Paul Toplis.
 

Paul Toplis is Technical Director of Primary Diets, a division of AB Agri Ltd, and has spent his working life in the feed business. He cited three key elements as examples for a successful and sustainable pig industry, research, salmonella and antimicrobial resistance. He believes all three should be tackled by the whole industry working better together.



Paul Toplis,
winner of this year's David Black AwardHe was presented with his award by Food and Farming Minister, Jim Paice, at an industry breakfast at the House of Lords yesterday, 2 November.

He said: "All of these need to be tackled on an industry-wide basis. For example, with salmonella, the industry already spends considerable sums to control salmonella. Now every part of the chain is being asked to spend more to reduce salmonella with no account of their relative effectiveness. This will increase some costs unnecessarily.

"The whole industry should get together, look at the whole chain, then target the spend where the greatest progress can be made rather than seeking expensive cuts across the board.

"The question of whether traces of antibiotics in feed contribute to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a controversial one and there probably isn't a simple answer but we must be guided by the very best science available.

"That may well end up saying there's no (AMR) problem with the majority of in-feed antimicrobials but we're not so sure about these few. With co-operation across the EU, I'm sure science and sense will prevail.

"Finally, there is a huge amount of research going on but I feel it has become diluted and less effective. There could be greater co-ordination and concentration which would benefit the whole industry."

Paul Toplis said he feels his main role is Knowledge Transfer by both getting research quickly into farm diets and through frequent farmer talks and farm visits.

He said: "I started work on experimental farms with RHM in Dorset and at that time relationships with academia were poor. However, I could see so much lost potential so I went banging on the door, then started building bridges. Gradually a really good relationship was built up."

Of the award itself, Paul Toplis said he was extremely honoured: "I do feel this is much more a recognition of my role than of me as an individual because of the KT role."

BPEX Director, Mick Sloyan who chaired the judges, said: "Paul has worked tirelessly with modesty and enthusiasm to help pig producers.

"Through working in a quiet and determined way across the whole spectrum of the industry, including farmers, feed suppliers and vets, he has made a significant contribution to the industry over many years."

[Mustang Sally Farm]

Wednesday, November 09, 2011
CCTV Encouraged in Slaughterhouses
UK - The British Food Standards Agency is to encourage slaughterhouses to use CCTV to monitor animal welfare in their plants.


A paper to be presented to the FSA Board next week encourages CCTV as part of a range of safeguards to ensure the highest standards of animal welfare.

The FSA says it continues to work with businesses and meat industry representatives to encourage voluntary installation of CCTV as best practice.

In addition, the FSA is currently gathering a body of evidence from a range of sources, including those businesses that already use CCTV, to determine the benefits of CCTV.

The FSA said that it is encouraged though that the number of businesses with CCTV in place for animal welfare has more than doubled since June 2010.

In June 2010, about seven per cent of slaughterhouses had CCTV installed for monitoring animal welfare in the stunning/slaughter area, with eight per cent having CCTV in place for monitoring animal welfare in other areas.

This accounted for 13 per cent of cattle, 16 per cent of sheep, 42 per cent of pigs and 40 per cent of poultry processed during the period April to June 2010.

In September 2011, the FSA gathered information on the further uptake of CCTV has changed since June 2010. The number of establishments with CCTV in place for animal welfare has more than doubled.

There are now 19 per cent of red meat slaughterhouses with CCTV in place to monitor animal welfare. These account for around 48 per cent of red meat volume over the period July 2010 to July 2011, and 29 per cent of white meat slaughterhouses. These account for 59 per cent of poultry volume in the same period.

These increases have been driven in part by individual businesses and in part by the major retailers, both independently and through their assurance schemes. Asda, Morrisons, J Sainsbury, Tesco, Marks & Spencer, Iceland, The Co-operative and Waitrose all now require CCTV monitoring of animals at slaughter throughout their supply chains.

In the report to be discussed next week, the FSA says: "Businesses who have CCTV in place are keen to demonstrate to our officials the highest standards to which their operatives work and have not provided any resistance to FSA officials viewing footage when requested.

"This is evidenced by the visits which senior FSA officials have recently undertaken in order to gather evidence for this paper. At each establishment with CCTV, access to footage was provided and monitoring systems demonstrated."

The FSA said it would consider that, where CCTV is in place for monitoring animal welfare, certain simple best practice guidelines should be followed.

These include:

CCTV should be monitored on a daily basis both by FSA OVs and the business. Where this is not happening, we are reminding OVs and businesses to do this;
Daily checks should be undertaken on a regular basis, but at different times, and should be part of the OV's ongoing checks of business compliance. Similarly, the business' checks should be part of their own internal verification procedures;
Checks should be at a frequency associated with the potential risk of non-compliance for each particular practice undertaken; for example, gas killing of poultry has less potential for adverse practices than group stunning of pigs or lambs;
Checks should also be risk based on the known compliance of the business with welfare legislation and recognised best practices;
Where monitoring of CCTV footage by FSA regulatory officials indicates potential evidence for enforcement action, that footage should be retained for a sufficient period from the date it was taken to enable proper investigation and, if appropriate, enforcement action to be taken;
CCTV footage should be made available to officials in the course of enforcement.
CCTV footage should be used for the training of new slaughtermen, and
CCTV footage should be used in the training of new OVs and Meat Hygiene Inspectors.

[Mustang Sally Farm]

Wednesday, November 16, 2011
IKEA Netherlands Stops Meat from Castrated Pigs
NETHERLANDS - Eurogroup has been recently confirmed that IKEA Netherlands decided to completely remove castration in their pig supply chain.


This decision will apply to products which are purchased in the Netherlands. Eurogroup applauds the initiative.

"This is great news, and we urge other food retailers across Europe to follow the example," said Sonja Van Tichelen, Director of Eurogroup.

[Mustang Sally Farm]

Monday, November 21, 2011
Pig Farmers Not Benefiting from Rising Market
IRELAND - The Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) says that Irish pig farmers are not benefitting despite the rise in pig market prices and strength in exports.


IFA National Pigs and pig meat Committee Chairman Tim Cullinan said, "We are calling on Enterprise Ireland to relook at the structure of the pig meat sector and we are seeking an urgent meeting with Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Richard Bruton Minister as it appears that only for the campaigns run by IFA such as the DNA traceability, processors would be unable to secure or maintain markets at home. If they cannot make a profit when demand on the export markets is so strong, we, pig producers, have to be concerned about what the future holds for the industry.


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*
"The industry is in serious trouble and producers are questioning the ability of those in the processing sector to sufficiently capitalise on positive market conditions." 
IFA National Pigs and Pigmeat Committee Chairman Tim Cullinan
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
"Pig prices have risen considerably since the start of October in almost all major pig producing countries except Ireland. German and Dutch prices increased by 10c/kg and Danish prices have increased by 7c/kg. These countries are exporting to the same markets as Irish factories but they are managing to return a price increase to their suppliers. While EU prices have been going up, Irish prices from some factories have dropped by 4c/kg.

"Producers are at a loss to understand why prices are not increasing considering the strong exports, falling EU supplies and the fact that pig meat retail volume and value year on year has increased on the home market. The IFA National Pigs and pig meat Committee has worked tirelessly to secure market share for Irish Quality Assured Meat and this campaign has been very successful. Farmers have gone as far as introducing a DNA traceability programme to ensure that the consumer is not being misled as to the origin of their meat. Despite all this, pig producers continue to lose money.

"50 per cent of the processing is now in the hands of one company and this one company is holding all the cards with access to all the best markets. Processors have told us that they are passing back all that they can. If this is the case, the industry is in serious trouble and producers are questioning the ability of those in the processing sector to sufficiently capitalise on positive market conditions.

"Pig prices must rise this week to show producers that the factories are serious about protecting the industry."

[Mustang Sally Farm]

Friday, December 16, 2011
Pig Prices Move Closer to Production Cost
FRANCE - French pig prices are moving closer to cost of production after increases in recent weeks, according to the French Pig Producers Federation.

Producer prices have risen at a time of year typically not very favorable for pork, said the Federation Nationale Porcine.

Prices have been insufficient to cover costs since feed expenses started rising in the summer of 2010.

"The economy remains precarious for the producers whose treasuries have been depleted by successive crises," said the federation.

"That's why the producers will be vigilant in coming weeks about the evolution of pork prices and the attitude of industry operators."

[Mustang Sally Farm]

United Kingdom Pig Meat Market Update – December 2011
Unusual pig meat price movements have occurred in both the UK and EU this year, according to Stephen Howarth, Senior Analyst (Pigs), AHDB Market Intelligence, in his latest explanation of the UK and EU trends. In the UK, prices are up on last year and feed prices are down although the UK pig reference price premium over the EU average has narrowed. The overall stability in the EU average pig reference price, which has been apparent since May, continued through the first half of October, over a period when a peak and then decline form the usual pattern.
 

UK Prices
The monthly average DAPP for October was little changed from September at 145.52p per kg deadweight (dw). After falling seasonally, prices stabilised in the first half of October, significantly earlier than in recent years, before rising later in the month and into early November. As a result, the October price was nearly seven pence higher than in October 2010. The recent rise has taken the DAPP to 147.48p per kg in week ended 19 November, more than 11 pence higher than the same week last year. The price increase has come despite supplies remaining relatively high. Robust demand in anticipation of a positive Christmas market, strong export demand and high EU prices have all played a part in driving prices higher.

The premium for the UK pig reference price compared with the EU average has remained at about 6p per kg since early September. This is much lower than the premium seen for much of the last two years, which averaged around 16p per kg, although it is higher than it was during the spring, when UK prices were briefly lower than the EU average.






Carcass weights of pigs in the DAPP sample decreased slightly in October, against the normal seasonal trend. The average weight through the month was 79.3kg. This is less than one per cent below the September average but is one per cent lower than in October 2010. Carcass weights have remained slightly above 79kg during November, around 1kg lower than a year earlier.

Weaner prices have also begun to strengthen, having hit a low point of around £40 per head in mid-October. The average price for the month was £40.31 per head, marginally below the September average but prices have since increased, reaching £42.17 by week ended 19 November. This is virtually the same as a year earlier, when prices were falling. Recent reductions in the price of feed have meant that demand from finishers has increased.

Cull sow prices continued on the upward trend seen since June. This is mainly due to strong export demand as supplies are tight on the continent, whilst demand from manufacturers is high. The average price during October was 108p per kg, two pence higher than in September and eight pence higher than a year earlier. The price rise accelerated into November, reaching 115p per kg by week ended 19 November, the highest figure for more than two years. This comes as there are reports of increasing demand from UK processors, given the lower cost of sow meat at a time when consumers are price-conscious.

EU Prices and Exchange Rates
The general stability in the EU average pig reference price, which has been apparent since May, continued through the first half of October. This is a very different trend to that seen in recent years, where prices have normally peaked in the summer before falling back rapidly during the autumn. By the end of October, prices are typically 12 per cent lower than in mid August; this year, they had fallen by less than one per cent. Although supplies have been tighter in some Member States, the higher price is largely driven by export demand from non-EU markets, particularly in the Far East. The October average EU price stood at €156 per 100kg dw. This is around €19 higher than in October 2010. From late October, prices began to ease higher, at a time of year when they are normally still falling. By week ended 20 November, they had risen above €160 per 100kg.

Economic uncertainty has led to fluctuations in the exchange rate between the pound and the euro. However, the net result has been little change in the rate, which has remained close to €1.14 for much of the year. During November, the euro has weakened as a result of the sovereign debt crisis, and the exchange rate reached close to €1.17 by mid month.

UK Slaughterings and Pig Meat Supplies
Clean pig slaughterings in the UK totalled 994,000 head in October 2011. This was six per cent higher than in October 2010. Throughputs were higher across all parts of the UK, but the largest rise was in Scotland, where 68,000 pigs were slaughtered, 19 per cent more than in the same month last year. Northern Ireland recorded more modest growth, up just one per cent to 159,000 head.

AHDB estimates for October are that sow slaughterings remained above year earlier levels, totalling 24,000 head, a rise of 10 per cent year on year. High prices are still encouraging producers to replace less productive sows. This brings the estimated slaughterings for the year to date to 203,000 head, 14 per cent higher than during the first 10 months of last year.

Continuing the pattern of most recent months, the average clean pig carcass weight during October was slightly lower than a year earlier. The October average was 78.2kg, which was 1.2kg lower than in the same month last year. The average carcass weight for cull sows was 154.8kg in October.

Total pig meat production in October was 82,000 tonnes, up four per cent compared with the same month last year. This brought the total pig meat production for the year to 677,000 tonnes, six per cent higher than during the same months of 2010. With carcass weights slightly down on last year, this rise was driven by increased throughputs, with clean pig slaughterings for the year totalling 8.2 million head, also six per cent higher than last year.






UK imports of fresh and frozen pork during September 2011 totalled 30,000 tonnes. This was eight per cent lower than in September 2010. The five largest suppliers shipped lower amounts than a year earlier, with the biggest fall being in imports from Belgium, which were down by 39 per cent. This was partly offset by increased volumes from France, Spain and Italy. Shipments of bone-in hams were higher than a year earlier but most other fresh pork cuts were imported in lower quantities. There was an increase in frozen shipments, although they only accounted for 17 per cent of the total.

Once again, bacon imports in September were slightly lower than a year earlier, although the difference was only one per cent. A fall in shipments from the two largest suppliers, Denmark and the Netherlands, was largely offset by increased volumes from Germany and smaller suppliers such as France and Ireland. In contrast, imports of sausages were up by 38 per cent, largely due to a massive increase in imports from Ireland, which more than trebled compared to September 2010. France and Spain also shipped much higher volumes.

Despite September’s fall, imports of fresh and frozen pork for the first nine months of the year were five per cent higher than in the same months of 2010. The growth has been driven by shipments from Denmark, up by 28 per cent. Germany and Ireland also recorded increased imports but the Netherlands and Belgium shipped lower volumes. In contrast, bacon imports were down by 13 per cent year on year, with all major suppliers experiencing reduced shipments. Given that bacon consumption remains strong, this suggests that more imported pork is being cured in the UK.

Exports of fresh and frozen pork from the UK in September were nine per cent higher than in September 2010 at 14,000 tonnes, the second highest monthly total on record. As in most recent months, growth in exports to Hong Kong/China was a significant factor. However, there was also significant growth in volumes sent to some EU Member States, including Belgium, Denmark, France and Cyprus. In contrast, Ireland and the Netherlands took less British pork, whilst shipments to Germany were virtually unchanged compared to September 2010.

Pork exports for the first nine months of the year were up 17 per cent on the same period last year, totalling 108,000 tonnes. Germany remained the largest market, with shipments being four per cent higher than year earlier levels. Volume growth was seen in most significant markets, with only Ireland, the Netherlands and Italy taking less British pork.

Feed Prices
LIFFE wheat prices for May 2012 delivery have fallen over recent weeks as the markets react to uncertainty over the economic situation in the Eurozone. On 22 November, the price stood at £146 per tonne, down £9 per tonne since the end of October. French wheat prices have also declined over this period dropping €8 per tonne to €175 per tonne on 21 November.

The first supply and demand estimates for 2011-12 have been published by DEFRA. Feed usage of wheat is expected to increase five per cent year on year to 6.45 million tonnes. This offsets a projected decline in human and industrial usage, four per cent lower than 2010-11 at 6.91 million tonnes. Increased usage of wheat rather than barley in feed, due to price differentials, is a key reason behind this.

The Early Bird Survey produced by Andersons on behalf of HGCA/AHDB suggests that the 2012 wheat area will be unchanged at 1.97 million hectares. Increases are forecast in winter barley (up five per cent), oilseed rape (up seven per cent) and oats (up six per cent). Spring barley (down six per cent), pulses (down 22 per cent) and arable fallow (down 12 per cent) areas are predicted to reduce.

Strategie Grains has estimated that European wheat plantings for harvest in 2012 will be one per cent higher year on year at 23.2 million hectares. Wheat production is forecast at 135 million tonnes, four per cent above 2011 levels as yields are expected to increase. Barley plantings are expected to be lower at 4.55 million hectares, but higher yields could mean that production will still be higher.

The 2011 Russian grain harvest yielded 92 million tonnes clean weight, up from 61 million tonnes in the drought-hit 2010 season but less than 2009 levels. Ukraine’s grain harvest has reached 54.1 million tonnes compared with 41.2 million tonnes in 2010. A higher maize crop is responsible for the increase; at 22 million tonnes, it is double the 2010 harvest.

The USDA November forecasts put 2011/12 global wheat production 2.1 million tonnes higher than previously at 683.3 million tonnes with increases recorded in the EU and Kazakhstan. Global demand is forecast at 676.8 million tonnes, up 2.4 million tonnes in 2011/12 as feed demand increases.

Global maize production is forecast to reduce by 1.1 million tonnes in 2011/12 to 860 million tonnes as the US crop is expected to be lower. However, demand for maize in the US is forecast to reduce by 2.5 million tonnes due entirely to lower feed demand. High prices relative to wheat are anticipated to discourage demand for maize. For oilseeds, global soybean production in 2011/12 is forecast at 258.9 million tonnes, down marginally from October’s estimates.

UK FEMAS soyameal prices, ex-mill Liverpool, were quoted in week ended 19 November at £288 per tonne, down £1 per tonne on the previous week, and almost £20 per tonne lower than at the start of the month. Rapeseed meal prices increased £2 per tonne to average £155 per tonne for ex-mill Erith. However this was £5 per tonne lower than the levels at the end of October.


With prices for most components of pig feed falling, the average cost of production has begun to fall. Average costs in November are estimated to be about 3p per kg below those in October, with a further fall of 2p expected in December. Nevertheless, the November figure remains around 10p per kg below the DAPP, equivalent to a loss of around £8 per pig. The recent falls in feed prices could improve the situation but further falls will be needed for producers to return to a profitable situation.

Consumption
 In the 12 weeks to 30 October 2011, the amount of fresh and pork purchased was up two per cent compared to the same period last year, while expenditure increased by seven per cent due to increased average prices. A major driver of the overall rise was increased purchases of loin roasting joints, up 41 per cent, driven by increased promotional activity. Other roasting joints sold in lower quantities due to fewer price promotions than a year ago. Purchases of pork belly were up by six per cent but households bought four per cent fewer loin steaks.

In the latest four-week period, households purchased eight per cent more fresh and frozen pork than a year earlier. Slightly higher prices meant expenditure was 10 per cent higher. Pork took market share from all other major meats, as overall purchases of meat were three per cent lower on the year. Sales of most cuts increased, with loin and shoulder roasting joints leading the way, with volumes up by 86 per cent and 23 per cent respectively. Purchases of pork belly were 15 per cent higher, whilst nine per cent more chops were sold. In contrast, purchases of frying steaks were down by eight per cent, whilst those of leg roasting joints were little changed.

In the latest four-week period, three per cent less bacon was purchased than a year earlier, although spending on bacon was slightly up as prices rose by four per cent. However, over the last 12 weeks, household purchases were still one per cent higher than a year earlier. Most processed pig meat products also recorded increased purchases in the last 12 weeks, with sausages up by four per cent and sliced cooked meats up by six per cent.



Trends in retail meat purchases (period ended 30 October 2011)


December 2011

[Mustang Sally Farm]

BPEX Export Bulletin – December 2011 – Week 50
The British Pig Executive's (BPEX) Export Bulletin reports pig industry trends from around the world. Among the highlights are that the UK Government is to launch a food and drink export action plan in January, which is to include a strategy to remove animal health trade barriers in key markets such as China and Russia. Regulations on imports to South Africa of pork originating from non PRRS-free countries have been issued.
 

In his Autumn statement, the Chancellor announced that the Government will launch a food and drink export action plan in January 2012, including development of a cross-Government strategy on removing animal health trade barriers in key markets such as China and Russia; regional road-shows for prospective exporters; a food and drink business ambassador; and steps to reduce blockages to UK food exports. In addition a summit will be held in March 2012 to boost innovation in small agri-food businesses.

The much-delayed regulations on imports to South Africa of pork originating from non PRRS-free countries were issued on 5 December. The 22-page document is available from the export office. All such imports will be subjected to further processing. No date for implementation has been given but the EU and Canada plan to protest to the South African authorities prior to lodging a complaint to WTO as PRRS is not a notifiable disease under OIE rules. [For more information on PRRS, click here].

Heard at a meat conference at the National Veterinary School at Maisons-Alfort near Paris: ‘Meat and bone meal was initially used in Germany in the 1830s and it is about time that we stop making pigs vegetarian.’

EU
New research programme on castration
The EU has committed €1.8 million in new research programmes regarding castration.
(Source, Agrarisch Dagblad)

Denmark
Market
On the European market, fresh legs are sold at unchanged or slightly decreasing prices. Other cuts are sold steadily at an unchanged price level. On the British bacon market, the situation remains unchanged compared to the latest weeks. Exports to third countries remain unchanged.
(Sources, Danish Crown, Tican, Danish Agriculture and Food Council)

New positive forecast
Expectations as to Danish pig prices for 2012 are strongly increasing. Danish Agriculture and Food Council predicts that the pig quote for all 2012 will end at €1.426 per kg compared to €1.400 at the latest forecast for pig prices in September. Hereby Danish Agriculture and Food Council follows other analysts that lately evaluated that next year pig prices will continue increasing. The forecasted pig quote excludes the annual residual payment to the co-operatively owners of the slaughterhouses. In particular, it is the prospect of a significantly better first quarter of 2012 which altogether will lead to an improvement of 2.6 cents per kg. In a commentary, the market analyst, Karsten Flemin, of Danish Agriculture and Food Council writes that he will make an upward adjustment of 8.7 cents per kg for the last quarter of the year due to the fine export markets outside the EU. In particular, the development of prices during the first six months of 2012 is expected to be somewhat better than previously expected.
(Source, Landbrug og fødevarer, Landbrugsavisen)

Pig producers will get increasing earnings
The long-expected progress in earnings for pig producers will really work through during 2012 and 2013 according to a new forecast from Danish Agriculture and Food Council. In particular, it is the case for piglet producers who will change from a deficit of €13,000 this year to an average profit of €100,000 in 2013. The slaughter pig producers can expect a more moderate increase from a profit of €13,000 this year to a profit of €53,000 in 2013. A strong improvement is expected in 2012 due to an improved exchange ratio combined with productivity improvements and continuing low interest rates. Prices of feed grain are expected to be slightly declining as well.
(Source, Landbrugsavisen)

DanePork expands daily production
The slaughterhouse DanePork is planning a strong expansion and has filed an application for permission to expand production from 90 tonnes to 600 tonnes daily for slaughtered pigs. It corresponds to slaughtering approximately 42,360 pigs weekly, and it will make DanePork reach almost half the size of Danish Crown at Horsens, which slaughters 100,000 pigs weekly. CEO of DanePork, Leo Groenvall, stresses that they do not plan to immediately carry out the expansion applied for.
DanePork, at first called Slagtergaarden St. Lihme A/S, is an independent, privately owned pig slaughterhouse situated near Vejle. It was established in 1989 and was approved by the EU in 1996. In 2001, the slaughterhouse was approved for exports to the US and Japan. DanePork employs approximately 140 dedicated employees.
(Source, Landbrugsavisen)


France
Charcuterie and football
Saïd Chabane, Head of the Charcuterie group Cosnelle based in the west of France (Sarthe department), is now the major shareholder of the football club, SCO Angers, that was in the French first league a few years ago. Charcuterie processor, Cosnelle, has a turnover of €55 million.

Madrange – end of story
Three months following the purchase of the cooked ham manufacturer, Madrange, the group Financière Turenne-Lafayette of Monique Piffaut re-baptised the company 'Limogeoise de Salaisons' (LDS). A €6-million programme of investments is now engaged and 137 permanent jobs will be removed from the Limoges sites and 102 interim contracts will not be renewed. Also, the pig meat boning plant will cease its activities. In the end, the ex-Madrange group will have lost €6 million in 2011.

Pork
If some people consider that prices should remained stable on Thursday at Plérin, others do not hesitate to think that an increase is possible. Everything will depend of the demand; offers are not expected to be higher. Abattoirs could hesitate due to the absence of additional public holidays for Christmas and New Year in France.

Cuts
It is no great surprise that the market is very calm before Christmas. Sales are regular but not very good. At the same time, retailers maintain the pressure on prices. Abattoirs will be very watchful for the next commercial negotiations for the promotions of January.


Germany
Market
As elsewhere, the market is calm before Christmas and the approaching holidays are not yet very noticeable in terms of meat sales. Filets are sold at slightly higher prices and loins are marketed a bit more quickly. Prices for meat for processing keep being subdued. Demand is expected to increase just briefly before the holidays.
(Source, AMI)

Import figures
Imports of meat and by-products into Germany have increased in volume by some seven per cent to 1.69 million tonnes and in value by 15 per cent to €4.15 billion between January and September 2011. Overall meat imports reached a value of about €5.1 billion and a volume of 2.03 million tonnes, of which meat products accounted for 17 per cent with the import volume having increased by 13 per cent to 343,500 tonnes. The pig meat sector accounted for nearly half of the overall imports with 99 per cent of the fresh and frozen pig meat imported (-2.6 per cent = 704,900 tonnes) originating from other EU member states.
(Source, fleischwirtschaft)

Label delayed
The first products carrying the Animal Welfare label developed jointly by VION, Coop Kiel and the German Association for Animal Protection (DTB) will only be hitting the Coop Kiel shelves by summer 2012. Norbert Barfuss, CEO of VION Food Germany, stated that the delayed launch was due to “not always the easiest of discussions” with the DTB.
(Source, topagrar)


Netherlands
Contingency plans
Agrarisch Dagblad reports that the main exporting Dutch agri-businesses, Friesland-Campina, Vion and Van Drie are preparing contingency plans in the case of serious financial trouble in the EU and further afield.

Weaner price on the way up
Weaner prices have shot up from €23 to €32 between weeks 42 and 48, reflecting a tightening of EU pork supplies.
(Source, Agrarisch Dagblad)

No maximum size for new pig units
Despite strong actions from lobbying groups – the latest involved people dressed as pigs having a mud bath in front of the Parliament in The Hague – and support from four small political parties, there is no appetite in the country to limit the size of pig units.
(Source, Agrarisch Dagblad)

Spain
Spanish courting COFCO
Rosa Agular, the Minister of Agriculture met the management of COFCO, the largest Chinese meat importer and a State-owned company. Spain is the fifth largest exporter of pork to China. The Minister offered to open a buying office for COFCO in Spain and invited the company to be guests of honour at Alimentaria.
(Source, Eurocarne)

The rise and rise of Vall Companys
The integrated company now produces 189,000 tonnes of pork (Patel, Frivall, Frimancha), 85,000 tonnes of poultry and 18,000 tonnes of beef. It has 1,900 associated farms under contract and employs 2,500 staff. It also owns one of the largest flour mills in Spain, giants feed mills, a logistics arms and stands as a manufacturer of veterinary products.
(Source, Vall Companys)


Republic of Ireland
Results of the June census
BPEX recently reported a surge of pig production in Ireland. This may only be due to higher productivity as the June census shows a drop of three per cent in the number of sows to 156,000. However, the five per cent increase in the numbers of maiden gilts seems to indicate a potential recovery.
(Source, Various).

Russia
ASF outbreaks in Orenburg oblast
After testing meat samples taken from pig corpses in several villages in Orenburg oblast, Rosselkhoznadzor veterinary officials detected the genetic material of the ASF virus in them. The total number of animals that died of ASF in this oblast is 34; 268 more were slaughtered to prevent the spread of ASF. Measures were taken by the local authorities to prevent the virus from spreading further. Quarantine was imposed on the territory of Totsky region of Orenburg oblast.

On the Russian-Kazakh border, disinfection barriers are built on nine border crossings in order to minimise the threat of ASF infection spreading to Kazakhstan. It should be mentioned that the deputy director of Rosselkhoznadzor and chief veterinary inspector of the Russian Federation, Nikolay Vlasov, suggests that the programme of fighting ASF should be managed by one of the vice prime ministers of the Russian Government, because in the process of the implementation of the programme, there is a need to coordinate work of different departments.
(Source, Rosselkhoznadzor)

Ukraine
Call for increase of import duties on pork
The Ukrainian Agrarian Confederation asked the Government to increase import duties on pork in order to protect domestic manufacturers. They asked to increase duties on the following kinds of pork: ‘other pork’ (the front side and its offal, Ukrainian Classification of Goods in external economic activity (UCGEEA) code: 0203291100), (loin and its offal, UCGEEA code: 0203291300), (rib with fat and its offal, UCGEEA code: 0203291500) from Brazil, Poland, Germany – from 10 per cent to 20 per cent; ‘frozen pig liver’ (UCGEEA code: 0206410000), ‘other sub products from domestic pigs’ from Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, Poland – from 12 per cent to 25 per cent; ‘pork fat and lard’ (UCGEEA code: 0209001100) from Poland, Germany and Netherlands – from 15 per cent to 30 per cent. According to the data provided by the Ukrainian Agrarian Confederation, during 2008-2010, the import of ‘other pork’ (the front side and its offal, loin and its offal, and rib with fat and its offal) increased by 41 per cent; import of ‘sub products’ increased by 63 per cent; imports of pork fat increased by 23 per cent.
(Source, PigUA.info)

Ukrainian pig breeding: November 2011 results
At the beginning of December 2011, the total number of pigs in Ukraine was 7,835,800 – 5.5 per cent or 455,900 pigs fewer than the same date in 2010. Against the backdrop of a general decrease in pig population, there was a positive tendency of pork production registered in November. In November, there were 40,200 tonnes of pigs in live weight bred in Ukraine, and 36,800 tonnes of them were slaughtered. Because of a seasonal price increase, the average pork price reached UAH17,134 (US$2,139) per ton.
(Source, National Statistic Committee)

Romania
Exports freed
Member States have unanimously given their go-ahead to a draft Decision tabled by the Commission that will authorse trade of Romanian pig meat to other EU Member States. This is the first time that Romania is authorised after its accession because of the classical swine fever (CSF) situation that has however largely improved in the last years. During 2011, in view of this favourable situation Romania has developed a strategy based on a ‘channelled system’ that would allow fresh pig meat and pig meat products from certain designated farms operating a common enhanced bio-security management system and only through selected slaughterhouses and meat establishments. This system has been fine-tuned during the last months and finally Romania has substantiated the favourable situation and the reliability of the ‘channelled system’.
(Source, EC)

Brazil
JBS posts loss
The world’s largest meat processor posted a loss of 67.5 million real (BRR; UK£23.8 million) in the third quarter, following a loss of BRR180.8 million (£63.7 million) in the second quarter, much of it related to losses incurred with its Pilgrim US chicken business. However, turnover of the UK pork business is up 12.3 per cent to US$867 million (£555 million).
(Source, Brazilian Meat Monitor)

Argentina
New pork promotion body?
The parliament is tabling a motion for the creation of the Instituto de Promoción de la Carne Porcina Argentina to promote Argentine pork at home and abroad.
(Source, Eurocarne)

Mexico
Agreement with China
Mexican producers’ associations have signed an accord of collaboration with China Meat Association. Mexico is in negotiations with AQSIQ.
(Source, Eurocarne)

US
Corn harvest revised up
The USDA has issued a new revised forecast for the corn harvest, an influential indicator of future feed price prices. With Canada, China and the EU also up on earlier forecasts, a record world corn harvest is expected.
(Source, USDA)

New Internet site regarding air pollution
Purdue and Michigan universities have a new portal to present a balanced view regarding livestock production and air pollution [click here].

Australia
L.E. Giles & Son's licence revoked
The Victoria abattoir has had its slaughtering licence revoked due to alleged breaches of animal welfare. Pigs must now travel much further to the other plants in the State. The business had operated for 60 years and was employing 34 people.



December 2011

[Mustang Sally Farm]

Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Pig Industry Finishes Strong in 2011
UK - The end of the year normally marks a good time for a look back and a look ahead and on this occasion the pig industry has finished 2011 in a much stronger condition than at the start, writes Peter Crichton in his Traffic Lights commentary for 23 December.


 


Although there were some signs earlier in the week that shout price buyers might try and take a leaf out of Mr Scrooge's book, as it turned out most quotes were at generally positive stand-on levels with the odd copper or two more available from some outlets with spot bacon mainly traded in the 145p–150p range according to specification.

  1 January 2011 23 December 2011
DAPP 137.42p 147.66p
Spot bacon average 136.50p 147.75p
Tulip shout price 134.00p 146.00p
AHDB weaner price £41.69/head £44.12/head
Sow price 90p/kg 115p/kg
Wheat ex-farm £193.20/t £139.80/t
Euro 83.30p 83.36p

All of the shout prices remained unchanged following Tulip's decision to stand on at 146p last night, but it will be interesting to see how this much criticised pricing system stands up to the test next year when spot prices are expected to improve.

The latest placings in the shout price Partridge-in-a-Pear-Tree table are:

Partridge — Gill, Woodhead 148p
Turtle dove — Tulip 146p
French hens — Cranswick, Vion 144p

Despite turmoil in eurozone countries, a glance at the chart above reveals that the euro is worth almost exactly the same as at the start of the year, but producers are reminded of the instant effect any changes in the value of the euro can have on the price of imports and the value of cull sow exports.

On the subject of cull sows, this sector is showing the largest overall price rise since January, helped by much more competition now that we have Dawkins with an additional slaughter plant in Suffolk, and Cranswick are putting large volumes through their Watton Norfolk plant as well, so the number of outlets has effectively doubled and with transport costs continuing to rise two new East Anglian outlets have come as an early Christmas present to owners of breeding herds in the region.

Although very few culls are being moved next week, prices were generally holding firm in the 115p region, but shrewd sellers were still able to get a premium of a copper of two, space permitting. With reports of better home demand for sow manufacturing meat rather than it going to Europe, it will be interesting to see what effect this has on the overall market, especially at a time when sausage sales are soaring.

Weaner prices continued to recover after hitting a very flat spot in the middle of the year with the latest Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board 30kg ex-farm weaner average rising to £44.12/head now that finishers have been able to lock in to cheaper rations due to falling cereal and soya prices.

The latest HGCA ex-farm feed wheat price is now £139/tonne and those who claim to know about these things are not suggesting any sharp prices rises in the next few months, but bear in mind that currency movements or the Chinese clicking their fingers for an extra few boat-loads can soon move the market one way or the other.

With the Olympics to look forward to in 2012 hopefully our beloved pig industry will remain as one of the winners rather than losers next year.