Philippine Hog News:

[mikey]

Dealers Want Tariff on Imported Pork Offal to Stay
PHILIPPINES - Meat dealers and importers want the Department of Agriculture to keep the 5-per cent tariff on imported pork offal, as raising it may place poor Filipinos at a disadvantage.


"If you increase the tariff on pork offal, dalawa ang tataaman. One is the consumers who directly consume offal and second, the meat processors because they use (pork) skin and fat for processing into canned meat goods," Jesus Cham, president of Meat Importers and Traders Association, told reporters in an interview

“These processed food products are cheap protein sources for the poor," he said.

The poor consume processed pork offal — lips, cheek, liver, skin and head — as substitute for fresh pork and chicken, and increasing the tariff on imported offal would subsequently increase the prices of processed food products, according to the association.

Filipinos who subsist on $1 a day would be hit the hardest if pork offal becomes more expensive, as they cannot afford fresh pork and chicken priced at P180 ($4) per kilo and P130 ($3.25) a kilo, respectively, Mr Cham noted.

"Pork offal is about $1 a kilo. For poor Filipinos who live on $1 a day, the prices of fresh pork estimated at around $4 a kilo and chicken at $3 a kilo are simply beyond their reach," he said.

Hog raisers had earlier complained the higher volume of imported pork offal competes with locally produced pork, according to GMA News.tv.

Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) data showed imported pork offal totaled 48,450 metric tons (MT) as of 18 November, compared to the 29,000 MT shipped to the country for the whole of 2009.

United States and Canada — where pork by-products are treated as waste — are the Philippines’ main sources of imported pork offal.

Pork liver, cheeks, and ears are used in sisig, a popular Filipino dish. Skewered grilled ears and skin are also a popular street food.

There is no limit to the volume of offal shipments to the Philippines.

"The Philippines joined the [World Trade Organization] 15 years ago. Since then, we have opened our market to the world. Importers and exporters of other countries have been able to introduce more products in the market place but our local producers have stood still," said Mr Cham.

In November, the Agriculture Department announced the possibility of increasing the 5-per cent duty on imported pork offal as hog raisers said it was starting to harm the industry.

[Mustang Sally Farm]

Pork Producers Consider First MBM Plant
PHILIPPINES - The country’s pork producers are weighing up the establishment of a meat and bone meal (MBM) processing plant to reduce dependence on imported feed ingredients.


Bonemeal refers to crushed or ground bones used as animal feed or soil fertilizer.

“We’re asking the government to render assistance in drafting a roadmap for the swine sector which is an important aspect in the creation of an MBM plant," Pork Producers Federation of the Phils. Inc. President Edwin Chen said in an interview yesterday.

He noted that the Philippines imports a lot of meat and bonemeal from Europe and the US but the Bureau of Animal Industry said it has no ready data on the volume of imported MBM for 2009 and 2010 although prices range between $350 (P15,320) to $400 (P17,508) per metric ton.

The Federation is looking at a timeframe of 4 to 5 years to construct the first plant, reports GMA News.

“We’re still on the planning stage. We need to get the roadmap drafted and going before we implement the programme that requires massive logistics like the MBM plant," said Mr Chen.

For hog feed, the Federation will formulate a poultry-based MBM and vice versa for poultry feed.

“This is to prevent diseases from spreading and mutating. The practice of feeding porcine MBM to hogs or swine can be categorized as cannibalism. Take the case of BSE (bovine spongiform encephalopathy) or ‘mad-cow’ disease, where cows eat their own kind via bovine MBM," Chen explained.

MBM is a by-product of the rendering of animal carcasses and animal waste material from slaughterhouses. It is usually sold as high-protein meal additive or animal stockfeed and pet food.

Meanwhile, the federation will also try to enforce a multi-site system in raising hogs. The multi-site system will have separate locations for breeding, nurseries and grow-out stages.

“We can arrange with the backyard hog-raisers what stage they would want to go into. I suggest they can produce piglets and then we, the commercial raisers, will produce the finishers," said Mr Chen.

He added that the system will be self-sustaining for designated pork zones in the three major islands of the country.

It will also help keep tabs on parasites and viral infections that afflict hogs through the all-in, all-out system.

“This means that, we grow the pigs all at the same time and sell them all at the same time. So there will come a time that the building will be left with no occupants. There’s no host, so the parasites will die a natural death, leaving the structure clean and fit for the next season," Mr Chen explained.

Earlier, hog raisers raised alarm over the proliferation of imported frozen and 'botcha' or “double-dead’ meat in the wet markets.

Hog raisers alleged that frozen meat are being sold as fresh meat in wet markets and can be easily mistaken for 'botcha'.

[Mustang Sally Farm]

Chicken, Pork Imports Jumped in 2010
PHILIPPINES - Chicken and pork imports increased by 31 per cent and 34 per cent, respectively, from 2009, based on statistics released by the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI).


The Philippine Star reports that BAI data showed that as of 13 December, chicken imports had reached 97,197 tonnes compared to total imports of 67,265 tonnes for the whole of 2009.

Pork imports reached 172,626 tonnes from January to December last year, compared to only 114,365 tonnes for the whole of 2009.

The high increase is being criticised by local chicken and pork producers, who claim that their viability is threatened.

BAI figures show that there has been an increase in imports of chicken cuts, chicken leg quarters, whole chicken, deboned chicken and offals, while there has been a decline in imports of chicken fat and rind/skin.

As for pork, there has been a continued increase in all imports of pork cuts, pork bellies, deboned pork, fats, offals and pork rind/skin.

Imports of chicken cuts as of 13 December 2010 year amounted to 3,241 tonnes from the 2,993 tonnes imported in 2009.

Imports of chicken leg quarters increased by more than 10,000 tonnes last year to a total of 36,831 tonnes compared to the previous year's imports of only 26,372 tonnes.

Imports of whole chicken more than doubled last year to 603.2 tonnes compared to the 250.8 tonnes imported in 2009.

Likewise, imports of deboned chicken also increased this year to 56,064 tonnes compared to imports last year amounting to only 36,887 tonnes.

There was also a noticeable increase in imports of chicken offals this year with imports tripling to 121.1 tonnes compared to 2009's imports amounting to only 40.4 tonnes.

A decline in imports, on the other hand, was registered in chicken fats from 211.5 tonnes in 2009 to only 103.7 tonnes in 2010.

Likewise, imports of chicken rind/skin in 2010 fell to 232.2 tonnes from 510.7 tonnes the previous year.

According to The Philippine Star, imports of all kinds of pork products, on the other hand, registered significant increases with pork bellies almost doubling last year to 15,792 tonnes from only 8,587 tonnes in 2009.

Pork cuts imports increased to 54,876 tonnes in 2010 from only 34,196 tonnes the previous year.

Imports of pork offals also almost doubled to 52,502 tonnes from 28,959 tonnes in 2009.

Imports of deboned pork almost quadrupled to 108 tonnes from 27 tonnes in 2009, while imports of pork rind/skin increased to 20,461 tonnes in 2010 from 16,196 tonnes the previous year.

Pork fat imports were 28,888 tonnes in 2010 from 26,399 tonnes the previous year, reports The Philippine Star.

[Mustang Sally Farm]

Philippines - Small growth in pig production 14 Jan 2011
"Growth of 1 per cent [in local hog production] is achievable this year," Bureau of Animal Industry director Efren C. Nuestro said in a telephone interview on Thursday.
 
 
 
 
"Diseases were controlled and prevented this year, and backyard farms have also recovered - although slowly - from the onslaught of typhoons in the last quarter of 2009." In the nine months that ended in September, local hog production had increased by 0.74 per cent to 1.36 million metric tons (MT) from 1.35 million MT last year, data from the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS) show.
Hog production grew 1.08 per cent to 1.88 million MT for the entire 2009 from 1.86 million MT the preceding year, the same data showed.
 
 
 
 
 
Mr Nuestro said seasonal "heightened demand" for the product in the fourth quarter because of the holiday season should have provided a boost to the industry’s recovery.
 
 
 
 
"There is a heightened demand for pork every fourth quarter because of the holidays. This will encourage more slaughtering of hogs and increase production," Mr Nuestro said.
 
 
 
 
 
According to BusinessWorld, he added that the Agriculture department has yet to come up with a growth target for the industry next year.
 
 
 
 
"After actual data of local hog production this year registers, then we will be meeting to craft plans, programs and targets for the industry," Mr Nuestro said.
 
 
 
In a separate telephone interview, Albert R. T. Lim, Jr., president of the Pork Producers Federation of the Phils., Inc., said any growth this year would be better than none.
 
 
 
 
"I really cannot say how much the industry will grow; but if local production can grow by 1 per cent,
that is very good, although minimal," Mr Lim said.

[Mustang Sally Farm]

Hog and poultry raisers in Pangasinan have called on the government to stop the importation of agricultural products in 2011, saying the imports were derailing the country’s effort to attain food self-sufficiency, according to Inquirer of the Philippines.
 
 
 
Rosendo So, vice president of the National Hog and Poultry Raisers Association of the Philippines, said the government should instead provide more support for stakeholders in the agricultural sector to attain food self-sufficiency.
 
 
 
 
 
He said: "Farmers, hog raisers and poultry growers are vital contributors to the food basket of our country."
 
 
 
 
 
He added that the importation of agricultural products, particularly rice, chicken and pork, has steadily increased since 2005.
 
 
 
 
For chicken alone, he said, the volume that entered the country increased by 71 per cent from 2005 to 2010.
 
 
 
 
"This year alone, the government allowed the importation of 97,197,041 kilograms of chicken, which [represents] about 31 per cent increase from the 67,264,871 kilograms in 2009," Mr So said.
He said the steep increase in the level of pork importation has alarmed hog raisers.
 
 
 
 
This year, he said, pork importation is 71 per cent higher than the 2005 level.
"Pork importation this year is 34 per cent higher than the 114,365,159 kilograms imported in 2009," Mr So said.
 
 
 
 
He said feed requirements for locally grown hog and chicken are shouldered by farmers. But in other countries, he said, governments support their farmers, making their products cheaper.
 

[Mustang Sally Farm]

Philippines - Pork imports 24 Jan 2011
Pork imports reached 172,626 tonnes from January to December last year, compared to only 114,365 tonnes for the whole of 2009.
The high increase is being criticised by local chicken and pork producers, who claim that their viability is threatened .
 
 
As for pork, there has been a continued increase in all imports of pork cuts, pork bellies, deboned pork, fats, offals and pork rind/skin.
 
 
 
 
 

[Mustang Sally Farm]

Monday, March 14, 2011Print This Page
Import Restrictions Following Dioxin Scare Removed
GLOBAL - Hong Kong, the Philippines and Serbia are to lift all import restrictions they introduced after the dioxin incident in Germany.


They are able to do so as they have received the necessary information and reassurance that the situation is under control and that products can be safely imported from the EU, according to European Commission Trade officials.

On 27 December 2010, the German authorities informed the European Commission that a batch of fatty acids, which was meant to be used for technical purposes, had been mixed with fat for the production of feed. At the earliest opportunity, the German authorities had imposed strict controls to ensure that no contaminated feed or food was placed on the EU market or exported to third countries.

A fact-finding mission by the Food and Veterinary Office (FVO), the European Commission inspection service of the Health and Consumers Directorate General, took place in Germany from 26 to 28 January 2011.

The mission team did not find any deficiencies which would call into question the effectiveness of the corrective measures taken by the German authorities to tackle the contamination. These measures, which involved very significant resources, were found to have been carried out in a professional and competent manner.

The EU Member States, meeting in the framework of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health on 22 February 2011 endorsed a statement recognising that the German authorities had been managing the contamination incident very efficiently and that they had adopted a very strict precautionary approach to manage the incident with a view to ensuring a high level of feed and food safety.

They determined that the contamination incident is fully under control by the German authorities and there is no risk that potentially contaminated food and feed are placed on the EU market or dispatched to third countries. "This incident has once more demonstrated the high reliability, capacity and effectiveness of the EU food safety system to identify and rectify problems which may arise. This is of great comfort not only to the EU consumer, but also to third countries importing from the EU," said the EC Trade office.

"Unfortunately however, the EU continues to face unjustified and serious import restrictions from several third countries. In most cases these restrictions affect pork products and/or Germany, while in a few cases, they affect all products of animal origin and/or all EU Member States.

"More specifically, we have been informed that:

Belarus and China have suspended imports of certain products from Germany;
Moldova, which lifted their ban on live animals, animal products and feed from Germany has introduced additional certification requirements to be provided by Germany (in practice, re-establishing a ban);
Argentina, Japan, Oman, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and Ukraine have introduced "hold and dioxin testing" measures (before products are allowed to enter their countries)."
The European Commission - together with Germany and the EU Delegations in those third countries where import restrictions persist - continue to press the competent authorities to lift any remaining unjustified import bans or additional testing requirements. We also invite EU business to continue to inform us of any developments in this matter.

In 2010, exports of pig meat from the EU were valued at approximately €3.9 billion.

It is anticipated that the actions of the Market Access Partnership should lead to an increase in exports from this level in 2011.

[Mustang Sally Farm]

Friday, March 25, 2011
PIC Raises the Bar with New Gilt Production Units
PHILIPPINES - To serve the increasing demand from Filipino pork producers for superior performing PIC boars and gilts, PIC is expanding its production capacity by more than 5,000 GGP and GP sows in the Philippines.
 

PIC genetics have been proven to increase output and efficiency, a necessity in facing today’s challenges of increasing fuel and feed material costs, as well as the persistent health problems that hound local pork producers.

For nearly 50 years, PIC has been delivering true competitive advantage to pork producers worldwide by increasing output, efficiency and having a strong health assurance program that reduces the risks to both large commercial farmers as well as the smaller, home based pig producers. Over the last decade PIC has been successful in accelerating its rate of genetic improvement due to a new innovative production structure and continuing investments in research and development.

PIC Philippines further raises the bar in production technology, operations management, use of renewable energy and environmental management with the launching of 2 new, state-of-the-art gilt multiplication units. These units are by far the most biosecure and advanced facility design in swine production in the country to be built from the ground up. The facilities are built according to local conditions and will maximize the expression of the high performance potential of PIC animals.

PIC Philippines Production Manager, Mr. Patrick Ty says: “We are confident these 2 farms will be leaders in production efficiency and become shining examples of world class hog farming in the Philippines”. PIC Philippines, partnered with Venvi Agro-Industrial Ventures Corp., and RDF Meatshop, Inc. (RDFMI), two corporate powerhouses also engaged in poultry production, real estate development and meat retail.

Construction of the Venvi-Agro 2,400-sow level Camborough gilt production unit began in August 2010, on a biosecure location within a 460 hectare property in San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte. The site scored very high on the PIC 1,000 point health risk assessment system. Designed as a 2-site (breed-to-farrow and wean-to-finish) production facility with climate control and automatic feeding systems, this unit will eventually be energy-positive as power is produced with methane fueled generators and solar power. Initial stocking started in January 2011 and will produce both PIC Grand Parent gilts and Camborough Parent Gilts by the fourth quarter of 2011.

PIC has built a strong relationship with Venvi Agro-Industrial Ventures Corp., a division of Venvi Group of Companies, an innovative and pioneering organization committed to producing high quality food products and being globally competitive in feeding our people. They are the largest supplier of chicken eggs in Ilocos region and continue to bring pride to Ilocos due to its honorable corporate values and commitment to innovation and social progress. “Having understood the level of investment needed to become a serious player in this business and seeing the market opportunities from visiting commercial operations around the country and the US, we decided to get things right from the start by choosing the right partners. With PIC’s help, we have properly addressed the factors - genetics, facilities, health, technology and people - needed to shorten the learning curve and make this a successful venture”, said Atty. Larry Valdez, President of Venvi Agro.

A long time PIC customer that has grown over the years from a 200 sow level commercial farm when it started its hog business a decade ago, RDF Meatshop, Inc., held the groundbreaking ceremony for its new 2,500 sow level unit last February 2011 in a biosecure location in Tarlac. RDFMI also signed up with PIC as a Camborough 24 parent gilt multiplier for this new production unit. Operating under a 2-site production system, building facilities are equipped with climate control, automatic feeding systems and methane powered generators. RDFMI is the company behind the immense success of the Fresh Options meat shop chain currently running more than 70 branches in Pampanga, Bulacan, Bataan, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Olongapo, Zambales and Mega Manila, and still growing. RDFMI has chosen PIC as the breed of choice in growing their meat retailing business as PIC meets Fresh Options’ high standards in providing quality meats for their MEATiculous customers.

“We are happy with the trust and commitment by our proactive partners, Venvi and RDFMI, in working with us on these projects to support the growing needs of our customers. Together, we look forward to providing local producers with more access points for superior genetics that will set a new standard for the Philippine pork industry ,” said Mr. Vino Borromeo, PIC Philippines General Manager.

With the addition of RDFMI and Venvi-Agro, PIC Philippines has grown its production capacity into 14 multiplication units, 3 genetic nucleus sites, and 5 distribution centers spread across the country. PIC Philippines turns 15 years this year in bringing healthy genetic improvement to Filipino producers since its first importation of live animals in 1996.

[Mustang Sally Farm]

Friday, April 08, 2011
PIC Strengthens Leadership Position in the Philippines
PHILIPPINES - PIC Philippines celebrates its 15th anniversary by announcing two milestone agreements to grow its dam line production base by more than 5,000 GGPs and GPs.
 

These additions enhance the existing supply network of 3 nucleus farms, 12 multiplication units and 5 distribution centres spread across the archipelago and reinforce PIC’s position as the leading supplier of healthy genetics to the nation’s 1.6m sow herd.

PIC has partnered with two corporate powerhouses, Venvi Agro-Industrial Ventures Corp. and RDF Meatshop, Inc., who are also engaged in poultry and egg production, real estate development and meat retail to develop the projects in Luzon.

Construction of the Venvi-Agro 2,400-sow level facility began in August 2010, within a 460 hectare property in San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte. It is a 2-site system with climate control and automatic feeding systems. The farm will be energy-positive as power will be produced from methane fueled generators and solar power. The initial stocking started in January 2011 and sales of breeders will start before year-end. Atty. Larry Valdez, President of Venvi Agro, said, “Having understood the level of investment needed to become a serious player in this business and seeing the market opportunities from visiting commercial operations around the country and the US, we decided to get things right from the start by choosing the right partners. With PIC’s help, we have properly addressed the factors - genetics, facilities, health, technology and people - needed to shorten the learning curve and make this a successful venture.”

RDF Meatshop, Inc., held the groundbreaking ceremony for its 2,500 sow unit in Tarlac in February, with stocking scheduled for the 3rd quarter of 2011. The buildings are equipped with climate control, automatic feeding systems and methane powered generators. RDFMI is the company behind the immense success of the Fresh Options meat shop chain currently running more than 70 branches in 8 provinces, and still growing. It began its first venture into pork production with PIC seven years ago with a 600 sow commercial unit. Despite quadrupling the size of that farm, demand from the meat shops continues to outstrip supply. Building on that success, RDFMI favors PIC as the genetics of choice in expanding its operations as PIC meets Fresh Options’ high standards in providing quality meats for their customers.

Vincent Borromeo, PIC Philippines General Manager, commented, “We are delighted to be working with such proactive partners in moving these projects forward. Supply side limitations have been a constraint to growing our share of the market. Now we look forward to providing local producers with greater availability of superior, healthy genetics that will set the pace for faster genetic improvement in the Philippines.”

[Mustang Sally Farm]

Govt sees FMD-free stamp boosting pork exports05/30/2011 | 03:52 PM

   
The Philippines expects a boost in its pork exports after the World Organization for Animal Health last week declared the country free of the foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said Monday.

In behalf of the Philippine government, Agriculture Assistant Secretary for Livestock Davinio Catbagan received the certification on Thursday from the 87-year-old animal health organization, which keeps its initial and historical name Office International des Epizooties (OIE).

“We are expecting that negotiations with Singapore and Malaysia will bring new business to our pork industry. I figure that livestock output will pick up again now that producers have found a reason to increase local production," Alcala said.

Catbagan added that the country’s FMD-free status will enhance productivity by allowing swine raisers and meat processors to freely transport and trade live animals, and livestock and pork products within the Philippines.

In March, Catbagan said the government was “99.9-percent" confident that the OIE will declare the Philippines entirely FMD-free.

A highly contagious viral disease, FMD infects cloven-hoofed animals like pigs, cows, goats and sheeps. It does not affect humans.

In its latest quarterly report, the Agriculture Department said the livestock subsector recorded a growth of 0.59 percent in the first quarter, amounting to around P49.7 billion at current prices. — PE/VS, GMA News

[Mustang Sally Farm]

Friday, June 03, 2011
One Ton of Tainted Pork Seized in Bulacan
PHILIPPINES - At least a ton of tainted pork was intercepted while it was being brought to the local market in Bulacan province's Marilao town on Thursday night.


Police acting on a tip caught a tricycle driver transporting the meat in Loma de Gato village, reports GMA News, citing Radio DzBB.

The driver, initially identified as Reynaldo Bendam, was brought to a local police station for questioning.

Mr Bendam also faces added sanctions after he failed to present a driver's license, the report said.

Thursday night's incident happened when authorities were on alert against the selling of tainted fish from some areas in Batangas and Pangasinan that were affected by a recent fish kill.

In Metro Manila, authorities had seized several hundred kilos of double-dead fish during searches at public market stalls.

[Mustang Sally Farm]

Thursday, June 16, 2011
Erysipelas Outbreak in Catanduanes
PHILIPPINES - At least 17 pigs have been killed and 172 more are sick in three villages in Pandan town in Catanduanes due to erysipelas.


A 'pig kill' in three barangays of Pandan, Catanduanes caused by an infectious disease recently stirred hog raisers and veterinary experts in the island province of Catanduanes into a near pandemonium, reports Phil Star. The outbreak was later blamed on poor sanitation.

Governor Joseph Cua received a report from Pandan town Mayor, Restituto de Quiroz, that at least 15 pigs died and 172 others got sick over a three-day period in the villages of Del Sur, Libod and Napo, in the coastal town located at the northern section of the province.

The governor said he promptly dispatched a five-man team from the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) headed by provincial veterinarian, Peter Aldin Azanza, to assist the Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO) in looking into the problem.

Following visual inspections on the site of the disease outbreak and necropsy performed on affected animals, Mr Azanza reported that the culprit was a swine pathogen called erysipelas. He said the virus developed at the water, soil, decaying organic matter, slime on the bodies of fish and on carcasses as well as in carrier pigs causing the spread of the disease.

The symptoms of infections, according to Azanza include the purple discoloration of the ears, snout and abdomen of the pigs, diamond-shaped skin lesions, high body temperature, poor appetite and restlessness.

Don't eat pig victims, warns vet
Mr Azanza said that the affected animals is hazardous to human health. "The affected animals are no longer fit for human consumption," he stressed.

The infected hogs were supposed to be injected with amoxicillin but De Quiroz said the lack of medicines in the municipality prevented them from doing so. Governor Cua then instructed the PVO to provide the medicines at the expense of the provincial government.

The visual inspection conducted by the team also found out that majority of the backyard hog raisers have not provided proper waste disposal facilities for animal manure while some homes do not even have toilets.

The situation, Mr Azanza said, left no choice for the hog raisers and household members but to dispose animal and human wastes in public canals and along the shorelines that result to pollution of the nearby swamp whose water circulates with the sea tides.

The PVO team recommended that a temporary quarantine be implemented in the three villages affected by the outbreak to prevent the spread of the disease. The Phil Star report adds that the team also recommended to the local government the strict implementation of the ordinance on the proper waste disposal to prevent serious health problems.

[Mustang Sally Farm]

Monday, July 04, 2011
DA to Meet with Chicken and Pork Producers
PHILIPPINES - The Department of Agriculture will meet this week with chicken and pork producers to ensure sufficient supply of meat products.


DA Secretary Proceso Alcala said his department will seek inputs from the producers as it makes plans to ensure meat supply until at least January 2012.

He said that while chicken growers can grow chickens in as little as 35 days, hog growers need as many as "four to six months."

According to GMA News, Mr Alcala said the DA is making projections for at least December, to make sure prices of meat products are affordable to consumers.

The DA is also making plans to "ensure supply of meat products not only for Christmas but also up to one month after Christmas," Mr Alcala said.

[Mustang Sally Farm]

Friday, July 29, 2011
Pig Manure Could Mean Big Bucks
PHILIPPINES - Renewable energy investors should already tap the cash-rich European carbon-credit market before it closes its doors to developing countries by 2012, an industry expert said.


First Gen Corp. Vice President Al Santos explained the European market will only accept carbon credits from least developed countries after that. "The projects should already be registered now for sale of carbon credits before the end of 2012."

The European Union created carbon trading in order to mitigate the growth in concentrations of greenhouse gases. Any company that exceeds the limits, or the so-called compliance buyer, has to buy credits from renewable energy technologies in order to cut its carbon emissions.

According to ABS-CBN News, these companies earn these "credits" from projects registered under the United Nations Framework for Climate Change (UNFCC).

Of the 3,000 projects currently registered, 32 are from the Philippines.

Mr Santos said even small companies tap this trading system because of its benefits.

"Per ton of certification emission reduction - we have anywhere from 10 to 12 euros. What it's supposed to do is for marginal projects, with the additional revenues from the sale of carbon credits it's supposed to improve the returns so that the project will go ahead," he said.

Even the swine industry knows its benefits.

Mr Santos said, "The projects registered under one application are mostly in the swine industry for the methane capture from the pig waste and use to power an engine. The credit of methane is 21 times carbon dioxide - so a ton of methane is equivalent to 21 tons of carbon dioxide emission."

One carbon credit is equal to one metric ton of carbon dioxide.

Pig manure can be converted to biogas, which is used in power generation. For example, Cavite Pig City in General Trias produces less than 1 megawatt for its own use.

Mr Santos said, however, that a company needs to cough up about a million in order to have its project registered with the UNFCC.

"It's not cheap. You need to hire a consultant to put together the documentation; you need to get a third-party validator to assess the application and look at the project; and then you submit it to the board - so that could already cost a million pesos. If you have a small project, it's hard to justify you're spending a million pesos to get a project registered," he said.

On the other hand, the benefits would easily offset the cost needed for registration. Companies could also group themselves under one application.

"If the projects are small in scale - what they do is they bundle a number of projects under one application to save on costs. It's like cooperative-type," he said.

[Mustang Sally Farm]

Friday, July 29, 2011
Best Genetics and Cavite Pig City Form Partnership
US & PHILIPPINES - The National Swine Registry (NSR) announces the securement of a partnership between America's Best Genetics - the umbrella organization that represents US breeders who raise purebred swine with a commercial focus and specialise in international exports, and Cavite Pig City near Manila, Philippines.


The partnership includes delivery of 645 head of purebred Duroc, Landrace and Yorkshire breeding boars and gilts that arrived 10 July in Cavite, as well as a two-year America's Best Genetics consulting agreement with geneticists of the National Swine Registry.

The partnership is notable as it is the largest single shipment of swine into the Philippines in more than 10 years, according to the Bureau of Animal Industry of the Philippines. Additionally, it initiates a formal consulting agreement with an international firm from America's Best Genetics.

"This is a tremendous opportunity for us to build a long-term working relationship with Cavite Pig City, to not only supply them with nucleus genetics from the world's most highly-regarded purebred breeders, but to also assist them in implementing the entire America's Best Genetics breeding program from the ground up," says Dr Clint Schwab, NSR director of genetic and technical services and interim CEO.

America's Best Genetics geneticists will work with Cavite Pig City owners and employees to develop genetic and management standard operating procedures, which includes data recording, off-test procedures, sire and replacement female selection and mating allocations. Dr Schwab, along with NSR Genetic Programmes Specialist Dr Justin Fix, have both visited Cavite Pig City within the past year to tour the facilities and discuss future goals of the partnership. They plan to return to initiate formal consultation in August.

Export manager Tony Clayton of Clayton Agri-Marketing in Jefferson City, Missouri, who arranged logistics of the partial charter of swine that shipped out of Chicago O'Hare International Airport, says the agreement is a tremendous accomplishment for all parties involved.

"A transaction of this size takes a lot of behind-the-scenes work on the part of many players - especially when dealing with biosecurity issues and working to protect the newly-gained foot and mouth disease-free status of the Philippines," says Mr Clayton.

In-country arrangements to the 8,000 plus-sow Cavite Pig City unit were made by Philippine importer Bobby Badilla of Carmel Import/Export Corporation in Paranaque City, Philippines. Other parties involved in the process include Ten Fold Customs Brokerage and Transport Corp.; the Philippines Bureau of Animal Industry under the direction of Efren Nuestro; and the USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) in Manila, including Agricultural Counselor Philip Shull and staff.