World Hog news:

[mikey]

Friday, April 25, 2008Print This Page
Half National Herd Applies for PCV2 Vouchers
UK - Nearly half the English pig herd will soon be vaccinating against PCV2, which should create an increase in production of between a half and one pig per sow per year.

This would mean 180,000 to 360,000 more slaughter pigs a year, or about an extra two weeks' supply of fresh British pork.

So far there have been 274 applications for BPEX-subsidised PCV2 vouchers, representing 177,631 sows.

[mikey]

Monday, April 28, 2008Print This Page
Turkey's Pork Butchers Disappearing
TURKEY - The role of Islam in Turkish society is a subject of continual debate. Secularists are protesting against what they see as the government's increasingly Islamic agenda, and as Sarah Rainsford found out, the latest battleground could be across the butcher's counter.


"We're going filming at a pork butcher's and a pig farm," I told my Turkish cameraman in a text message. Slightly anxious, I added: "Is that OK with you?"

A moment later a message from Gokhan flashed back.

"Yes," he wrote. "I like a good pork steak!"

He is not the only one.

Another Turkish friend told me that eating pork, which is forbidden by Islam, is increasingly popular in secular high society here.

She described this as an act of defiance by some Turks, who fear religious dictates have begun creeping into their lives since a government led by devout Muslims took power.

[mikey]

Monday, April 28, 2008Print This Page
NZ Industry Hammered by Price Slump and Rising Costs
NEW ZEALAND - Pork may be bucking the trend of rising food prices - but it's at a cost to farmers who are losing around $50 for every pig sold.



The Pork Industry Board estimates about one in 10 New Zealand producers are considering leaving the industry because of rising costs and stagnant prices, says Radio NewZealand News.

It says farmers are losing $50 for every pig sold, mainly due to higher grain prices caused by land being used for biofuel instead of crops.

The board's chairman, Canterbury pig farmer Chris Trengrove, says until supply and demand balance there will not be much respite for producers, although prices should rise in the coming months.

[mikey]

Monday, April 28, 2008Print This Page
Farmers Take Slaughter Option as Feed Cost Rises
UK - Britain's pig farmers are forecast to post losses of £200 million this year. An increasing number of them are sending more of their breeding animals to slaughter to avoid the soaring cost of feed.



According to the Times Online, the British breeding herd has halved over the past decade to 436,000 sows. Mick Sloyan, who runs the British Pig Executive (BPEX), an industry association, is predicting a decline of another 10 per cent this year.

Farmers are making a loss of £22 per animal, according to BPEX, because of the rising cost of wheat, corn and soya meal. Many are pulling out of pig-rearing altogether.

Mr Sloyan said: “It's a capital-intensive business. In order to stay in, you need to invest. In the first three months of the year, there has been a 35 per cent increase in the number of breeding sows sent to slaughter.”

Farmers are killing their breeding stock rather than face the cost of feeding sows and piglets. This reduces further a shrinking industry that supplies only half the pork and bacon consumed in Britain.

[mikey]

Monday, April 28, 2008Print This Page
Binders in Demand
WORLDWIDE - The rising cost of energy and raw materials is stimulating producers to consider different alternative ingredients for their animal feed formulations. The trend is also boosting interest in pellet binders, special bio-chemical ingredients that can enhance feed quality during processing.



In some situations, using alternative, less expensive raw materials can adversely affect pellet quality. This can reduce throughput at the feed mill press and add to production costs, says agricultural specialists Kiotechagil.

 
With rising energy costs feed manufacturers are seeking alternative metods of including alternative raw materials in animals feeds
"With electricity at 0.16 US$ per kilowatt-hour and rising, feed compounders are also paying increasing attention to energy usage. Double pelleting for example costs an extra 1.6US$ per tonne compared to single pelleting," explains Mark Meynell, Director of Lloyds Animal Feeds.

And its these two factors that are increasing the demand for low inclusion pellet binders, says Kiotechagil’s chief technical officer Murray Hyden.

“Part of the benefit comes through the chemical binding attributes which help lower the amount of energy consumed in pellet production. This is achieved by improved die lubrication and a reduction in fines losses,” he adds.

Feed producers are also recognising the advantages of binders like Mastercube, which improve pellet quality and allows greater inclusion of oils in high-energy diets.

"Farmers are looking to protect their investment in quality feeds by seeking out improved pellet durability and the more consistent pellet quality they achieve when using low inclusion pellet binders,” says Mr Hyden.

[mikey]

Monday, April 28, 2008Print This Page
The Whole Hog and a Chance to Win a Boar
UK - To prove that enhanced performance can go hand-in-hand with superior meat quality, pig breeding company ACMC Ltd will be hosting a hog roast, using its own breed of pigs, on both days of the British Pig and Poultry Fair (NAC, Stoneleigh 13th and 14th May).

 

And, on top of that producers visiting ACMC Stand 88 will also have the opportunity to win a Vantage Boar worth £1000.

 
Hot roasted hog from their own pigs will be available on ACMC's stand at the Pig Fair. Pig farmer Mike Evison (pictured) will be cooking and carving.
Visitors to the stand will be asked to complete a ticket giving email address and herd size details. The ticket will be entered into a free draw with a chance to win the terminal sire.

The hog roast will run between 12.00 noon and 2.00 pm, when visitors can tuck into a roll with a generous helping of mouth-wateringly delicious slow-roasted pork - complete with stuffing and crackling. The 'hog' will be freshly roasted at the event by Mike Evison, a pig farmer from Fitling, near Hull, East Yorkshire who also runs the 'Hot Trotters' hog-roasting business.

The 85kg carcase for roasting will be progeny from an ACMC AC1 female and a Vantage sireline boar. The aim is to demonstrate how these particular genetics can combine prolificacy, fast growth and efficient feed conversion to enhance meat quality.

"In these particularly difficult times we wanted to take a positive approach while offering something tasty to cheer producers up," said James Hall, ACMC senior marketing manager. "The organisers of the Fair aim to forge links with the entire supply chain. ACMC hopes it is also entering into the spirit of this."

Details of the financial performance of ACMC genotypes- including how feed savings worth £6 per pig have been achieved over the past 10 years - will be available throughout the event.

[mikey]

Monday, April 28, 2008Print This Page
Pig Farmer Fury at BRC
UK - British pig producers have reacted angrily to the British Retail Consortium's (BRC) dismissal of the severe economic problems facing their industry and claims that it is supermarkets who are absorbing costs to help beat food inflation.

 
BRC spokesperson Richard Dodd has been widely quoted in the media claiming: "Some prices are going up but it is important to remember that supermarkets are absorbing an awful lot of increases."

Meanwhile, writing on food inflation in The Grocer (18 April), Kevin Hawkins speaking on behalf of BRC said that farmers, except for a few exceptions, were doing quite nicely.

Yorkshire farmer Richard Longthorp said that the comments really are a slap in the face for pig farmers.

"BPEX figures show the price of pork in supermarkets has risen by an average of 57.89p/kg since last July. At farm level it rose by the princely sum of 7.49p/kg. At the same time production costs for farmers have risen by 35p/kg. So when it comes to pork and bacon it is the pig farmers who are absorbing costs and making a loss, not the supermarkets," he stated, vehemently.

[mikey]

Tuesday, April 29, 2008Print This Page
Low Pork Price Should Encourage Cash-Strapped Consumers
NEW ZEALAND - Pork is now the cheapest meat in New Zealand – and this is sure to please Kiwis hit with recent food price hikes.


In mid-April New Zealand Pork carried out a detailed survey of meat retail prices across 28 cuts of meat in 12 stores in the Auckland and the Waikato region including Woolworths (in-store and online), Foodtown, New World, The Mad Butcher, Countdown, Pak’n’Save, Warehouse Mega and Meat Cuisine online.

“We’ve achieved the unenviable position of being the cheapest meat in the cabinet,” says Sam McIvor, New Zealand Pork Chief Executive.

The survey compared everyday prices, across equivalent cuts, for the four main meats, Pork, Beef, Lamb, Chicken. The analysis shows that:

Trim PorkTM – Mince on average NZ$1/kg cheaper than the premium beef equivalent
Chops – pork were roughly NZ$3/kg cheaper than lamb
Roasts – generally sold on special and pork is about 70c/kg less than chicken and about NZ$2/kg less than lamb
Steaks – pork was on average NZ$2/kg less than boneless chicken breast and NZ$4/kg less than lamb and on par with beef
Stir Fry – pork about NZ$2/kg less than beef and NZ$3-4/kg less than chicken
Diced – pork tended to be cheaper than beef and lamb by roughly NZ$3/kg and about NZ$6/kg less than chicken
Retailers Agree
“We’ve discussed these results with other retailers around the country and they backed up our analysis. Pork is now the cheapest meat available, and a saviour for the currently stretched household food budget," added Mr McIvor.

And, that may change consumer choices. While pork is the world’s most consumed meat, for many New Zealanders, it will be a new meat on the weekly menu - something NZ Pork is keen to encourage and support.

“There’s plenty of help available and if people are unsure how to cook pork, help is just a text away as we supply retailers with '100 per cent New Zealand Pork’ on-pack labels with a text number for an instant recipe,” said Mr McIvor.

[mikey]

Tuesday, April 29, 2008Print This Page
Science Improves Quality Assesment for Iberian Meat
SPAIN - Swift identification of animal meat for human consumption a key element when guaranteeing the quality of products for consumers and producers. Now, scientists at the University of Granada's Pathological Anatomy and Chemical Engineering department have developed a new technique that can speed up the process and enhance results.


By combining technologies from different scientific and technical fields, which allow an immediate classification of Iberian pig meat, they can guarantee the quality of these products.

Iberian pig meat is a traditional Spanish product - seen as an exponent of good taste and maximum gastronomic quality. In recent years, a booming economic sector has developed and its popularity has grown outside Spain. The is an expanding market for Iberian ham, and dried meat, cold meats and quality cuts are exported all over the world.

Up to now, producers and processors have been using methods based on traditional processes like tasting and genetic assessment to determine the quality and purity of Iberian pig meat. However, after more than four years of research, by Fernando García del Moral Martín, under the la direction of Drs Francisco O’Valle Ravassa and Leopoldo Martínez Nieto, has produced a new computer application for the classification of Iberian pig meat. The system uses morphometry and spectral reflectance to assess meat quality. The application can automatically quantify the intramuscular connective tissue and the retraction of the muscular fibres from the images it takes.



Combined Techniques
The work has two essential areas.

"First, we have addressed the “histological quantification by artificial vision of six animal species: White pig of the Large White hybrid breed, Iberian pig, lamb, cow of the Galician Blonde breed, Kobe ox and pigeon," García del Moral said.


"Second, the study has developed non-invasive techniques with a high analysis potential, such as spectral reflectance in the visible range and close infrared of the spectrum. They have worked with 30 porcine animals, 15 of white breed and 15 more of pure Iberian breed. They have carried out, in all of them, the quantification of the spectral reflectance on the masseter muscle of the animal’s jawbone," he added.

The combination of spectral radiometry and artificial vision techniques conceived in this doctoral thesis, means that the scientists have been able to design computer samples of neuronal networks which correctly classify the meat samples, in all cases, with a success rate over 97 per cent.

Advancing
The research, both the thesis and the scientific papers, have been inserted in the project "Improvement of the Iberian pig meat’s gastronomic quality: a textural, physical-chemical, histological and culinary study".

The study is now at a more advanced stage which means the transference of research results to the productive sector. The current objective is to carry out a more advanced study with 66 Iberian pigs applying the above mentioned techniques in order to identify the genetic purity of the Iberian phenotype expressed in animals, as well as to improve the control, security and quality levels in the productive chain according to the 'from the farm to the table' philosophy.

The project has been possible thanks to the support of the Technological Corporation of Andalusia, the Stock Cooperative Society Valle de los Pedroches (COVAP) and Bodegas Campos.
The research has been backed by several articles published in the "Journal of Food Engineering" and a doctoral thesis.

 

[mikey]

Tuesday, April 29, 2008Print This Page
EU Pig Prices: Supplies Tighten
EU - The EU slaughter pig market is starting to tighten. Pigs are in shorter supply than previous weeks and prices are now reflecting this.


Spain and France were no been able to maintain last week’s achievements and the Danish quotation was observed to completely undo the previous week’s price decline, reports Schweine.net.

The most considerable price increase for slaughter progeny was reported from Germany, closely followed the Netherlands. The German quotation clearly outdistanced the French one and the price gap between Germany and Spain, as the leader, went gone down to a corrected six cents. The Austrians report sufficient supplies and exports toward Switzerland to be sustained - even increased.

Large quantities of meat are being put in storage in Switzerland in preparation for the UEFA 2008 European Football Championships, being held in June.

COPA (farmers’ union in the EU Commission) has requested that producer prices be increased for pork by EUR 0.50 at least. The situation proves to be disastrous for the pig keepers with dramatically increased feeding-stuff prices and energy costs in Denmark, which have already caused the Danish pig stock to go down by about 10 percent.

Trend: Most of the EU member countries will miss a day of slaughter due to the Labour Day public holiday this week. The Dutch even need to tackle two days. Nevertheless, the conditions are expected to remain steady at least as a result of supply going down.

[mikey]

Tuesday, April 29, 2008Print This Page
Pork Commentary: Koreans Clue Up
SOUTH KOREA - Last week, Jim Long visited South Korea. The trip included visits to Genesus customers and the honour of being guest speaker at the Annual Meeting of the Korea Animal Improvement Association.

 
Like the rest of the world, Korean producers are feeling the pressures of high feed costs and an unstable market.

Prices of Korean hogs have surged US$100 per head in the last several weeks as a consequence of an estimated 20 per cent of South Korean hog producers quitting the industry. Hogs prices are now US$1.50 lb US liveweight. Feed is US$490 US a ton. It takes approximately US$200 of feed to raise a hog. Cost of production is approximately US$250 to US$275 per head for 240 lb hog (approximately US$1.00 to US$1.10 US liveweight). Obviously, Korean producers have got it good right now, making US$75 to US$100 per head. Not very long ago they were losing US$50 to US$75 per head.

While we were in South Korea, there were large demonstrations against their government. Plans to allow US beef into South Korea for the first time since BSE struck the US was being opposed by farmers and opposition politicians. Beef in South Korea is maybe the most expensive in the world. Calves last week were selling for $3.50 US lb. Korea’s wholesale beef is currently US$5.50 per lb.

South Korea, for all intents and purposes produces no grain for livestock. It is all imported. Arable land is used for rice and vegetables. The average farm is half an acre. There are no lawns. In a country of 40 million people, 180 miles wide by 300 miles deep and 50% plus mountains, there is no land usage but farming and buildings. Intensive is this agriculture.

PRRS Problems
In such a climate of high costs, the need for productivity is becoming quite important. PRRS, circo-virus, etc. are hitting the Korean swine industry hard and 15 pigs per sow per year is probably the industry average. We spoke at the conference on the reality of 30 pigs per sow. The economic benefits of high productivity. The need for all of the world’s agriculture to maximize efficiencies of pork production. 7000 lbs plus of pork per sow per year and the necessity of whole herd feed conversions of under three to one. The technology is available. Inefficiencies are a waste of our world’s limited resources and poor results restrict profitability. We were pleased to meet Korean Genesus customers that are using our technology to break out of the norm. Pushing over 25 pigs and seeing adaptation to the environment that has dropped mortalities. In 2007, South Korean data indicates Genesus was the leading swine genetic supplier to the country. It is quite rewarding to see the hard work we that we do genetically being recognized in a country so far from home.

South Korean swine market’s primary cut of pork is the belly and it has the highest price. We had thick cut fresh belly on a barbecue more than once. If you have never tried it, you should. The market also gives a high premium for intramuscular fat. Lean is not king in this market. Flavour and colour is far more important.
Expect Surge
We have been of the opinion for months that the high grain prices were causing liquidation of the sow population globally. Case in point, South Korea. There, fewer sows have pushed prices to levels incomprehensible for us in North America. The benefit for our market is the recent price surge in market hogs and it’s because of real global pork demand. After all, we still have record seasonal hog marketings. Fortunately, US$1.50 per lb liveweight hogs in Korea are leading to more pork coming from North America. Expect our prices to continue to surge as global demand increases while our liquidation starts to cut our supply.
A Long-Lived and Long Man of Values
While in South Korea, I learned that my Grandfather Long had passed away - he was almost 102.
He has been a major influence on my life. Like many farm families, my parents had a home beside my Grandparents’ house on our 10 acre farm. We had mink, egg chickens, apple trees and small fruit stand. Our two houses were like one. My grandparents and parents had one car that we shared until I was twelve. Everybody worked before and after school. On weekends, we got to work all day. If there is a protestant work ethic, we lived it. You worked to live and lived to work. Didn’t know any different.

My grandfather was a person of honour and ethic. He was married to my grandmother for 71 years when she passed away at 96. They had been apart five days in their entire marriage. He never drank alcohol or smoked, but never judged anybody who did. He was civic-minded, a school board chairman and church leader, and as a businessman, the company he founded with his family reached US$50 million in sales.

Elmer Long was my Grandfather; at 102 he lived long past his contemporaries and that made him sad. Many times he said that everyone he knew were dead. It is my honour that he was my Grandfather. I only hope that the values he lived of honour, ethics, trust and perseverance are inheritable. They are values that I hold in his memory.

Author: Jim Long, President & CEO, Genesus Genetics 

[mikey]

Tuesday, April 29, 2008Print This Page
Policy Makers Learn About Pigs
UK - Representatives from Environment Agency, Defra, Health and Safety Executive, Lantra and the RSPCA, along with a number of individuals who work in the industry were invited to an 'Introduction to the Pig Industry' day at Writtle College recently.

 

The event proved invaluable in bringing together those working at grass roots level and those involved in all aspects of policy making.

It also revealed an acute lack of understanding about the real state of the pig industry by some parties and highlighted the impact of different policies on production and how, in extreme circumstances, they can contradict each other.

 
BPEX hosted an information day for people working in environment, safety, welfare and training sector. It provided some experience of the challenges faced by the UK industry. 
The day started with an overview of industry terms and how production works, followed by a presentation on the financial aspects of pig production including costs, returns, risks and their management.

This was followed by an outline on legislative issues affecting the industry such as environment, health and welfare, employment, health and safety and biosecurity.

The afternoon gave everyone the chance to tour the college pig unit and see the practical side of pig production.

Proactive Developments
The day was rounded off with a look at the proactive approach the industry was taking to help itself in terms of environmental strategies, staff development and knowledge transfer.

Defra Cost Sharing Policy Advisor Stephen Plant said: "It's easy for policy makers to sit in their ivory towers in London. The day gave a real hands-on experience and a better understanding of the totality of the industry. It also highlighted the benefits of partnership working. These kind of events are invaluable."

Environment Agency Technical Advisor Alison Frogley commented:
"The day gave a real feel for the industry and how it works. We have about 200 staff nationally going out on farm with a core team of 25 where we target our training. I would recommend they attend meetings like this as it gives a good insight into how the industry works and raises awareness of the current difficulties facing producers. Agencies must be prepared to take these on board when talking to farmers."

Lantra Project Manager Nanette Lane added: "I found the Continuous Professional Development area of the day really useful on how standards and qualifications are changing within the industry and how it affects our programme of activities. The whole day gave a useful insight into the industry and some hands-on experience."
Further events like this one will be taking place across the country.

[mikey]

Wednesday, April 30, 2008Print This Page
Sow Housing Scheme Closed
IRELAND - The Irish Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Mary Coughlan has closed the 2007 Sow Housing (Animal Welfare) Scheme for new applications.



A total of €6 million had been allocated to the Scheme by the 2007-2013 Rural Development Programme and now applications have reached the funding level.

The Minister stated that she closed the Scheme for new applications this week.

All applications received before the closing date of 25 April will be processed in the usual manner and approval to proceed with the investment works concerned will be issued to all eligible applicants who had submitted applications under the Scheme.

However, the closure of the scheme has come under fire from Irish pig farmers.

Irish Farmers' Association Pigs Committee Chairman Michael Maguire, said it was a further blow to the pig industry.

"This scheme has been closed early with the department stating that the monetary allocation has been fully subscribed, however some farmers through no fault of their own have been unable to apply for this grant aid," he said

"This grant which was for the conversion of breeding sow accommodation was introduced to assist pig producers to meet increased welfare standards laid down by the EU Commission."

Mr. Maguire added: "Minister Coughlan is fully aware of the plight that pig farmers find themselves in with the massive increases in feed prices. IFA have informed the Department of Agriculture on several occasions that pig farmers were finding it difficult to draw down capital investment loans to make necessary legislative improvements to their units for both the Nitrates Directive and the welfare legislation.

"I had expected maximum flexibility from the Department of Agriculture regarding applications for this scheme considering the current crisis in the industry. There was an initial two-year delay introducing the scheme by the DAFF. This delayed the conversion process to welfare housing when pig farmers were in a profit-making situation.

"The Department of Agriculture should have recognized that with pig farmers losing up to €25/pig it was of paramount importance that this scheme would be extended. However it is clear that due to negative returns from pigs, farmers will be forced to exit the industry rather than carry out these costly conversions," concluded Mr. Maguire.

[mikey]

Wednesday, April 30, 2008Print This Page
Russian Export Ban for Tyson and Smithfield
RUSSIA - Russia, the fifth-largest buyer of US pork, has banned imports of the meat from certain plants run by Tyson Foods and Smithfield Foods.



The ban affects pork from Tyson plants in Logansport, Indiana, and Storm Lake, Iowa, and Smithfield's Farmland plants in Crete, Nebraska, and Monmouth, Illinois, said the US Department of Agriculture. It is believed that concerns over antibiotic residues have prompted the Russian restrictions.



Sent Down
News that Russia banned pork from two Tyson Foods Inc. plants and two Farmland Foods plants, a division of Smithfield, sent US hog prices sharply lower at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, says Reuters.

Russia has claimed the antibiotic tetracycline was found in some of the pork, said USDA said. The US Meat Export Federation, and both meat companies involved are currently investigating Russia's action.

"We're still trying to learn more about the reason for the suspension," said Tyson spokes man Gary Mickelson, from the Springdale HQ in Arkansas. The company still has four plants exporting meat to Russia.

USDA seems not to be overly concerned. Spokesman Keith Williams said that these matters come up occasionally and are usually resolved quickly, "in a couple of weeks."

[mikey]

Wednesday, April 30, 2008Print This Page
Full Spectrum Conference for VIV Europe
RUSSIAN FEDERATION - The first Special Edition of VIV Europe takes place in Moscow from 27-29 May.



The exhibition organised by VNU Exhibitions in the Netherlands and Asti Group, are welcoming an exhibitor field of 300 international, regional and local companies from 32 countries.

Alongside the pig and poultry industry trade fair, the organisers are also presenting a three day seminar covering topics including economics and policy subjects, animal farm equipment, feed processing, feed ingredients, animal health and breeding, slaughtering egg and meat processing meat and dairy products and the entire meat supply chain.

At the official Opening Conference on 27 May, Nan-Dirk Mulder, an industry analyst at Rabobank's Food & Agribusiness Research and Advisory will give a presentation of the study of the rise of the Russian and Ukrainian animal protein industry in a global context.

The CIS animal protein industries, particularly in Russia and Ukraine, belong to the fastest growing industries in the world.

Many new greenfield projects are currently implemented in the poultry and pig industries offering huge opportunities for domestic and international investors and suppliers.

The Rabobank presentation will focus on the position of the CIS meat industries in the international animal protein market, the changing profile of the internal markets and industry structures and the opportunities and threats for investors and suppliers in these attractive markets.

"This presentation is a true added value for our visitors and exhibitors," said project manager Ruwan Berculo.

"There is a direct link to the exhibition, because the field of exhibitors also shows a strong combination of domestic and international suppliers."

Russian Animal Husbandry
The first day will also see speeches from representatives of the federal and regional legislative and executive authorities in Russia including the Ministry of Agriculture, Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Supervision, Federal Agency for Technical Regulation and Metrology, Meat Union, Rosptitsesoyuz (Russian Poultry Union) and Rossvinprom (Russian Swine Industry).

They will cover Russian animal husbandry in new conditions - the politics, economics and market situation.

Topics for discussion will be:

Cattle-breeding as the priority branch in the agriculture: state support and state policy in five year future
Influence of international tendencies on the animal husbandry: dairy, meat and poultry market
Dairy and meat production in conditions of new market price economy (raw materials, provision, technical resources including energetic and construction materials)
Problems that prevent development of the market (not enough agriculture specialists, undeveloped infrastructure, etc.)
Prospects of animal husbandry market: deficit of raw material or crisis of overproduction? + influence of import.
Tackling Disease Problems
Animal health products manufacturer Merial will be delivering two presentations on the first day of the conference.

Dr Stéphane Imbert will discuss a product range for swine at the forefront of infectious disease control and Dr Bruno Cluzel and Dr Andreas Hermann will look at control of Marek's disease and IBD infection and the safe and efficient control of Newcastle disease.

Dr Alex Eggen from Schering-Plough/Intervet Animal Health in The Netherlands will give a presentation on "What are now the best options for preventing respiratory diseases in swine?" and Dr Marc Martens, also from Schering-Plough/Intervet Animal Health will discuss "Enteric diseases in young piglets: differential diagnosis and prevention"

Other presentations on the first day will include:

Successful Turkey production by Mr. R.A. Hutchinson / Mr. M. Swalander from British United Turkeys.
The use of natural titrated plant extracts to manage gut flora balance in feed programmes by Dr. François Recoquilla from Phytosynthèse, France.
Animal biosecurity disinfect to protect by Phil Keene from Dow Biocides, USA
First Financial Seminar
Coface and VNU Exhibitions will present the first Financial Seminar for the Meat and Meat Processing industry on the second day of the seminars at VIV Europe 2008/Moscow Edition.

Coface is one of the world's leading providers of credit management services. This part of the seminar on 28 May will present credit management solutions and attendees will have the opportunity to receive answers to their questions for their specific company situations.

Coface offers four business lines in Russia, facilitating the trade in the meat, agro and food sector: information and ratings about companies, trade protection through credit insurance, trade finance through factoring and better receivables management with debt collection. With information about more than 57 million companies worldwide Coface has one of the strongest databases for the assessment of credibility and opinion on credit insurance limits for trade purposes.

The second day agenda for the seminars will see Vladimir Getman from Nedap Agri in the Netherlands give a presentation on "More Profit through innovative farm equipment".

Dr. Luciano Gobbi from Schering-Plough/Intervet Animal Health will talk on "Coccidiosis control: a sanitary approach or a management approach?" and Dr Pieter Kühne also from Schering-Plough/Intervet Animal Health will discuss "Prevention against the Respiratory Complex in poultry production is not so complex."

Other presentations on day two will include:

Control of salmonella in feed by Dr Don Wilson Global Technical Director for Anitox.
Phyzyme XP: a new generation phytase with higher bioefficacy by Sandor Zsarnoczay, Technical Manager with Danisco Animal Nutrition.
Consumer perception on Egg Quality in Russia by DVM Mustafa Ünal from DSM Nutritional Products.
"Understanding Infections' Dynamics to control PDC problematic farms by Dr. David Llopart from HIPRA, Spain.
Improved performance through innovative animal nutrition; increasing feed costs - what to do? and risk management in mycotoxins by biotransformation, binding and prevention by Ms. Maryte Narmontiene and DI Ursula Hofstetter from Biomin GmbH.
Eubiotics - Modern approaches in improving piglets gut health by Dr. Matthias Wiemann from DSM Nutritional Products, Switzerland.
Practical experiences feeding poultry with HyD: a question of quality by Dr. Maria F. Soto-Salanova from DSM Nutrional Products, Spain.
Mycotoxins, how to manage a serious matter of concern in food safety by Dr. Olga Averkieva from Kemin Europa NV, Belgium.
Joint Seminar on PCVD
The final day of the conference will see a joint seminar organised by Merial, France and the EU Framework 6 Specific Support Action (SSA) on PCVD. The speakers, Dr Gordon Allan, Dr Steve Krakowka and Dr John Ellis will look at "Porcine circovirus disease: Pathogenesis, diagnostic and control.

Martijn Gruyters from Cobb Europe will give a presentation on Managing the Progeny in Young Breeder Flocks and Santiago Gomez from Diamond Systems USA will look at egg products processing technology.

Sandor Zsarnoczay from Danisco Animal Nutrition in Finland will close the conference with a presentation entitled "Feed Costs to High? Learn more about how we can help to reduce your swine feed costs".