World Hog news:

[Mustang Sally Farm]

Global Pig Feed Market Forecast to Grow at Three Per Cent Per Year
30 May 2014

GLOBAL - A new report on the global pig feed additives market values the market at US$4.4 billion in 2012 and forecasts annual growth of 5.5 per cent by 2018.

Reportlinker has announced that a new market research report is available in its catalogue - Swine (Pig) Feed Market by Type (Starter, Grower, Sow), Additive (Antibiotics, Vitamins, Antioxidants, Amino Acids, Feed Enzymes, Feed Acidifiers) and by Geography - Global Trends & Forecasts to 2018.

Pork is the culinary name for the meat of the domestic pig. It is one of the most common types of meat consumed worldwide. Similar to all types of meat, pork is eaten both, freshly cooked and preserved. Some examples of preserved pork are ham, smoked pork, gammon, bacon, and sausage. Pork is a popular meat in the Western world. It is also very common in Chinese cuisine.

Many classes of swine feed have particular nutrient requirements. In general, feed for young pigs require greater dietary levels of most nutrients such as protein (lysine) than that for older pigs. As such, there are various diets on the market, or ones that can be mixed on farms, which are suitable to each class of pig. These diet types usually include starters, growers, sow, and others.

Feed additives are compounds added to premixes, supplements and complete feeds. They are non-nutritive products used in swine diets to improve the health of pigs and enhance the quality of pork. Swine feed additives help to increase the profitability of pork production. Common feed additives used in pork diets include antimicrobials, antioxidants, emulsifiers, binders, pH control agents, and enzymes.

The phases of pork production that take place on farms to rear pigs ready for the market are called breeding-gestation, farrowing, nursery, and grow-finish. During these phases, the pigs are fed as per their feeding types and requirements.

The global swine feed additives market generated a value of $4,419.0 million in 2012 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.5 per cent by 2018.

According to the report, the swine feed market is dominated by key companies such as CHR. Hansen Holdings A/S (Denmark), Lallemand Inc. (Canada), Novus International Inc.(US), Royal DSM N.V. (The Netherlands), BASF (Badishce Anilin und Soda Fabrik) (Germany), Alltech Inc. (US), ADM (Archer Daniels Midland Company) (US), Charoen Popkhand Foods (Thailand), ABF Plc (Associated British Food) (U.K), Cargill Inc. (US).

They keep the competition at a moderate pace; however, being a consolidated and rationalised market, individual companies have their competitive advantage in the market when supplying swine feed and additives.

The global swine feed market consumed 212,727.4KT in 2012 and is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 3.3 per cent by 2018. The market was led by grower feed with the fastest growing CAGR and market share. The market was led by Asia-Pacific in 2012.

The report focuses on the detailed study of swine feed type and additive in different regions with a thorough analysis of the market players in the industry. The key players covered in this report are CHR. Hansen Holdings A/S (Denmark), Lallemand Inc. (Canada), Novus International Inc.(US), Royal DSM N.V. (The Netherlands), BASF (Badishce Anilin und Soda Fabrik) (Germany), Alltech Inc. (US), ADM (Archer Daniels Midland Company) (US), Charoen Popkhand Foods (Thailand), ABF Plc (Associated British Food) (U.K), Cargill Inc. (US).

Reportlinker says its research report provides a comprehensive analysis of the global swine feed market.

[Mustang Sally Farm]

News


Russian Pig Meat Output Up 17 Per Cent
13 June 2014

RUSSIA - Pig meat production was 649,000 tonnes in the first three months of this year, 17 per cent more than the same period of 2013, according to the Ministry of Agriculture.

The Ministry of Agriculture has analysed the operating results for the country's pig meat sub-sector for the first quarter of 2014, according to Cherkizovo.

The total production of pigs for slaughter live weight on all categories of farms increased by 9.6 per cent to 855,600 tonnes (+75,200 tonnes) compared to the respective period of last year.

Agricultural enterprises produced 649,000 tonnes of pig meat in that period - an increase of 17.2 per cent or 95,200 tonnes compared to the same period of last year.

The most productive regions in terms of pig meat output were Belgorod Region (170,400 tonnes), Kursk Region (45,000 tonnes), Tambov Region (34,600 tonnes), Rostov Region (29,300 tonnes), Lipetsk Region (27,000 tonnes) and the Republic of Tatarstan (27,300 tonnes).

Pork production decreased in a number of Russian regions in the first quarter of 2014 relative to the respective period of last year, including Samara Region (-5,200 tonnes), Moscow Region (?2,000 tonnes), Perm Territory (-2,000 tonnes) and Voronezh Region (-1,400 tonnes).

Performance figures improved in the pork industry. Average daily gain in fattening and finishing increased by 8.3 per cent to 525g and the number of piglets per 100 sows grew by 1.0 per cent to 631 head.

The Department of Livestock and Breeding of the Russian Ministry of Agriculture is coordinating implementation of the sub-programme 'Development of the Sub-Sector of Livestock, Processing and Marketing of Animal Products' as part of the State Program for agricultural development and regulation of the markets for agricultural products, raw materials, and food from 2013 to 2020.

The government support planned by the State Program promotes the development of livestock breeding, including future growth of the pork sub-sector. These results were analysed and produced by experts from this dedicated department.

[Mustang Sally Farm]

Viet Nam Hog Market
19 June 2014
Genesus - The first power in genetics

VIET NAM - Ron Lane, Business Director for Asia Pacific, and Meggie Vo, Genesus Marketing Representative in Viet Nam, provide the latest update on the Vietnamese hog market.
•According to preliminary results of a survey conducted by the General Statistic’s Office (GSO) at the end of the 1st quarter, on farm inventory was calculated to be: buffalo-2.58 million head- equal to the same period as last year and cows reached 5.18 million head- up 0.7 per cent from the same period last year. On farm pig production (with more favorable hog prices and with less impact by diseases, especially PRRS, there was a total of 26.39 million pigs-a slight increase (0.3 per cent) as compared with the same period last year.


•Since TET (late January, 2014), market pig prices have steadily increased. In late March, the farm price for market pigs was about 51,000VND/kg ($2.41US/kg-$1.09US/lb.) -a rise of 2,000 to 3000VND/kg ($0.09 to 0.14US/kg-$0.04US to $0.06US/lb.). The market pig prices have been rising, partly due to the consumers’ fear of avian influenza information and thus the shift from poultry to pork. As well, an increase in the price of some commodities used for livestock feed have increased thus causing a rise in market pig prices. According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), in the last week, prices of live pigs in the southern provinces has increased by 5,000 VND/kg ($0.24USD/kg-$0.11USD/lb.) as compared to the beginning of April 2014.The pork price in the market place has also inched up by about 5,000 to 10,000 VND/ kg ($0.24US/kg-$0.11US/lb. to $0.47US/kg-$0.21US/lb.). Hog prices are at the highest levels within the past 2 years. Currently, the market pig price in the Ho Chi Minh area is about 55,000 to 56,000VND ($2.59US/kg-$1.18US/lb. to $2.64US/kg-$1.20US/lb.) an increase of 4,000 to 5,000VND/kg ($0.19 to 0.24US/kg-$0.09US to $0.11US/lb.) from early May.


•Like the last report, the southern regional market pig prices are higher than the northern regional prices by 8,000 to 10,000 VND/kg ($0.38US/kg-$0.17US/lb.to $0.47US/kg-$0.21US/lb.). One of the main reasons is the price of pork has risen because there is less current supply coming from the farms; several farmers have quit or reduced inventory; many large scale farms have been affected by the reduction in the herd that takes place because of devastating diseases such as PED and PRRS-these losses have been noted since late 2013. In addition, sources of live pigs from the north being sent to the south have dramatically decreased because of the cost of transportation of these pigs has greatly increased.


•In recent discussion with producers in Dong Nai province, market pig prices were about 56,000 VND/kg ($2.64US/kg-1.20US/lb.) and cost of production was about 42,000 VND/kg ($1.98US/kg-$0.90US/lb.). Profit was 14,000 VND/kg ($0.66US/kg-$0.30US/lb.) or about $66.04US/market pig in the south part of Viet Nam. However, the market pig price has been lower in the Hanoi region at 47,000VND/kg ($2.22US/kg-$1.01US/lb.).


•The price of pork in the wholesale market has also increased by 8,000 to10,000 VND/kg ( $0.38US/kg-$0.17US/lb. to $0.47US/kg-$0.21US/lb.) depending on meat cuts. At the market such as Van Thanh, Ba Chieu, Pham Van Hai, bacon was up to 90,000 VND ($4.25US/kg-$1.93/lb.) and pork cutlets cost were 85 ,000 VND/kg ($4.01US/kg-$1.82US/lb.).


•As of 23 May 2014 there were two provinces that had FMD outbreaks: Yen Bai and Kon Tum. PEDv has been present in Viet Nam for many years now. Recent flare-ups in March and April, caused large losses. Even large-scale foreign-owned farms which maintain better bio-security had cases. The amount of PEDv has recently subsided.


•Commencing in April, the value added tax rate for businesses importing the raw materials for animal feed processing was reduced from 5 per cent to 0 per cent.


•During the month of May, Viet Nam imported 197 thousand tonnes of soybeans with a total value worth $ 116 million USD. During the first 5 months, Viet Nam imported 809 thousand tonnes of soybeans (value of $474 million USD)-an increase of 49 per cent in volume and 44.5 per cent in value compared to last year.


•During the month of May, the import of feed and feed materials accounted for $ 280 million USD and brought the total during the first 5 months to reach 1.2 billion USD, down 0.2 per cent as compared to the same time last year. The main markets to supply these commodities were from Argentina (28 per cent), USA (18.6 per cent) and China (9.85 per cent).



Genesus Global Market Report
Prices for the week of 9 June 2014


Country

Domestic price
(own currency)

US dollars
(Liveweight a lb)

USA (Iowa-Minnesota) 118.07 USD/lb carcass 87.37¢
Canada (Ontario) 251.31 CAD/kg carcass 83.96¢
Mexico (DF) 29.75 MXN/kg liveweight $1.03
Brazil (South Region) 3.35 BRL/kg liveweight 67.45¢
Russia 108 RUB/kg liveweight $1.42
China 12.56 RMB/kg liveweight 91.49¢
Spain 1.435 EUR/kg liveweight 88.38¢
Viet Nam 56,000 VND/kg liveweight $1.20
South Korea 5,906 KRW/kg liveweight $2.62

[Mustang Sally Farm]

Brazil Exports Less Pork in 2014 But Value up 12 Per Cent
04 July 2014

BRAZIL - For the first six months of 2014, chicken export volumes continue to increase gradually year-over-year while for pork, export values are up significantly despite lower volumes.

Data collected by the Brazilian Association of Animal Protein (ABPA) show that Brazilian exports of chicken meat (including whole chicken, cut, processed and salted) between January and June this year were up 0 7 per cent over the same period last year, totalling 1.902 million tonnes. Revenue fell by 9.2 per cent to $3.718 billion.

For the month of June, chicken meat exports were down 3.1 per cent to 296,400 tons. Revenue also fell - by 2.2 per cent - to $617.6 million.

According to the vice president of poultry of ABPA, Ricardo Santin, one of the factors that influenced the fall in June was the end of the quota year for the European Union, which restricted the amount of shipments to the old continent just 10 days the month.

He explained that it is a matter of the market cycle and that the new year begins in July.

Mr Santin stressed that revenue from exports of chicken meat is recovering. The largest percentage fall in the revenue occurred in May and already international prices are rising again.

For fresh pork, data from ABPA shows exports between January and June this year fell by one per cent over the previous year, amounting to 200,700 tonnes. Revenue was up by 12.6 per cent to $635.9 million.

For June, both volume and value increased - by 13.5 per cent to with 38,900 tonnes and by 77.9 per cent to $157 million.

ABPA vice president for pigs, Rui Vargas, explained that revenue growth has climbed month after month in 2014, jumping from $80.9 million in January to $157 million in June. He sees this as positive for the sector's exports this year, which have so far increased in value despite being smaller in volume.

Chief executive of ABPA, Francisco Turra, said that exports of both chicken meat and pork increased in dollar terms. Converted into Reais, there is a positive balance for both the month of June and for the first six months of the year, which helps maintain producer incomes, he added.

[Mustang Sally Farm]

Pork Commentary: Global Markets
15 July 2014


Jim Long is President &
CEO of Genesus Genetics.


GLOBAL - This week, Genesus is speaking at the National Pork Producers Conference in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin; Genesus is a major sponsor of the always well organized and attended event. The following is some of the text of our presentation, writes Jim Long President – CEO Genesus Inc.

At last year’s conference we spoke and addressed what we saw coming in the next 12 months. Below is what we predicted and what really happened.

Next Twelve Months
•Last July we projected little sow herd expansion – June 1, 2013 5.884 million; June 1, 2014 5.855 – sow herd is slightly down
•Pork exports remain similar – They were slightly higher
•Domestic Pork demand would be similar – In reality pork demand was better as reflected in stronger hog prices
•July last year corn was $7.00 per bushel. We predicted that feed prices would decrease from July $30 per head over the next twelve months – We believe the $30 per head ended up real close.
•We projected last July that the next twelve months would have an average of $20 per head profit farrow to finish. In reality profit was closer to $50 per head. This would be if you sold cash and didn’t get PED. Many producers got PED and lots of hogs were hedged lower than cash. Bottom-line: we are glad we were wrong at $20 per head profit. $50 range was beyond our wildest dreams. When you look at price points of hogs around the world we see continued strength in the US hog price for many months.
•Brazil a year ago producers were losing serious money getting only 45? per pound US live weight. Currently, a year later, Brazil’s hog price is approaching 90? per pound live weight. Producers are making good money. Brazil market hog numbers January – May are down year over year 9.8%. Brazil has less pork to export supporting Global prices.
•Korea, a major pork market with imports from USA up 37% year over year. PED has torn up Korean hog production. Currently Korean producers are receiving $430 US for a 240 pound hog or about $1.80 US per pound. The high price of Korean hogs guarantees continued strong US pork exports.
•Mexico is the US’s largest pork export market by volume their tonnage is up 16% year to date. PED has hit Mexico’s pork production herd. The current hog price is $1.09 USD per pound. Profits are about $100 per head. Mexico will expand some in 2015 but difficult to obtain credit and the ongoing disease challenge will limit expansion. There is no reason to believe Mexico’s pork imports will not stay strong in the next twelve months.
•Russia in recent weeks has had hog prices as high as $1.85 US per pound. Profits have been over $200 per head. The price has decreased recently to $1.45 US per pound but with feed costs similar to US. Profits are real strong. The high price in Russia reflects high demand relative to pork supply. Pork Market Access to Russia comes and goes but when it goes there will be a surge of imports.
•China is the world’s largest pork producer with about half of the world’s production and consumption. In the last few months the Chinese hog price and overall costs have led to periods of financial losses the worst in 15 years. These losses at times have reached $80 US per head. Subsequently there has been according to China’s Government a breeding herd liquidation of 3.5 million sows from April 2013 – April 2014. In the month of April, 2014 it is reported one million sows went out of production. The liquidation in May – June we don’t know but we expect it continues.

This huge liquidation has begun to stabilize prices with China now in the breakeven areas. The wild card as we see it is when the liquidation sow numbers hit the market hog numbers. We expect a breeding herd reduction of 4 – 5% overall. A production decrease at a minimum 60 million market hogs per year. We expect a decline of over a million market hogs per week (equal to half of US production) will give a major jolt to China’s hog price. It will soar to $1.20 - $1.30 US live weight per pound. Pork imports will grow. This will be a boost for US pork exports especially with Smithfield ownership by the Chinese WH Group. China in our opinion will be North America’s fail safe hog price support in 2015. This combined with still limited pork production increase in USA – Canada will support continued high profits for hog producers.

Summary

When we talk about the markets in many countries it’s from first-hand experience. We do business with Genesus in each country highlighted here, plus many more. Travelling, writing, and engaged in the day to day business of these many countries gives us an opportunity to see the big picture. What we see overall is strong Global Pork Demand for pork with high hog prices that should sustain strong profits in North America through 2015. We expect the 2014 – 2015 time period will go down in history as the Golden Age for Hog Producers – a once in a lifetime experience. In January of this year we called 2014 The Year of The Pig Farmer – now we think 2014 – 2015 The Years of the Pig Farmer.


Author: Jim Long, President & CEO, Genesus Genetics

[Mustang Sally Farm]

Viet Nam: Hog Market
01 August 2014
Genesus - The first power in genetics

VIET NAM - Agricultural production for the first six months of 2014 experienced some difficulties mainly with livestock feed prices being higher and the always present disease challenges: especially Foot and Mouth, PEDv and PRRS but production has grown steadily, write Ron Lane, Business Director Asia Pacific, Genesus Inc. and Meggie Vo, Marketing Representative, Genesus Vietnam.

With pig production at this time and with more favourable market pig prices and with less influence of PRRS (blue ear disease), the recent GSO survey showed an increase to 26.39 million pigs, a slight increase (0.3 per cent) compared with the same period last year.

Market hog slaughter for the first six months was estimated at 1.9633 million tonnes, an increase of 1.65 per cent over the same period last year.

Comparing to the first quarter of 2014, the total herd reached 27.25 million, up 1 per cent, as compared to the same period in 2013. In the early months of 2014, the prices for livestock products in the south region moved quite higher as compared to the Central region and the Northern provinces.

Market pig price in the Northern provinces are always lower than the southern provinces from 5,000 to 8,000 VND/kg ($0.24 to $0.38 US/kg-$0.11 to $0.17 US/lb.). This price differential is still present with no signs to regain a more balanced North/South price.

One of the main reasons is due to very low prices in the south causing many farmers to quit or reduce their sow herd which in turn means that the lower number of market pigs is now coming to market.

With less numbers, the market pig price has risen quite sharply. In contrast and in the northern region, lean hog prices were kept at a high level for a long time which had the impact to maintain or increase the sow herd and thus the market pig supply is greater than the demand.

Chinese traders were very active in late 2013 and they drove the price higher in the northern region which encouraged growth of the breeding herd and thus market pigs. Now, however, the price in China is quite low compared to Vietnam and thus the Chinese traders have ceased this active trade. Again, the supply has increased and the market pig price has dropped further in the North areas.

According to the General Administration of Customs in the first 4 months of 2014, a total of 1,431 breeding pigs were imported (an increase by 2.1 times as compared to the same period in 2013). Among them, imports from the US accounted for 66.4 per cent, Canada accounted for 31, 9 per cent and Taiwan was 1.7 per cent. All pigs were cleared at the port of HCM city.

The amount of pork that was imported was 909.6 tonnes, up 7.14 per cent compared to the same period in 2013. The main countries that account for the imports are: Australia (43 per cent); Canada (4.9 per cent); Denmark (8.9 per cent); France (2.6 per cent); Germany (19.4 per cent); Spain (5.6 per cent) and United States (10.5 per cent). The pork imports are cleared at either HCM port (22.1 per cent) or Hai Phong port-in the North (accounting for 77.9 per cent).

There are currently 201 manufacturing plants for livestock feed-producing mainly animal feed mixes and concentrates, up 2 new plants compared with 2013 plants in Northern and Central regions.

The 2 companies each have the capacity of 250,000 tonnes/year. The total production for the animal feed industry for the first 6 months of 2014 was estimated at 7.0 million tonnes, up 4.5 per cent compared to the same period in 2013.

If one looks at production and feed consumption by region: the largest is the Red River Delta which accounts for 44 per cent; followed by the South East at 35 per cent; the Mekong Delta has about 16 per cent and the remaining areas have only about 5 per cent. Prices of some raw materials and feed products as compared with the first six months of 2013, most prices of feed ingredients especially energy and protein ingredients are reduced, for example:
•corn with price of 6,545 VND/kg ($0.31USD/kg-$0.14USD/lb), (down 13.5 per cent in 6 months)
•fish meal price of 25,200 VND/kg($1.19USD/kg-$0.54USD/lb), (down 13.0 per cent)
•rice bran type 1 costs 6,768 VND/kg ($0.32USD/kg-$0.14USD/lb), (down 6.1 per cent)
•dry cassava with a price of 5,355 VND/kg ($0.25USD/kg-$0.11USD/lb), (down 6.4 per cent)
•methionine 82,775 VND/kg ($3.90USD/kg-$1.77USD/lb), (down 10.9 per cent)
•lysine with a price of 36,538 VND/kg ($1.72USD/kg-$0.78USD/lb.), (down 25.1 per cent)
•soybean meal price was 14,455 VND/kg ($0.68USD/kg-$0.31USD/lb.), (up 3.6 per cent).

However, the general feed prices for finisher market pigs had an increase of 1.5 to 2.2 per cent (for example, the complete feed for market pigs was 10,490 VND/kg) ($495/tonne-$449/ton).

The main reasons are that the lowered priced ingredients are still in the warehouse as inventory until the higher priced ingredients are fed and also freight rates have increased.

On the import of feed materials and according to recent data, for the first 5 months of 2014, the amount of feed material imported increased over the same period in 2013, with total imports reaching 5.1 million tonnes compared to 3.0 million tonnes (up 70 per cent) Price was nearly $2.02 billion USD compared with $1.48 billion USD last year at this time, (up 36 per cent).

Protein-rich food groups accounted for 2.05 million tonnes: soybean meal reached 1.14 million tonnes ($645.3 million USD); rapeseed meal 166.3 thousand tonnes (worth $56.6 million USD); 58.9 thousand tonnes of soybean seeds (worth $34.1 million USD) and 248.6 thousand tons of meat and bone meal (worth $ 107.7 million USD). Energy-rich food groups accounted for 2.89 million tonnes (worth $724.4 million USD, of which corn was 2.268 million tonnes (worth 566 million USD); 227.1 thousand tonnes of wheat bran and 116,800 tonnes of rice bran extraction.

As mentioned before and in the latter part of 2013, Chinese traders were very active in sourcing market pigs from Viet Nam. However with the tremendous drop in market prices in China, the Chinese traders basically dropped the purchasing.

But recent events have opened up a new market for Vietnamese pig farmers. The Cambodian market has become a strong substitute for China. Several traders have been able to source market pigs for 55,000 VND/kg ($2.59USD/kg-$1.18USD/lb.).

Those same pigs will give about 5,000 VND/kg ($0.24USD/kg-$0.11USD/lb.) more at the slaughterhouses in Phnom Penh (Cambodia).

The export procedure is also very simple. The local authority of Veterinary Quarantine for Vietnam grants the border crossing for about 700 to 800 market pigs per day.

Part of the reason is that previously, Cambodia depended on importing market pigs from Thailand. However, Thailand has signed agreements for export to Japan and Europe. From this, the amount of pork for Cambodia has seriously dropped.

Cambodia has around 15 million inhabitants, but so far, the livestock industry of that country is still backward. Government may encourage and facilitate more favourable conditions for food importers.
•Recent pork prices in Dong Nai: pork tenderloin: 97,000 VND/kg ($4.58USD/kg-$2.08/lb.); hams: 87,000 VND/kg ($4.10USD/kg-$1.86USD/lb.) and market pig prices were 55,500 VND/kg ($2.62USD/kg-$1.19USD/lb.).
•Recent pork prices in An Giang: pork tenderloin: 90,000 VND/kg ($4.25 USD/kg-$1.93USD/lb.); hams: 80,000 VND/kg ($3.77USD/kg-$1.71USD/lb.) and market pig prices were 54,000 VND/kg ($2.55USD/kg-$1.16USD/lb.).
•Recent pork prices in Hau Giang: pork tenderloin: 94,000VND/kg ($ 4.43USD/kg-$2.01 USD/lb); hams: 84,000 VND/kg ($3.96USD/kg-$1.80USD/lb.) and market pig prices were 50,000 VND/kg ($2.36USD/kg-$1.07USD/lb.).

June CPI increased by 0.3 per cent from May, 2014. Since the beginning of 2014, the CPI has increased by 4.77 per cent. The food group fell by 0.47 per cent.

Hanoi local People’s Committee is concerned about the operations of small abattoirs in the city region. In 2012, a 4.4 hectare (about 67 acres) site was approved for the construction of a public slaughterhouse, but construction has not commenced.

Hanoi Department of Industry and Trade claims 70 per cent of meat from household and local abattoirs fail to meet hygiene and food safety standards.

Genesus

[Mustang Sally Farm]

Mexico Hog Markets
07 August 2014
Genesus - The first power in genetics

MEXICO - Mexico continues with the production holes due to old Porcine Epidemic Diarrhoea (PED) outbreaks and new PED outbreaks in Central Eastern Mexico, write Carlos A. Peralta - President and R. Carlos Rodriguez – Vice-president of Genesus.

July farm grain prices were: i) corn at $3,340Mx/Ton ($247 USD), 12 per cent cheaper than 30 days before in Mexican Pesos and 8.6 per cent in USD. ii) Sorghum $3,150 Mx/Ton ($233 USD), cheaper in terms of USD due the exchange rate, and iii) soybean meal $7,780 Mx/Ton ($576 USD), 4.7 per cent cheaper than June, all those products are cheaper than previous report.

The life slaughter price for Mexico City metropolitan area is $42.42 Mx/Kg ($2.40 USD/Kg), in Mexican Pesos 9 per cent higher than previous month and 6 per cent higher in USD. Mx-USD exchange rate during last week was $13.50 Mx-$1.00 USD.

This Exchange rate has been caused by the “New Tango Effect” originated by Argentinean Government when they didn´t paid their External debt. Average production cost during last 30 days was $ 18.50 Mx/Kg, obtaining $13.92 Mx/Kg as profits/Kg or $1,600 Mx per slaughter pig ($118.50 USD).

We estimate the slaughter price could go up to $35.00 or $36.00 Mx/Kg (2.63 to 2.71 USD/Kg) during the last quarter 2014 and the first two months of 2015.

Mexico continues with the production holes due to old PED outbreaks and new PED outbreaks in Central Eastern Mexico. At the same time some large pig producers are in a real production expansion due to the business opportunity they see which is related to the lack of availability and future low grain prices.

The General Director of “Granjas Carroll de Mexico” (GCM), Dr. Victor Ochoa, announced a 60 million dollar investment in the construction of a new Slaughter and Packing plant. These facilities will slaughter and process 3,000 hogs per day. The investment is related with GCM vertical integration policy and with the intention to be much more competitive in the National and International markets.

On the other hand, “Kuo Group”, owner of “Grupo Porcicola Mexicano” (GPM) and Kekén, announced their excellent results during the first quarter of 2014 and which are based on the good results from these two Companies.

The Mexican Minister of Agriculture (SAGARPA) integrated working groups between pig producers, businessmen, academics, Research & Development Institutions, Pharmaceutical Industry, Feed producers, and SAGARPA with the principal intention to implement better public policies to advance in the regulation body of rules of the pork meat, accessible financial scheme, sanitary actions and export market strategies, basically with the international recognition of Mexico as free of Classic Swine Fever and Diarrhea Epidemic Porcine (DEP) prevention actions.

Mexican Pork Meat Consumption:

According with Mexican Pig Producers Council (CMP) during the last year Mexico suffers a reactivation of the pig meat consumption from 15.5 Kg per capita in 2010 to 16.6 Kg in 2013.

[Mustang Sally Farm]

Pork Commentary: Russian Road Trip
12 August 2014

Jim Long is President &
CEO of Genesus Genetics.


RUSSIA - This past week we were in Russia when sanctions were announced stopping many food products from being imported. Included on the banned list was pork from many countries including European Union, USA, and Canada. The ban was announced to be for one year.

In some ways it was not a game changer as Russia had already banned EU pork and live pigs due to African Swine Fever and USA – Canada was shipping little to Russia. Brazil has and will be able to ship pork to Russia.

The previous ban on EU pork has led to quite profitable pork production in Russia as the total pork supply has been cut by about 20 – 25 per cent. How profitable? We were visiting Genesus customers this past week and they told us their profit was $250 per head. The further one year ban of EU pork will lead to very good profits for the next year.

These unprecedented profits for Russian producers will lead to sow herd expansion in the next year. This will push up Russian production towards a goal of self-sufficiency. In the next year there will be opportunities for builders, equipment, and genetic supplies for this expansion.

On breeding stock genetics there is limited supply available in Russia and imports appear to be banned.

Where the breeding stock will come from for the potential expansion could be a real challenge. One thing for sure there are always interesting dynamics that affect the pork industry. Disease, feed costs, and politics all seem to affect the market access and prices. It’s not for the faint hearted. Many factors affect our livelihood and it’s almost impossible to guess what is next?

Markets

Being in Russia we have limited access to US market news. Unfortunately what we have seen has been mostly the downside on the US hog market. Lean hog futures down with April – June lean hogs down to 87? - 89? last Friday. April – June are the hogs that are being bred for currently. It’s plus $50 per head less than we got in the same period this year. It appears to us April – June lean hog futures have no factor of ongoing PED disease in the market equation. Too early to tell what PED strikes will be this fall. Even a 3 per cent increase in mortality from PED above normal mortality makes 87? - 89? lean hogs way too pessimistic price in our opinion.

We never expected $1.40 lean hogs in August seemed to us with total pork tonnage not much different year over year, heavier carcass weights was beyond comprehension to reach such a price high. Wish we were wrong. 13 million lean hogs were $114.77/pound last Friday off $30 per head in the last two weeks.

We believe there will be continuing price pressure lower over the next few weeks.


Author: Jim Long, President & CEO, Genesus Genetics

[Mustang Sally Farm]

PEDv Causes Japanese Producers to Import Large Volumes of Frozen Pork
22 August 2014
USDA Foreign Agricultural Service

JAPAN - Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea virus (PEDV) continued to constrain Japanese and North American pork production in the first half of 2014, leading Japanese pork processors to import large volumes of frozen pork to secure supplies and hedge against further price increases.

In addition to North American products, Japanese importers accelerated their supply diversification, buying significantly larger volumes of EU pork, and nearly triggered the pork special safeguard (SSG).

Japanese pork consumption in the first half of 2014 was flat, though as beef prices are projected to climb still higher, consumers may buy more pork in 2015 despite higher prices.

As Japanese production recovers from PEDV and frozen stocks work their way through the market, Japanese pork imports are expected to fall in 2015.

However, as Japanese and North American production begins to recover from the worst effects of PEDV, Russia’s import ban on EU pork may reinforce patterns that emerged as a result of PEDV as EU producers seek buyers for their additional exportable supply through summer 2015.

[Mustang Sally Farm]

India Reports 23 Outbreaks of PRRS 03 October 2014
INDIA - Twenty-three outbreaks of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS; "blue ear") occurred between May 2013 and April 2014, the country has recently informed the OIE.

The Indian veterinary authority sent Follow up Report No.1 dated 29 September to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE). The Immediate Notification report was in June 2013.

Since then, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, there have been 23 clinical outbreaks of PRRS Type 2 in the states of Mizoram, Assam, Manipur, Meghalya and Nagaland, all of which are in north-east India.

All of the affected pigs in Meghalaya were kept on farms but the others were in village herds. Of the 32,675 animals involved, 913 showed symptoms; 73 died and 840 were destroyed.

The report includes a comment that random sero-surveillance is on-going, with 24,991 samples tested so far. No clinical cases have been recorded till now. However, during sero-surveillance, sero-positive animals are being detected

[Mustang Sally Farm]

GLOBAL - The World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) has confirmed that, contrary to earlier reports, pig blood products such as dried plasma are not a likely source of infectious porcine epidemic diarrhoea virus (PED) virus provided that good manufacturing practices and biosecurity standards are followed.

This positive news for the feed industry follows the scientific work of an OIE ad hoc group on PEDv, to which a group led by the International Feed Industry Federation (IFIF) and composed of experts from the affected regions, as well as from the blood plasma industry, contributed relevant scientific information and data following a request by the OIE Director General, Dr Bernard Vallat.

Alexandra de Athayde, IFIF Executive Director, said: “Not only is this an important finding for the feed chain highlighting our strong commitment to feed safety, but it also demonstrates the importance and benefits of cooperation between IFIF and OIE, in particular with regards to the prevention and management of infectious diseases.”

She added: “IFIF looks forward to continue to work with the OIE to contribute to improved animal health and productivity, which in the end leads to a positive contribution to public health, as well as to support the development, updating and implementation of OIE standards and guidelines.”

[Mustang Sally Farm]

Pork To Rise in Japan

JAPAN - Pork prices are forecast to increase ahead of a seasonal rise in porcine epidemic diarrhoea (PED).

An unnamed executive of a meat wholesale company in Tokyo has told Yukan News that one of the reasons for the rising price of pig meat is the fear of a return of PED.

Since the infection hit the country in October 2013, the executive estimates the loss of pigs to run to at least 370,000, reducing the country's pork production.

With a likely seasonal peak in PED outbreaks ahead, the source predicted a further marked increase in pig meat prices.

[Mustang Sally Farm]

Oct.30/2014
JAPAN - Outbreaks of porcine epidemic diarrhoea (PED) in the country are partly blamed for a 20 per cent rise in pork prices over the last year.

In the Minato meat market in Tokyo, this week, wholesale pork prices were up 10 per cent from the previous week's average, according to Nikkei.

This represents a 20 per cent increase from a year ago, when outbreaks of PED began in Japan.

The price rise has reportedly been exacerbated by retailers ahead of the coming three-day weekend for Culture Day.

[Mustang Sally Farm]

06 November 2014

BRAZIL - South Africa has reopened its border to imports of fresh pork from Brazil.

After nearly 10 years of negotiation, South Africa has authorised the resumption of fresh pork imports from Brazil. This authorisation excludes piglets and includes mechanically recovered meat, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (MAPA).

The Ministry received the official confirmation on 3 November. Exports to South Africa were suspended in 2005 after an outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in Brazil.

Secretary of International Relations, Marcelo Junqueira, said: "This was a very important negotiation for Brazil and one of the most time-consuming when dealing with fresh pork. This qualification ensures that we can export pork to be further processed there, guaranteeing us a new option in the market sector."

According to the Ministry's Department for International Relations, negotiations with South Africa are ongoing over the list of establishments approved for export to the country authorities.

General coordinator of Bilateral and Regional Trade Agreements, Jean Carlo Cury, explained: "Today there is already a list on the South African government web site. We have checked with the authorities of that country that it is still valid. If it is, we will require some adjustments to be made, taking into consideration that some establishments since 2005 have closed or changed the company name."

In September, South Africa was ranked 42nd in the ranking of Brazilian agribusiness exports, reaching a total value of US$32.06 million.