Pinoyagribusiness

News
China enhances poultry subsidies // 18 Apr 2008


According to American Agriculturalist, state-controlled media has reported that China's government will give subsidies worth millions of yuan to boost production on large pig and chicken breeding units.
 


 
Citing the central government's National Development & Reform Commission, Xinhua news agency reported that breeder chicken units will see up to 1 million yuan depending on their scale of production.

News
Huge hatchery built in Russia// 18 Apr 2008


HatchTech Incubation Technology and Russian based ‘GAP Resource’ owned by Victor Nauruzov, have agreed upon the construction of a brand new turnkey hatchery facility, with a production capacity of 80 million eggs per year.


 
After delivering a 35 million egg/year hatchery in the end of 2006, GAP Resource once more confirms its trust in HatchTech. This trust is, according to GAP Resource, based on excellent hatching results and reliable first-rate (Russian speaking) after sales service.
HatchTech will deliver a turnkey hatchery including 36 HatchTech MicroClimer Setters (cap.126720 eggs), 18 HatchTech MicroClimer Hatchers (cap. 42240 eggs) and the complete system for ventilation, cooling and heating. A ‘hatchery management system’ will secure efficient energy usage and proper ventilation and incubation.
Founded in 2002, GAP Resource is a leading, fast growing producer of poultry meat in the Southern regions of Russia. Currently GAP Resource consists out of 2 feed mills, 11 breeding and broiler enterprises and 2 processing plants producing 60,000 tonnes of meat per year. GAP Resource has a range of 40 brands of broiler meat products that are distributed in Moscow and all Southern regions of Russia.
 

News
Location announced for US plant powered by poultry litter// 18 Apr 2008


Fibrowatt, a US company that generates renewable energy from poultry litter, has announced that it has selected Sampson County as the location for its first plant in North Carolina.


 
 "We're delighted that a Fibrowatt plant is coming to eastern North Carolina. The citizens of Sampson County have been very supportive of this project and have worked hard to bring this important development to our area," said Jeff Wilson, chairman of the Sampson County Board of Commissioners.
The 55-megawatt plant is expected to cost over US$200 mln, and according to the company, the facility will create about 100 jobs. Fibrowatt hopes to begin construction in 2009 and begin operating in 2011.
It has also been reported that the company will receive a 10-year tax-incentive package worth $2.5 mln from Sampson County, plus assistance with infrastructure improvements, including water and sewer services.
An additional 2 plants
Fibrowatt intends to develop three plants in North Carolina and expects to announce plant locations in central and western North Carolina upon completion of evaluations in these areas. The company is currently evaluating sites in Surry County and Wilkes County in western North Carolina, and Moore County, Montgomery County and Stanly County in central North Carolina.
 

News
Bird flu skin patch under development// 17 Apr 2008


A small biotechnology company, which is trying to develop needle-free bird flu vaccines, has received US government approval to test a bird flu skin patch on more people.


 
Iomai's patch is not a vaccine, but rather delivers an 'adjuvant', which is an immune boosting agent that will be delivered along with a vaccine to try to make it work better.
"The Iomai immunostimulant patch has the potential to change how we react to an influenza pandemic, and we will move ahead quickly with the development of this technology," said president and CEO of Iomai, Stanley Erck.
The Health and Human Services Department, which gave Iomai $128 million to work on the patch in 2007, said the company could do a phase 2 safety trial -- typically involving a few dozen people to see if a product is safe and whether there is any indication it works.
If a phase 2 trial succeeds, companies can move to phase 3 studies, which are carefully designed to prove a product has the intended effect and are needed for final approval by the US Food and Drug Administration.
The patch, applied after gently scraping the skin with a sandpaper-like device, is being used to boost an H5N1 vaccine made by the Belgian drug company Solvay SOLV.BR.
Last month, the company reported the skin patch helped boost a bird flu vaccine so well that people appear to be protected by a single dose. This could help stretch vaccine supply during a pandemic.

News
Unilever and McDonalds change to free-range eggs// 17 Apr 2008


McDonald’s and Unilever will stop using battery eggs for their products. Both multinational concerns confirmed to the animal welfare organisation Compassion In World Farming (CIWF) that they will only use free-range eggs from now on.


 
 The Dutch/British food and cosmetics concern Unilever uses 650 million eggs per year in Europe. The eggs are used in mayonnaise, dressing, ice-cream and shampoo. To meet this demand, 2.5 million chickens are needed. Before 2010, all the products should be made from free-range eggs. The transfer from battery eggs to free-range eggs will be done in phases. It will be first implemented in Europe and then in the rest of the world.
This week, McDonald’s and Unilever were awarded with the Compassion In World Farming's Good Egg Award. This award is introduced by the CIWF.

News
Linking amino acids and trace minerals to feathers in layers// 21 Apr 2008


Recently completed research* funded by the US Poultry & Egg Association studied the effects of dietary sulfur amino acids and trace minerals on feather cover in laying hens.


 
 Importance of the study
Feather cover is important for its insulation value and protection from scratches and injury to the hen’s skin. In commercial settings, surveys indicate a rapid deterioration in feather cover after the hens are about 40 weeks of age, with some recovery after molt and then again a rapid deterioration during the second cycle of egg production. The United Egg Producers Animal Husbandry Guidelines also note the importance of adequate feather cover for the welfare of the laying hen.
Objectives
The objectives of the research were to test the level of cystine and methionine supplementation necessary to optimise feather cover during the first and second cycles of egg production, and to investigate the effects of supplemental selenium (Se) or zinc (Zn) on feather cover through the first and second cycles of egg production.
Results
Egg production (EP) was significantly affected by dietary amino acid treatment during all three phases of production. During Phase 1, EP was greatest for hens on the control diet (low methionine and basal cystine) or high cystine diets. During Phase 2, EP was greatest for hens fed the highest level of methionine supplementation. There was no benefit to cystine supplementation during Phase 2. During Phase 3, positive effects of high levels of methionine or cystine supplementation were quite apparent for improved egg production. Trace mineral supplementation had a transitory effect on egg production during Phase 2 of the study, showing improved EP when hens were fed inorganic Se combined with 100 ppm Zn from Bioplex.
Egg weights were only significantly affected during Phase 2, at which time hens fed the highest level of methionine had the greatest egg weights. Cystine and methinionine supplementation inconsistently improved egg weights during Phase 3 whereas trace mineral supplementation had no effects on egg weight.
Feather scores by both feather quality scales (Webster and Hurnik‘s for overall or Tauson’s for five different areas of the body) did not show any dietary amino acid or trace mineral treatment effects. Age significantly affected feather scores as one might expect. After 46 weeks of age, feather scores significantly decreased by both scales, reaching a low point by 64 weeks of age. Feather scores significantly rebounded following the molt but were not positively influenced by the dietary treatments.
Conclusion
High levels of methionine or cystine supplementation had positive effects on egg production and egg size. Cystine was as effective as methionine at the highest treatment levels. Unfortunately, the levels of methionine and cystine supplementation used in this trial were not able to prevent normal age-related feather loss in this population of white leghorn hens. The practice of non-restriction molting did improve feather quality and scores for a period of time following the molt regime.
*

News
Ostrich production struggling in Botswana// 21 Apr 2008

The sole ostrich abattoir in Botswana is still unable to reach its target of slaughtering 1,160 birds per month.


 
The plant re-opened in October 2007 and managed to slaughter a total of 1182 birds from October last year to February.
According to abattoir manager Freeman Mogaga, farmers are unable to meet the target due to limited infrastructure, unreliable feed supply and unavailability of chicks.
He went on to say that few ostrich farms, inadequate training and high start-up costs were among the problems affecting ostrich production in the region. However, he said the Ministry of Agriculture should aid this industry with more funding, subsidise ostrich farming start-up cost and adequate infrastructure and training.
He also called on farmers to invest more, devote more time and efforts in ostrich farming as well as liaise with the ministry officials on better and profitable farming techniques.
It is reported that the ostrich meat is sold locally, as well as to countries such as Belgium, and the skins sold to Asia and South Africa.
Source: Republic of Botswana website
 

News
Pakistan: use wheat for food not poultry feed// 21 Apr 2008


The use of wheat as an ingredient for poultry feed could worsen the present crisis of flour in Pakistan, according to the Ministry of Food Agriculture and Livestock.


 
With last year's wheat crisis, poultry feed manufacturers were only allowed to use maize as one of the ingredients rather than wheat, but because maize was more costly this rule did not work. Feed millers therefore stored wheat, which could not be used for the flour mills anymore.
However, according to agricultural experts the recent rain almost across the country will increase the production rate of the wheat crop.

News
US poultry facilities approved to export to Russia// 21 Apr 2008


USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service has stated that Russia has added more pork and poultry facilities to its list of eligible exporters.


 
Poultry originating from Ashland Cold Storage and House of Raeford-Wallace Division inTeachey , N.C. , can be exported to Russia .
L&K Packing International, a Schleswig, Iowa-based cutting/packaging plant and cold storage facilities owned by Chicago-based Ashland Cold Storage and Richland, Miss.-based Millard Refrigerated Services are now eligible to export pork to Russia.
 

News
Huge hatchery built in Russia// 18 Apr 2008


HatchTech Incubation Technology and Russian based ‘GAP Resource’ owned by Victor Nauruzov, have agreed upon the construction of a brand new turnkey hatchery facility, with a production capacity of 80 million eggs per year.


 
After delivering a 35 million egg/year hatchery in the end of 2006, GAP Resource once more confirms its trust in HatchTech. This trust is, according to GAP Resource, based on excellent hatching results and reliable first-rate (Russian speaking) after sales service.
HatchTech will deliver a turnkey hatchery including 36 HatchTech MicroClimer Setters (cap.126720 eggs), 18 HatchTech MicroClimer Hatchers (cap. 42240 eggs) and the complete system for ventilation, cooling and heating. A ‘hatchery management system’ will secure efficient energy usage and proper ventilation and incubation.
Founded in 2002, GAP Resource is a leading, fast growing producer of poultry meat in the Southern regions of Russia. Currently GAP Resource consists out of 2 feed mills, 11 breeding and broiler enterprises and 2 processing plants producing 60,000 tonnes of meat per year. GAP Resource has a range of 40 brands of broiler meat products that are distributed in Moscow and all Southern regions of Russia.

China enhances poultry subsidies // 18 Apr 2008


According to American Agriculturalist, state-controlled media has reported that China's government will give subsidies worth millions of yuan to boost production on large pig and chicken breeding units.
 


 
Citing the central government's National Development & Reform Commission, Xinhua news agency reported that breeder chicken units will see up to 1 million yuan depending on their scale of production.

 

Amino acids, trace minerals and feathers
// 23 apr 2008

Recently completed research* funded by the US Poultry & Egg Association studied the effects of dietary sulfur amino acids and trace minerals on feather cover in laying hens.

Feather cover is important for its insulation value and protection from scratches and injury to the hen’s skin.

In commercial settings, surveys indicate a rapid deterioration in feather cover after the hens are about 40 weeks of age, with some recovery after molt and then again a rapid deterioration during the second cycle of egg production.

The United Egg Producers Animal Husbandry Guidelines also note the importance of adequate feather cover for the welfare of the laying hen.

Objectives
The objectives of the research were to test the level of cystine and methionine supplementation necessary to optimise feather cover during the first and second cycles of egg production, and to investigate the effects of supplemental selenium (Se) or zinc (Zn) on feather cover through the first and second cycles of egg production.

Results
Egg production (EP) was significantly affected by dietary amino acid treatment during all three phases of production. During Phase 1, EP was greatest for hens on the control diet (low methionine and basal cystine) or high cystine diets.

During Phase 2, EP was greatest for hens fed the highest level of methionine supplementation. There was no benefit to cystine supplementation during Phase 2.

During Phase 3, positive effects of high levels of methionine or cystine supplementation were quite apparent for improved egg production.

Trace mineral supplementation had a transitory effect on egg production during Phase 2 of the study, showing improved EP when hens were fed inorganic Se combined with 100 ppm Zn from Bioplex.

Egg weights were only significantly affected during Phase 2, at which time hens fed the highest level of methionine had the greatest egg weights.

Cystine and methinionine supplementation inconsistently improved egg weights during Phase 3 whereas trace mineral supplementation had no effects on egg weight.

Feather scores by both feather quality scales (Webster and Hurnik‘s for overall or Tauson’s for five different areas of the body) did not show any dietary amino acid or trace mineral treatment effects.

Age significantly affected feather scores as one might expect. After 46 weeks of age, feather scores significantly decreased by both scales, reaching a low point by 64 weeks of age.

Feather scores significantly rebounded following the molt but were not positively influenced by the dietary treatments.

Conclusion
High levels of methionine or cystine supplementation had positive effects on egg production and egg size.

Cystine was as effective as methionine at the highest treatment levels. Unfortunately, the levels of methionine and cystine supplementation used in this trial were not able to prevent normal age-related feather loss in this population of white leghorn hens.

The practice of non-restriction molting did improve feather quality and scores for a period of time following the molt regime.

* Effects of Dietary Sulfur Amino Acids and Trace Minerals on Feather Cover in Laying Hens, by Sheila E. Scheideler, Ph.D., Department of Animal Science,

Tuesday, April 29, 2008Print This Page
Ontario Renews Partnership with University of Guelph
CANADA - The partnership between the Ontario government and the University of Guelph that resulted in the Omega-3 egg is being renewed and improved.



Under an agreement announced today, the university will receive C$300 million over the next five years to help it continue its top-notch agri-food and rural research and development programs, animal health and food testing services, and veterinary education. This is in addition to C$56 million in one-time funding announced in the 2008 Ontario Budget.

The partnership also provides Ontario with improved methods to detect animal diseases such as rabies and tuberculosis, protecting lives and livelihoods.

"This renewed partnership is good news for our agri-food sector and focuses on research and innovation to better protect our health, economy and environment," Ontario's Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Leona Dombrowsky said.

"This significant and strategic investment is indicative of the forward-thinking innovation strategy of the Ontario government and Minister Dombrowsky," said University of Guelph President Alastair Summerlee.

"This increased commitment will allow the partnership to generate even more than the current C$1-billion it has been returning every year for the past 10 years."

Deception in Plumped up Poultry
US - Many companies plump up poultry meat by injecting them with a broth to make them taste tastier and more tender, but this practice also adds water weight and sodium.


According to TriCities, Consumer Reports found chicken and turkey products with up to 30 percent of their weight from broth, flavoring solution, or water. Plus sodium levels were far higher than in poultry that hadn’t been juiced up.

A Prestage Premium Young Turkey Breast “contains approximately 15%” of a solution. At a cost of $14.61 that means you could be paying up to $2.19 for the added liquid. And an enhanced turkey has a hefty 390 milligrams of sodium per serving.

Consumer Reports took a look at a package of Tyson Chicken Wing Sections. “100% All Natural” is in large print, but look closer at the fine print and you’ll find “contains up to 12% broth.” Seventy percent of people Consumer Reports surveyed last year said that they think the label “natural” should mean no salt water is added. For now, though, if you want to avoid extra sodium or paying for liquid in poultry, you need to read labels carefully.

What Do Chicken Labels Really Say?
US — Buying chicken these days is not like it used to be. With labels like “100 percent natural,” “organic,” “grain-fed,” and “free range,” many consumers don’t really know what they’re buying.


According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)—“100 percent natural” means the poultry doesn’t contain artificial ingredients like preservatives. But experts warn—there are no guarantees.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*
"100 percent natural—remember—no inspections are done. So we don’t know if those claims are really true" 
Shannon Wallace, R.D., registered dietitian with Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
“100 percent natural—remember—no inspections are done. So we don’t know if those claims are really true,” says Shannon Wallace, R.D., registered dietitian with Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas.

Chicken labeled as “organic” must meet much stricter standards. Inspections are conducted and organic chicken cannot contain artificial ingredients, hormones or antibiotics. But are those really harmful to consumers?

“The USDA does not make any claims that organically produced food is any safer or more nutritious than conventionally produced food,” adds Wallace.

Another popular chicken label—“grain fed.” This is supposed to mean the chicken was not fed animal by-products, but just like “100 percent natural” and “free range,” there is no outside monitoring for this claim.

And probably the most confusing label of them all—“free range.” Chicken labeled as “free range” is supposed to be leaner, but again, experts warn the claim can be deceiving.

“Free range does not always mean that the animal has been in an open area its whole life. It may only mean they were in a restricted area and let out into that open area one time during their life,” says Wallace.

So what should you shop for in chicken?

“If you would like to have a healthy diet—trimming the fat or buying leaner cuts of meat is always important. And the research is still out regarding these other issues of hormones and antibiotics,” says Wallace.

Thursday, May 22, 2008Print This Page
Saturated Fats in Diet Produce a Lower Deposition
US - It has been proven, in poultry, that the incorporation of saturated or monounsaturated fats in the feed increases fat deposition, whereas this does not happen with polyunsaturated fatty acids.



The aim of this thesis was to determine if the dietary fatty acids composition affects the amount of fat deposition in pigs, apart from its composition. This has been the line of work of CENTA's researcher, Pere Duran Montgé's doctoral thesis, titled 'Effects of dietary fatty acids composition on pig fat and fatty acid deposition'.

The results of these studies showed that pigs behaviour differs from that of chicken, in the sense of dietary saturated fats reduced fat deposition in relation to other studied fats and even in relation to a low-fat diet.

It has also been observed that the composition of fats in the diet modifies the expression of genes related to lipogenesis and the composition of de novo synthesized fat. Finally, the deposition of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), of interest for consumer's health, has been studied, and it has shown that when their level in the feed is high, rendition in deposition declines. This is particularly evident for EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) fatty acids present in fish, considered of interest to prevent cardiovascular diseases in humans, and whose deposition was lower than 50% of the administered amount.

On the other hand, the formation of these fatty acids from linolenic acid, their predecessor, and the deposition in the different fat tissues of pigs has also been studied. The highest DHA deposition is produced in the liver, but synthesis from linolenic acid is quite reduced as opposed to the more important formation of EPA from linolenic acid, whose deposition in the liver is more abundant.

CENTA's researcher, Pere Duran Montgé, defended his doctoral thesis titled 'Effects of dietary fatty acid composition on pig fat and fatty acid deposition' on April 7th, at the Faculty of Chemistry of the Universidad Rovira i Virgili and was awarded the PhD degree with the highest honour. Dr. Enric Esteve, from IRTA's Animal Nutrition Department, directed the thesis. The tribunal president was Prof. Clemente López Bote, from the Veterinary Faculty of the Universidad Complutense de Madrid, and the other members of the tribunal were Dr. Peter K Theil, from Denmark's Centre Foulum, Prof. Ana C Barroeta, from the Faculty of Veterinary of the Universidad Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Dr. Josep Ribalta from the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences of the University Rovira i Virgili and Dr. Carolina Realini, from IRTA's Meat and Carcass and Quality unit. This work has been financed by an INIA project as well as an INIA grant.

Increased fat digestibility in poultry
// 23 may 2008

Lucta S.A. reports that Luctarom® Convert increases fat digestibility in poultry diets. This is demonstrated by results showing increased activity of digestive enzymes in broilers fed this phytogenic product.

 
In digestibility trials conducted at IRTA (Spain), the feeding of Luctarom® Convert at 500 ppm improved soya bean oil digestibility by 3% and lard digestibility by 7% in 21-day old broilers. It was discovered that the product made lard as digestible as soya bean oil in young birds, thereby providing a novel alternative for poultry feed formulation.

Luctarom® Convert is a spice blend with performance enhancing properties. Results from numerous field trials show that it improved growth and FCR on average by 2%, says that company. It is also reported that Lucta S.A. can provide evidence that supports the main mode of action ascribed to this novel ingredient for poultry production.

Livestock and Poultry World Markets and Trade
China and the European Union are expected to be net broiler meat importers again in 2008 on the basis of continued strong demand, higher domestic prices, and strengthening currencies, writes the United States Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service.

 

Broiler Meat Trade Continues to Climb
Top 5 Importers

Net Importers Again

China is expected to be supplied mostly by the United States, whereas the EU is expected to be supplied by Brazil and Thailand. It is interesting to note that in the case of the EU, there’s a distinct 10-year upward trend as exports have fallen and imports have been rising. In the case of China, the trend of more imports and less exports is only prevalent in the past few years as consumers have shifted to poultry from more expensive pork.


Broiler Meat: 2008 Revised Forecast Overview
New countries have been added to the broiler meat PSD to reduce the gap between total imports and total exports by selected countries. These additional countries have data for 1997 to 2008 and are included in this circular as well as in the PSD Online. As a result, any comparison between the 2008 forecast published in November and the revised 2008 forecast should take this modification into account.


Production
The forecast for broiler production is raised to 71 million tons. Whereas broiler production forecasts for major producers (U.S., Brazil, and the European Union) are slightly higher, China’s broiler production is expected to grow by 10 percent over the November forecast.

United States is up 22,000 tons to 16.6 million tons based on strong demand.


China is raised 1.1 million tons to 12.5 million due to strong demand for the cheaper protein as pork prices continue to be high.


Brazil is boosted 345,000 tons to 10.9 million tons. Producers are expected to expand poultry output as local feed supplies are raised to record levels. Also, foreign and domestic demand continues to be strong.


European Union is up 110,000 tons to 8.2 million tons due to growing demand for the cheaper protein as meat prices rise and also additional capacity in Germany and Romania while UK recovers from AI losses.
U.S. Southern States Chicken LQ Prices

Consumption
The forecast for broiler consumption was raised to 70 million tons. Growth in major broiler consumer nations, such as China, European Union, and Brazil, are expected to be strong in 2008.

China is up 1.1 million tons to 12.7 million tons due to continued high pork prices spurring demand for broiler meat.


European Union is raised nearly 300,000 tons to 8.2 million tons. Despite higher prices, domestic demand continues to be strong as broiler meat is still the lower cost protein option.


Brazil is up 230,000 tons to 7.7 million tons as consumer’s real incomes continue to rise with a healthy growing economy expected in 2008.
Exports
Broiler exports are revised up nearly 500,000 tons to 7.7 million tons. Growth in the United States and Brazil is strong while the European Union is expected to decline in 2008.

United States is up nearly 200,000 tons to 2.7 million due to the favorable exchange rates. Chinese and Russian pace of imports from the US is expected to continue strong. U.S. chicken leg quarter prices averaged $904 per ton in March, up over $28 from February. Foreign demand for leg quarters has kept prices strong.


Brazil is boosted 115,000 tons to a record 3.2 million. Year-to-year export growth is modest compared to past years (except for the decline in 2006). Brazil’s major destinations in 2007 were the EU, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Hong Kong and United Arab Emirates (UAE). The UAE is the fifth newest market, having displaced Russia in 2007, and imported 195,000 tons, up 48,000 tons over the previous year. So far in 2008, export growth is strongest to Saudi Arabia and the UAE.


European Union is down 80,000 tons to 620,000 as the Europeans are becoming less competitive due to the rising euro. Exports were down last year to major markets such as Russia and Ukraine. The European Union is expected to be a net importer in 2008, with Brazil as the major supplier.
U.S. Southern States Chicken LQ Prices

Imports
Broiler imports are forecast at 7.2 million tons. Imports to major markets Russia, European Union, China, Saudi Arabia, are increased for 2008 as demand continues strong.

Russia is up 60,000 tons to 1.2 million tons due to continued shortage of supplies in red meats and favorable broiler prices. Consumer demand continues to expand because of growing incomes. Imports are still somewhat constrained by the government policies to encourage domestic production.


European Union is boosted by 100,000 tons to 650,000 tons, the highest since 1999 when the EU-27 was formed, based on pace of shipments from Brazil and higher domestic prices. Despite the lower TRQ for salted poultry in 2008, European Union imports are expected to surpass the quota because it continues to be profitable.


China is raised 40,000 tons to 600,000 tons because of strong consumer demand, an appreciating Renminbi, and higher domestic prices. Nearly 70 percent of this market is supplied by the United States, the rest comes from Brazil.


Saudi Arabia is boosted 40,000 tons to 490,000 tons based on strong shipments from Brazil. Over 80 percent of its imports are supplied by Brazil, the rest comes from the European Union. Also, recent reports indicate that the government will be cutting import tariffs for frozen poultry from 20 to 5 percent to help control food price inflation.
Further Reading

Friday, June 06, 2008Print This Page
“Talking Turkey” on Facebook
US - Washington, D.C. - To mark June as Turkey Lovers’ Month®, the National Turkey Federation is giving Facebook users a chance to “talk turkey.”


The federation chose to focus the concept on Facebook, to reach a younger audience that is talking with their peers through this social networking community. Campaign participants will add a “turkey voki” – a small, talking cartoon turkey – to their profile areas and share it with their friends across Facebook.
The talking turkey voki has the right elements to spread the National Turkey Federation’s message virally. The talking turkey delivers a humorous, customizable message. It wears a t-shirt that says “Shake Your Tail Feather” and includes the www.eatturkey.com URL. The voki also says, “Do I make you hungry? Happy Turkey Month!” Users can customize the talking turkey’s clothes and choose to load up their own voice to the turkey voki with their phone or computer. The voki platform allows users to send the talking turkey to friends, or post it on a social network profile area or a blog.

The campaign aims to raise awareness among younger consumers that June is Turkey Lovers’ Month®. The talking turkey character will also inform them about www.eatturkey.com, a Web site where they can learn more about the benefits of eating turkey and turkey products.

“Our goal is to get Facebook and voki users thinking and talking turkey, by placing the talking turkey on their profile page,” said Sherrie Rosenblatt, NTF’s vice president of marketing and communications, “We believe this culturally relevant message will resonate with the target audience and inspire them to pass the ‘turkey voki’ along to their friends.”

The tested message, “Shake Your Tail Feather,” was an almost-unanimous choice among the younger audience.

Participants said they chose the phrase because it made them want to get up and dance.

Facebook users can find the talking turkey in the Voki Voice Avatars application. The turkey voki is also available at www.voki.comand on www.eatturkey.com for download.

Friday, June 06, 2008Print This Page
Clean Water Essential to Avoid Serious Diseases
CANADA - Since contaminated water can transmit serious diseases to birds, poultry owners should always provide good quality water for their flocks.

 

“We know that avian influenza can be spread through water that wild ducks have been on,” says Gerald Hauer, assistant chief provincial veterinarian. “Most people know to keep their poultry away from dugouts and ponds, but we want to remind them to treat that water before they let their birds drink it.”

To determine whether water needs treatment, first consider the source. If the water is from a well or municipal source, the risk of introducing diseases is minimal. If using surface water, such as from dugouts or ponds, the risk is much higher.

Though there are several ways to treat water; chlorination is the most common and inexpensive. A concentration of two to five parts per million will kill most viruses, including avian influenza. Here are some formulas for mixing chlorine with water:

For a bulk tank, add 45 mL of household bleach (five-per-cent chlorine) to 455 litres of water. This is equivalent to adding 1.6 fluid ounces of five-per-cent bleach to 100 imperial gallons.
People treating water by the bucket can add 2.5 mL to 22.5 litres of wate (half a teaspoon to a five-gallon pail).
If using an automatic water treatment system, be sure to set it to deliver the proper amount of chlorine.
Always let the water sit for 10 minutes with the chlorine added before giving it to the birds, (this is how long it might take for the chlorine to kill viruses present in the water).
 Sometimes water contains impurities that can affect the chlorine’s ability to kill viruses. For example, soil particles, organic material, ammonia and minerals can make chlorine ineffective. If there are high levels of any impurities, consult with a water quality specialist on ways to get around this problem.

Poultry owners should be aware that changing watering practices can have unintended effects on flocks. “You want to pay attention to your birds’ consumption whenever you make a change in their water,” Hauer says. “You need to make sure they are drinking enough.”

Also, even a small amount of chlorine can kill modified live virus vaccine added to the water. If vaccinating birds through the water, use clean water with no chlorine.

The cardinal rule for birds is to keep them away from dirty water.

“Never let poultry drink untreated water from a pond, dugout or anywhere else that wild birds have access to,” Hauer adds. “That is just basic biosecurity and it keeps all of Alberta’s livestock safe and healthy.”

Spanish Poultry Sector Needs to Make Changes
Spain is planning a radical shake-up of its poultry sector, according to Pablo Bernardos Hernàndez, head of poultry within the Spanish ministry for the Environment and Rural and Marine Affairs, writes ThePoultrySite Editor, Jackie Linden.


Speaking at Agra Informa's World Poultry 2008 conference in London, Mr Hernández stated that Spain is a newcomer to international markets compared to other European Union (EU) countries.

Comparing resource costs, he said that feed is more expensive in Spain than its main EU competitors; France, Germany and the UK. He reported that feed prices in the USA are some 50% lower than in Spain.

Spanish consumers regard poultry meat as a cheap protein source and show a strong preference for fresh chicken over frozen. Poultry companies there are now looking to launch new fresh and frozen products as a means of adding value and making them more attractive on international markets. Mr Hernández mentioned that Spanish producers must first overcome certain health and commercial barriers, made more difficult by the high overall cost of production in Spain. He expressed the hope that local producers would benefit from the outcome of the Doha round of World Health Order talks.

There are 7,200 registered farms in Spain producing broiler chickens and of these, 5642 produce broilers. The great majority - 77 per cent - are intensively reared and most flocks are between 20,000 and 40,000 birds. It is not a popular enterprise among younger farmers.


Ninety per cent of broilers are reared under contract to integrators. In 2006, the largest integrator was a Grupo Sada with a 24.3 per cent share of the market, followed by Coren (6.0 per cent). The top 10 companies account for 57 per cent of the total market in Spain. More than 90 per cent of production comes from members of the producers' organisation, Propollo.


Spain's level of self-sufficiency in poultry meat has been steady over recent years and in 2007, it was 94.3 per cent. Average domestic consumption of poultry meat in Spain is 19.7kg per person per year. In 1990, around 55 per cent of poultry was sold through specialist butchers but the importance of this retail route has declined and they now account for less than 40 per cent of sales, overtaken by supermarkets with a 45 per cent share. Hypermarkets account for about 10 per cent of poultry meat purchases.

In 2007, Spain produced 1.375 million tonnes of poultry meat, which is around one-fifth of the nation's total meat output. This was some 10% below the average for the previous decade.

Mr Hernández concluded that in the near future, Spanish producers must find ways to reduce costs and broaden the product range. The relatively low energy costs and popularity of poultry among Spain's considerable number of foreign tourists offer the industry healthy advantages for future growth.

May 2008

Saturday, June 07, 2008Print This Page
H5N1 found in Hong Kong Market
HONG KONG - Hong Kong health authorities closed down a poultry market here Saturday after excrement samples collected from hencoops at the marketplace were confirmed infected with the deadly strain of H5N1 avian influenza virus, writes Du Guodong, Xinhua.

Dr. York Chow, Secretary for Food and Health, announced at a press conference here Saturday afternoon that the Po On Road Market in Kowloon an infected area of the H5N1 virus and ordered the immediate suspension of trading in the market.

Chow said after days of laboratory testings, five of the 20 excrement samples collected from three poultry stores on June 3 were confirmed H5N1 positive and an order was issued immediately to cull about 2,700 chickens in the market.

"We are still investigating the source of the H5N1 virus infections," he said, adding other 64 poultry markets had reported no H5N1 cases.

Chow said there has been no report of human case of H5N1 infections but the department had decided to raise the response level from "vigilance" to "serious" in the city.

In response to the latest H5N1 virus find, Chow said, the Food and Health Department had suspended immediately the live poultry imports from the Chinese mainland and trading from local chicken farms will be suspended immediately

He said such suspension will last for as long as 21 days if necessary.

Chow said the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government had noticed the Ministry of Agriculture and the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine on the latest development of bird flu in Hong Kong.

Chow said there had been no unusual incidents reported in the registered chicken farm in the Chinese mainland and none abnormal death of poultry had been reported by store owners during the past days.

Thomas Tsang, Controller of the Center for Health Protection, said the center would conduct health checkups and prescribe anti- virus medicine for those people in close contact with live poultry.

Tsang also called on doctors in the city to quickly report suspected cases of H5N1 infection to the center once they diagnose those patients with a fever.

The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department said they would strengthen the testing of live poultry on the bird flu virus and disinfecting of poultry whole sale markets.

Monday, June 09, 2008Print This Page
Focus on Feed Costs at Cobb Conference in Greece
GREECE - More than 200 poultry farmers and technical advisers representing over 70 per cent of the Greek and Cypriot broiler industries attended a conference on breeder management at Ioannina in northern Greece.

 

The event was organised by Kego SA with support from Cobb Europe and Cobb Germany. Rodolfos Gogorosis, managing director of Kego, highlighted the need, with current rising commodity prices, to control feed inputs and their cost while maximising egg and meat production. "This is something of course that the Cobb 500 excels at," he commented.

 
Dr George Kefalas, giving his presentation
James Truscott, director of Cobb Germany, stated: "It's been a real pleasure to see how our customers interacted with the professional speakers from Kego, Cobb Europe and Cobb Germany.

"The Greek chicken meat industry discussed how to further improve its performance with the Cobb 500, which is gaining market share not only in Greece but in our other market areas too. Cobb's new male is showing its benefits not just as a breeder, but also on broiler farms and in processing plants.

"My sincere thanks to the team at Kego - veterinarians Dr Ilias Alexiou, Dr George Kefalas and their technical director Dr Sotiris Papasolomontos - who've worked hard to ensure the Cobb 500 is becoming the most popular breed in Greece again".

The speakers, who also included Patrick van Trijp, technical manger of Cobb Europe, and Dr Matthias Todte, international veterinary consultant, covered a range of topics including breed selection and management in a fast changing environment for the Cobb 500 male and female, and European experiences generally on Salmonella control in broiler breeders.

Two separate technical workshops were targeted at the veterinary and husbandry support staff of the Ioannina Cooperative, Nitsiakos Theodoros AVEE and Ilias Siopis & Son, who between them account for some 60 per cent of broiler breeders in Greece. These were exceptionally well supported, with discussions covering many aspects of broiler breeder production and management at a detailed technical level.

This was the 7th major poultry conference that Kego have organised in the last 10 years in Greece and they are already planning for the 8th.

Tuesday, June 10, 2008Print This Page
Constructing an Egg that Fights Cancer
US - Imagine the chicken and eggs you eat could be cancer-fighting food. Researchers at Ohio State's Comprehensive Cancer Center say they could be on their way to doing that. Here's the best part - they're only using a natural plant extract, and a little time.



If chickens are to be what we eat to help battle cancer, it may all start with what they eat. Researchers at Ohio State's Comprehensive Cancer Center say mixing chicken feed with a substance found in cotton could help turn chickens, and their eggs, into potent cancer-fighting foods. The natural substance is called gossyp.
"In experimental systems, and I want to emphasize that, it has been shown to slow cancer growth. In some model systems, it prevents the spread of cancer," says Michael Caliguiri, MD, at Ohio State University's James Cancer Hospital.

In fact, by putting gossypol directly onto human breast cancer tissue in the lab, Dr. Young C. Lin at Ohio State University's Comprehensive Cancer Center found that it could slow the rate of cancer growth as much as 94%.* To get that substance into humans slowly and safely, Lin proposes using chickens. If they eat the gossypol, and we eat them, his theory goes that our bodies will absorb all those cancer-fighting nutrients.

That could someday offer hope to people like Tomasina Wall. Her mother, sister and aunt all battled breast cancer. Between her diet and exercise routine, she's constantly working to prevent it.

"Every day I struggle with trying to do all of the right things because there are so many things that all of us should be doing to maintain our state of health," says Wall.

That's why something as easy as eating chicken or eggs to help control cancer is so appealing. So far, all of Lin's tests with gossypol have only been done in the lab. While researchers are cautious not to overstate the results, they can't help but see the possibilities.

"You can take a tumor and put it in a test tube, sprinkle the substance on it and see inhibition of growth. That doesn't mean it will do the same in the body, but it's the first step," says Caliguiri.

Gossypol is actually taken from the oil of cotton seeds and is so potent it has been patented as a drug for treating cancer. This study, however, would be among the first to use it as a food component to help battle cancer. No word yet on if or when human trials might begin.

Tuesday, June 10, 2008Print This Page
Canada Keeps an Eye on Avian Flu
CANADA - The Government of Canada has said that it is committed to protecting the health of Canada’s domestic poultry flocks from avian influenza (AI) viruses. To uphold this claim the government is enhancing its AI surveillance for commercial poultry flocks in Canada.



This program is one of a number of domestic and international initiatives that have been implemented to prevent, detect and eliminate the presence of harmful AI viruses in Canada's domestic poultry flock. The expanded program was developed in collaboration with provincial and territorial governments, poultry farmers and other industry representatives.

The enhanced Canadian Notifiable Avian Influenza Surveillance System (CanNAISS) has been designed to meet current guidelines from the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) and new requirements from the European Union that take effect in January 2009. The system will provide information about NAI viruses in Canada’s domestic poultry flocks that will be required for Canadian poultry farmers and processors to continue doing business internationally.

While most AI viruses pose little or no animal health risk, two subtypes, known as H5 and H7, may lead to serious illness in birds. CanNAISS testing will identify poultry farms where these viruses may be present and enable the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and farmers to control potential disease spread

06/11/08 14:18

Tens of chickens die of bird flu virus in Sarolangun


Jambi, (ANTARA News) - Bird flu (Avian Influenza) killed tens of chickens in Sarolangun District, Jambi Province, recently, according to a local official.

An investigation conducted by a local animal health team had shown the chickens had died of AI. The virus had apparently entered Jambi from the neighboring provinces of West and South Sumatra, the head of the Sarolangun Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Service, Ahmad Surya, said here on Wednesday.

Sarolangun District is a region through which the trans-Sumatra highway passes and shares borders with South and West Sumatra provinces where the deadly disease is rampant, he said.

The local authorities had intensified efforts to curb the communicable disease by supervising trading of poultry, conducting disinfectant spraying, and animal vaccination.(*)

Friday, June 13, 2008Print This Page
Corn Prices Could Make Chicken More Expensive
JAMAICA - Already having to cope with rising food prices, consumers are warned that the cost of chicken could go up again.



This bad news follows a record surge worldwide in the price of corn used in animal feeds, reports Radio Jamaica. Bad weather in the USA and growing global demand for corn for animal feed and biofuels have been blamed for the spiralling cost.

The country's two leading poultry producers - Jamaica Broilers and Caribbean Broilers - are not only predicting further increases in the price of feed but are warning it will affect their operations.

Friday, June 13, 2008Print This Page
Chicken Prices Fly High in Malaysia
MALAYSIA - Chicken sellers have increased their prices despite a 60 sen per kilo drop in ex-farm prices, says Federation of Livestock Farmers Association of Malaysia (FLFAM).



According to the Star Online the association's broiler unit chairman Kwei Yew Tong said that the increase was justifiable considering the recent hike in fuel prices.

Kwei said that as of yesterday ex-farm prices stood at RM4 per kilo but added he had read reports that the market price had risen to RM7 per kilo in several places.

“The ex-farm price has gone down because it is dependent on supply and demand, and currently, the demand has slumped.

“Chicken sellers have had to increase their prices to offset costs in transportation and other expenses. This is in addition to the drop in sales too,” he told the Star.

Asked whether there were complaints of losses, Kwei confirmed that many were forced to close shop because they could not cope with basic costs.

Chicken Sellers May Quit
CHINA - Poultry traders have said they are considering getting a one-off compensation from the government and quitting the business for good.



China Daily reports that the traders also hinted at a protest during the Olympics if the government did not meet their demand for compensation soon enough.

The Panel on Food Safety and Environmental Hygiene held a special meeting at the Legislative Council on 16 June to discuss the discovery of H5N1 bird flu virus at wet markets last week.

At the meeting, chairman of the Hong Kong Poultry Wholesalers and Retailers Association Steven Wong Wai-chuen said "Everyone in the trade will quit" if the government insists on implementing daily cleansing at markets as they simply cannot bear the loss that the policy will incur.

Although there are still chickens available at local farms, he noted that the chickens will be 'worthless' without the retailers.

"If we [the retailers] quit, the farms will be forced to close down as well," he said.

"The sooner the government gives us the compensation, the sooner we will return the retail licenses and quit," he said, citing he did not want the issue to drag on.

Meanwhile, he hinted that they may protest during the Olympic equestrian events if the issue is still not settled then.

The retailers are asking for a compensation eight times the compensation currently given to vendors who voluntarily surrender their licences.

At the same meeting, representatives of the poultry industry said they have been struggling financially since the sale of live chickens was suspended last Wednesday.

They asked the government to think of a long-term policy for the survival of the trade.

Meanwhile, legislators asked the government to consider giving a one-off compensation to the trade.

Secretary for Food and Health York Chow maintained that daily cleansing, and eventually central slaughtering, are the most effective ways of controlling bird flu in Hong Kong.

"We understand the loss that these measures may incur, but if we don't make changes to the current operation, an outbreak is inevitable," he said.

"Another chicken-culling will be a great blow to the trade and society. We have to consider legislating for daily cleaning," he added.

Mr Chow noted that if the vendors insist on rejecting the daily cleansing policy, the government will consider giving them compensation to end their businesses.

Meantime, he said chickens in local farms may have to be culled since all wet markets have been declared infected areas.

The government is expected to reach a decision this week, he said.

North Korea in Denial Over Bird Flu
NORTH KOREA - The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Thursday denied allegations of a bird flu outbreak in the country.



Official news agency KCNA rebuffed an Associated Press (AP) report that various types of fowl and a boy had died of bird flu, accusing AP of fabricating the epidemic situation to ruin the country's international image.

The DPRK has set up a state emergency anti-epizootic committee as a national command to combat bird flu, while maintaining close contact with several international organizations including the FAO(UN Food and Agriculture Organization) and the World Organization for Animal Health, KCNA said.

There is a well-organized anti-epizootic system in the DPRK, the agency said, adding that more than 1,600 watch posts along the east and west coasts are surveying the movement of seasonal birds, major carriers of the bird flu virus.

About 200,000 farm birds were culled when bird flu broke out in the country in March 2005.

Brown Says GM Animal Feeds are Key to Food Crisis
UK - Gordon Brown, the Prime Minister of Britain, has called upon the European Union to relax rules on imports of genetically modified animal feed in order to prevent a world food crisis.



His proposal comes the day after The Independent revealed that the Environment minister, Phil Woolas, has held private talks with the biotechnology industry about relaxing Britain's policy on the use of GM crops.

The Prime Minister also signalled that he is happy to see a public debate over whether GM crops should be grown commercially in Britain to reduce global prices by boosting production. His spokesman said last night: "His view is that we must be guided by the scientific evidence."

According to The Independent, ministers who support GM crops believe there are no convincing arguments against them. They want to turn the tables on environmental groups who campaigned successfully against widespread GM production in Britain during the last government review in 2004. Although there is no ban, the ministers want the rules changed in light of the food crisis, as no GM crops are currently being grown commercially in this country.

At a two-day summit in Brussels which began last night, EU leaders were urged to "bite the bullet" and embrace GM products as a solution to rocketing food prices. The plea came from Jose Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission. Several EU countries, led by France, are unconvinced that "Frankenstein foods" are safe.

At the meeting, Mr Brown suggested allowing more GM animal food into the EU. The move may raise safety fears because contaminated feed was blamed for the outbreak in Britain of BSE in the 1990s.

Government to Take Over Chicken Trade?
HONG KONG - Poultry workers are demanding three billion compensation for the withdrawal of live bird licences.



The government is about to make a multi-billion-dollar buy-out of Hong Kong's poultry industry, according to The Standard. The newspaper says it could be the end of the territory's live chicken trade. Farmers and traders are expected to be presented with a buy-out proposal today.

If the proposal were to be accepted, consumers would have the option of buying chilled or frozen chicken but no more live birds. It would also call a halt to the plan for central slaughtering redundant due in 2011.

However, chicken sellers are asking for at least HKD3 billion in compensation for the withdrawal of all live poultry licences for the 470 wet market or fresh provision stores.

Secretary for Food and Health York Chow Yat-ngok said the buy-out would apply to the whole industry, covering retail, wholesale and farming.

"These days we've heard much resistance from the industry against the proposed ban on keeping live chickens overnight, saying it would be a blow to their business, and that they're considering closing down [surrendering their licences]," he said.

"If they were to close down, it must apply to the whole line of business.

"Whether it is retail, wholesale or farms, all will be affected, including the transport sector."

Mr Chow said that the number of people eating live chickens is down to 18 per cent now, compared to the historical level of 42 per cent.

Separating chickens and people, or central slaughtering, is our ultimate destination what we have to consider is whether this should be done earlier, especially when we face the bird flu risk in three, four years' time," Mr Chow said.

The HKD3 billion sum for compensation to the chicken sellers was agreed after a meeting of more than 20 representatives of the live poultry industry yesterday.

Hong Kong Poultry Wholesalers' and Retailers' Association secretary Lau Chung-sun said the compensation plan, covering ten years, would support the vendors' monthly incomes plus the value of their licences until their retirement. Most vendors are too old to switch jobs.

"If the government were to close down our business, it must pay enough to support our livelihood; with my education level and skills it's hard for me to change profession now," said Mr Lau.

In the government's 2005 Voluntary Surrender Scheme, each stall was offered a one-off payment of HKD200,000 to 500,000, depending on size.

The Standard reports Mr Lau saying that HKD3 billion as "a fair sum" as the new surrender scheme is forced.


 

Bird flu virus 'unlikely to reach Australia'
Posted Tue Jul 1, 2008 12:48pm AEST
Updated Tue Jul 1, 2008 12:53pm AEST

Map: Brisbane 4000
 An international conference in Brisbane has been told that it is unlikely a deadly strain of the bird flu virus will ever reach Australia.

It is the first time Australia has hosted the World Poultry Congress, with more than 2,000 delegates attending the first day.

Immunologist and Nobel prize-winner Peter Doherty says although the deadly H5N1 bird flu strain has killed 240 people overseas, Australia's dry climate and isolation will help prevent the virus entering the country.

"It's not something we have to worry about," he said.

But virus expert Dr Andrew Turner says there is still a slight risk.

"We have to be prepared, it may not be H5N1 which starts the pandemic - there are other viruses circulating in birds at the moment," he said.

However he says Australia's strict quarantine system is helping keep bird flu out of the country.

An inquiry into last year's horse flu outbreak blamed weak quarantine procedures for the spread of the virus.

Dr Turner says poultry is monitored more closely than horses.

"The restrictions on birds coming in, poultry genetics coming in, are much much stronger than horses," he said.

"It's a very strict quarantine regime and they come from birds in very highly protected flocks overseas."

The conference ends on Friday.

Livestock and Poultry World Markets and Trade
China and the European Union are expected to be net broiler meat importers again in 2008 on the basis of continued strong demand, higher domestic prices, and strengthening currencies, writes the United States Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service.

 

Broiler Meat Trade Continues to Climb
Top 5 Importers

Net Importers Again

China is expected to be supplied mostly by the United States, whereas the EU is expected to be supplied by Brazil and Thailand. It is interesting to note that in the case of the EU, there’s a distinct 10-year upward trend as exports have fallen and imports have been rising. In the case of China, the trend of more imports and less exports is only prevalent in the past few years as consumers have shifted to poultry from more expensive pork.


Broiler Meat: 2008 Revised Forecast Overview
New countries have been added to the broiler meat PSD to reduce the gap between total imports and total exports by selected countries. These additional countries have data for 1997 to 2008 and are included in this circular as well as in the PSD Online. As a result, any comparison between the 2008 forecast published in November and the revised 2008 forecast should take this modification into account.


Production
The forecast for broiler production is raised to 71 million tons. Whereas broiler production forecasts for major producers (U.S., Brazil, and the European Union) are slightly higher, China’s broiler production is expected to grow by 10 percent over the November forecast.

United States is up 22,000 tons to 16.6 million tons based on strong demand.


China is raised 1.1 million tons to 12.5 million due to strong demand for the cheaper protein as pork prices continue to be high.


Brazil is boosted 345,000 tons to 10.9 million tons. Producers are expected to expand poultry output as local feed supplies are raised to record levels. Also, foreign and domestic demand continues to be strong.


European Union is up 110,000 tons to 8.2 million tons due to growing demand for the cheaper protein as meat prices rise and also additional capacity in Germany and Romania while UK recovers from AI losses.
U.S. Southern States Chicken LQ Prices

Consumption
The forecast for broiler consumption was raised to 70 million tons. Growth in major broiler consumer nations, such as China, European Union, and Brazil, are expected to be strong in 2008.

China is up 1.1 million tons to 12.7 million tons due to continued high pork prices spurring demand for broiler meat.


European Union is raised nearly 300,000 tons to 8.2 million tons. Despite higher prices, domestic demand continues to be strong as broiler meat is still the lower cost protein option.


Brazil is up 230,000 tons to 7.7 million tons as consumer’s real incomes continue to rise with a healthy growing economy expected in 2008.
Exports
Broiler exports are revised up nearly 500,000 tons to 7.7 million tons. Growth in the United States and Brazil is strong while the European Union is expected to decline in 2008.

United States is up nearly 200,000 tons to 2.7 million due to the favorable exchange rates. Chinese and Russian pace of imports from the US is expected to continue strong. U.S. chicken leg quarter prices averaged $904 per ton in March, up over $28 from February. Foreign demand for leg quarters has kept prices strong.


Brazil is boosted 115,000 tons to a record 3.2 million. Year-to-year export growth is modest compared to past years (except for the decline in 2006). Brazil’s major destinations in 2007 were the EU, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Hong Kong and United Arab Emirates (UAE). The UAE is the fifth newest market, having displaced Russia in 2007, and imported 195,000 tons, up 48,000 tons over the previous year. So far in 2008, export growth is strongest to Saudi Arabia and the UAE.


European Union is down 80,000 tons to 620,000 as the Europeans are becoming less competitive due to the rising euro. Exports were down last year to major markets such as Russia and Ukraine. The European Union is expected to be a net importer in 2008, with Brazil as the major supplier.
U.S. Southern States Chicken LQ Prices

Imports
Broiler imports are forecast at 7.2 million tons. Imports to major markets Russia, European Union, China, Saudi Arabia, are increased for 2008 as demand continues strong.

Russia is up 60,000 tons to 1.2 million tons due to continued shortage of supplies in red meats and favorable broiler prices. Consumer demand continues to expand because of growing incomes. Imports are still somewhat constrained by the government policies to encourage domestic production.


European Union is boosted by 100,000 tons to 650,000 tons, the highest since 1999 when the EU-27 was formed, based on pace of shipments from Brazil and higher domestic prices. Despite the lower TRQ for salted poultry in 2008, European Union imports are expected to surpass the quota because it continues to be profitable.


China is raised 40,000 tons to 600,000 tons because of strong consumer demand, an appreciating Renminbi, and higher domestic prices. Nearly 70 percent of this market is supplied by the United States, the rest comes from Brazil.


Saudi Arabia is boosted 40,000 tons to 490,000 tons based on strong shipments from Brazil. Over 80 percent of its imports are supplied by Brazil, the rest comes from the European Union. Also, recent reports indicate that the government will be cutting import tariffs for frozen poultry from 20 to 5 percent to help control food price inflation.
Further Reading
 - You can view the full report by clicking here. 

April 2008

Live chicken sales resume in Hong Kong after bird flu ban


Jul 2, 2008, 6:56 GMT


Hong Kong - Live chicken sales resumed in markets across Hong Kong Wednesday after a 21-day ban on poultry imports and sales following a bird flu outbreak.

However, many chicken stalls remained closed because of tough new restrictions which prohibit the keeping of live poultry in markets overnight to lower the risk of a new bird flu outbreak.

Thousands of chickens were slaughtered when bird flu was discovered in samples taken from four markets in Hong Kong last month. The source of the infection was never traced.

The government tightened restrictions and announced a compensation package for poultry farmers and traders which has been the subject of weeks of wrangling.

Traders' groups estimated only around 100 of licensed 469 poultry stalls across the city of 6.9 million would reopen for business Wednesday while the government said it expected 180 to open.

Traders insisted the move was not a boycott but said they wanted to test market conditions before reopening, fearing they could be left with unsold chickens at the end of each day's business.

Up to 30,000 chickens from local farms and from farms across the border in mainland China were expected to be available for sale in markets Wednesday.

Hong Kong's health secretary York Chow appealed to traders to concentrate on getting business back to normal under the new restrictions rather than fight for higher compensation.

'It is important the trade should be more pragmatic and realistic rather than try to ask for anything more,' he told reporters.

Hong Kong was the scene of the first outbreak of bird flu to jump the species barrier in modern times in 1997 when six people died and 12 others were infected.

Tough new hygiene and monitoring controls have since been introduced and Hong Kong has been spared further human infections in the recent bird flu cases across the Asia region.

Study Shows Effects of Feed Particle Size on Laying Hens
It is well known that a reduction in cereal particle size within processed diets improves productive performance of poultry by increasing nutrient digestibility although little work has been carried out in laying hens.


Feed form is also an important characteristic for laying hens, and diets can be presented as mash, crumbs, pellets or whole grain cereal. Given the current high costs of dietary ingredients and the energy required for feed production, it is important to understand the benefits of processing and the optimum feed form for laying hens.




Dr Elizabeth McCann and Dr Marian Scott discuss the value of whole wheat for laying hens. Dr Scott has completed her Ph.D. and is now employed by Devenish Nutrition Ltd.A recent study conducted as part of a Ph.D. programme by Dr Marian Scott at the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Newforge and Queen’s University of Belfast has evaluated the effect of particle size and feed form on egg production and egg quality parameters. Ten experimental diets were produced to contain 60% wheat and a metabolisable energy value of 11MJ per kg (fresh basis). The treatments included a whole wheat ration plus balancer, wheat ground through three particle sizes (2, 5 and 8mm) and formulated into diets offered in three forms (pellets, crumbs and mash) to laying hens. Feed intake and daily egg production were recorded, feed conversion ratio (kg feed:kg egg) was determined and several egg quality parameters were assessed.

Feed intake was highest for the 8mm particle size and lowest for the 2mm particle size, and average egg weight was highest when hens were offered rations containing 2mm particle sizes (see table). Particle size had no significant effect on yolk colour index or percentage shell. However, there was a tendency for fewer eggs to be produced per day with diets containing 8mm particle sizes. The whole wheat plus balancer ration significantly reduced feed intake, increased average egg weight and reduced feed cost per 100 eggs (£2.35 vs. £3.18). There were no significant differences in egg production or quality as a result of mash, crumbs or pellets but it was found that the crumbed ration reduced feed intake and hence feed cost per 100 eggs.

The effect of whole wheat plus balancer ration and wheat particle size within processed diets on egg production and quality
Parameter Whole wheat + balancer 2mm particle size 5mm particle size 8mm particle size
Feed intake (g per d on dry matter basis) 81.4 87.8 92.1 99.1
Daily egg production 0.96 0.92 0.93 0.84
Egg weight (g) 60.4 59.3 58.6 53.3
Yolk colour index 4.59 4.59 4.70 4.67
Percentage shell (%) 8.73 9.23 9.06 9.80
Feed cost ((£ per tonne) 277 317 302 299
Feed cost per 100 eggs (£) 2.35 3.03 2.99 3.53


The effect of feed form on feed cost per 100 eggs (£)





 

Conclusions
It was concluded that feed form i.e. mash, crumbs or pelleted diets, has no significant effect on egg production or egg quality, but crumbed diets reduced feed cost per 100 eggs. The finer particle size (2mm) resulted in better performance than coarser particle sizes. However, overall optimum performance was achieved when the whole wheat plus balancer ration was given to hens. Offering feeds in such a form would also reduce diet costs per 100 eggs produced and in addition, reduce the energy required for diet production. However, an extra auger system would be required to implement the feeding of a whole wheat plus balancer ration on a commercial unit.

 

July 2008

Monday, August 11, 2008Print This Page
Feed Prices Cripple Poultry Industry
INDIA - Recent rains in key maize-producing states like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh have impacted poultry feed prices.



Financial Express of India reports that the price of maize, which rose to 10,500 rupees (INR) per tonne few months prior to the government imposing a ban on its export, is now on sale at INR9,800 per tonne. According to poultry industry sources, the price of maize was around INR 8,000 per tonne.

Rains have also impacted the transportation of maize to different parts of the country. Not only maize but also soybean meal prices have risen sharply in the recent months to INR21,500 per tonne from INR16,000 a year ago. The next soybean crop is not due to be harvested until mid-October.

"We have petitioned the department of animal husbandry to ban the export of soybean meal so that the prices of poultry feed come down," said Ricky Thapar, treasurer of the Poultry Federation of India (PFI).

He said that as a consequence of rise in the prices of soybean and maize, the cost of poultry feed has gone up to INR1800 per tonne from an average of INR1200 per tonne last year.

At present, the costs of producing a kilogram of live broiler and an egg are INR45 and INR1.80, respectively.

For the retail consumer in Delhi, the price of live weight broiler is around INR65 per kilo. The retail price of eggs in Delhi is INR30-34 per dozen while the chicken is selling at around INR100-110 per kilo.

"Poultry is losing heavily due to rise in the cost of production and more than 20% of poultry farms have closed down," Mr Thapar said.

He also said that due to forthcoming festivals like Rakha Bandhan, Durga Puja and Navaratras among others, demand for chicken and eggs will fall because consumers prefer not to eat chicken and eggs due to religious reasons.

India produces more than 2.0 million tonnes of broiler chicken annually, reports the newspaper - making it the fifth largest producer in the world - and it is the largest producer of eggs with output of around 44 billion.

Monday, August 11, 2008Print This Page
Jamaica Broiler Drops Prices
JAMAICA - The country's largest producer of poultry products, Jamaica Broilers Group, has announced that it will reduce the prices of all its 'Best Dressed Chicken' products from 13 August.



In a press release to Radio Jamaica, president and chief operating officer of Jamaica Broilers Group, Robert Levy, said that the price will be cut by $4.50 per kilo.

The reason for the reduction is the recent grain price decreases in the USA, from where Jamaica Broilers imports the commodity for feed.

The company said it wants to let consumers know that while it is forced at times to raise the prices of chicken meat, it is also prepared to reduce prices when the cost of inputs decrease.

Jamaica Broilers noted that the cost of corn is down considerably from when it last purchased grain, and it is now able to pass on some of the savings to consumers.

Substantial increases in the cost of feed-stock, such as corn and soya, on the world market over the past two years, have led to spiraling input costs in Jamaica's poultry industry.

The price of chicken meat in Jamaica went up in December last year and again in January and June this year.

Monday, August 11, 2008Print This Page
Farms Close as Production Costs Rise
PAKISTAN - The rising cost of poultry production has led to the closure of more than half of the poultry farms in Sindh this year.



The closures are having an adverse impact on chicken meat prices, reports Daily Times of Pakistan.

A poultry trader explained that the unfavourable conditions during the last few years had caused many small poultry farms to change to thoer businesses.

Abdul Maroof Siddiqui, central convener of the Pakistan Poultry Association (PPA) said that despite rising beef and mutton prices, chicken prices too have reached 140 to 180 rupees (PKR) per kilo - the same as two or three years ago.

The increase in chicken feed costs by 60-70% over the last 2 to 3 months has meant that farm owners are making no profit at all, he added.

Mr Siddiqui said a fall in chicken meat demand at city retail outlets as well as fast-food restaurants, hotels and roadside restaurants have forced farmers to keep their prices low.

Now, most of the remaining poultry farms are facing financial losses, especially over the last year. If the situation continues, more of them will leave the industry and chicken prices could rise to record levels.

There were increases in the cost of the major constituents of the poultry feed, including soybean, chouker and maize during the last two months.

"Owing to depreciation of local currency against the US dollar, rates of soybean, which is imported in large quantity from India, has sharply surged while the government has allowed export of maize which was locally produced is substantial quantity inside the country affecting its price to the detriment of poultry sector," said Mr Siddiqui

He added that chicken meat prices could surge close to PKR200 per kilo before the start of holy month of Ramadan if the sector continued to face sustained financial losses.

Monday, August 11, 2008Print This Page
Dramatic Price Rises Hit Egypt
EGYPT - With a 16-year record inflation rate, poultry prices jumped 39 per cent in the last year.



The annual consumer price index rose 23 per cent last month, due mainly to an annual increase of 32.5 per cent in food prices, according to ABC Rural.

Inflation seemed to be under control until the beginning of this year but began to rise rapidly in March due to the increase in global food prices, particularly for wheat. Egypt is a major importer.

Other significant price rises were experienced for butter (71%), dairy products (38%) and pasta (33%).

Pharma Patents And Why Indonesia Is Hoarding Bird Flu Samples
from the this-isn't-good-for-health dept
We've pointed to plenty of examples concerning how pharmaceutical patents actually do more to hold back life-saving cures, and here's another example. It's actually a continuation of a story we wrote about a year and a half ago, about Indonesia's decision to stop supplying bird flu samples to the World Health Organization, claiming it was worried that a big pharma would patent a drug based off of it, and Indonesia wouldn't receive any of the benefit. The country has something of a point: as pharma companies have made various cures incredibly expensive in the past.

However, Indonesia is now taking this a step further, claiming "viral sovereignty" over the bird flu. In other words, it's claiming that since the virus samples are found in the country, Indonesia owns the virus -- and it's fighting pretty much every attempt by others to do anything with the virus, sometimes using questionable claims such as one about how a US medical research facility is trying to use the virus not to create a cure, but to create biological weapons. It's basing this claim of "viral sovereignty" on the same ridiculous patent rules that allow a country to claim "ownership" and patents over indigenous plants.

While there's obviously a huge political component to this dispute, at the heart of the trouble is this idea of "ownership" of something like a plant, virus or drug -- and that's an idea that the US has been a huge supporter of, so it can hardly complain about Indonesia taking it to the logical conclusion. And, of course, that logical conclusion is the exact opposite of what supporters of pharma patents insist the system is designed to encourage. That is, thanks to this hoarding and claims of ownership, not nearly enough research is being done to try to create vaccines for bird flu. And, to make this even worse, it appears other countries are starting to consider "viral sovereignty," as well -- meaning that research into curing various diseases may grind to halt while various countries argue over who owns what.

Friday, August 29, 2008Print This Page
19 US Poultry Companies Banned from Exports
RUSSIA - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has announced that 19 US poultry meat companies will be banned from exporting their products to Russia because they had failed health and safety tests.



A further 29 other companies had been warned to improve their standards or face the same ban, Mr Putin said in his interview with CNN.

Mr Putin said that the economic measures were unrelated to the fight with Georgia - the matter is more from an economic standpoint.

According to Mr Putin, Russia's health and agricultural ministries had randomly tested the poultry products and found them to be full of antibiotics and arsenic.

The list of the US companies first chosen for expulsion hasn’t been promulgated so far. The market players say the lists are revised each year and exclusion of some companies is a common practice. For the first time, however, it was Prime Minister Vladimir Putin that announced the news.

A total 299 enterprises export poultry from the United States to Russia. Of this number, 127 are the poultry processing plants, reports Kommersant. The US suppliers currently control 72 per cent of the poultry export to Russia (over $3 billion), the EU has 14 percent and Brazil has 13 percent.

The size of Russia’s poultry market is estimated at 3.2 million tons with the local suppliers providing 1.9 million tons. The biggest US poultry suppliers are Tyson Foods, Pilgrim`s Pride, Cook Foods, Sanderson Farms, Simmons Foods.

Friday, August 29, 2008Print This Page
Coccidia in Broilers Found to Be Increasing
NORWAY - Coccidia are single-celled intestinal parasites that currently represent one of the greatest challenges to the broiler industry. To keep the level of infection low, farmers commonly add coccidia-inhibiting chemicals (coccidiostats) to broiler feed. While this does not kill the parasites, it greatly reduces the incidence of overt sickness and death from infection. While clinical coccidiosis is therefore not a problem, veterinary authorities have never been able to gauge the extent of subclinical coccidiosis and the consequences this may have for animal welfare issues and production costs.





Mixed Eimeria species infectionIn her doctorate, Anita Haug looked at the incidence, epidemiology and significance of coccidiosis in the broiler industry in Norway. In order to complete such an extensive study, it was necessary for her to use diagnostic tools that could identify relevant coccidia strains quickly and reliably.

Existing test methods proved inadequate, and in several instances, intestinal changes characteristic of coccidia were not specifically identified by existing test methods. Haug therefore developed new test methods by simplifying traditional ones, and also developed a robust, effective and sensitive molecular-biological test.

Two large survey studies showed an increase in the incidence of coccidia-infected broiler flocks from 42% to 76% during a three year period and a strong swing in the type of dominant coccidia strain toward less pathogenic forms and away from more pathogenic ones. The total parasite load, country-wide, did not alter significantly during this period, but there were large regional differences in the numbers of infected flocks, the level of infection and the dominant species.



Anita HaugThis survey study revealed that three coccidia species predominate in Norwegian broiler production. A relatively benign species was present in all flocks examined. The two other species were, however, extremely pathogenic, and were demonstrated in 77% and 25% of the flocks. Haug points out that twenty years' use of the same type of coccidiostat in broiler the broiler industry may have contributed to the increased incidence of coccidiosis on Norwegian farms. It will therefore be important to monitor the development of coccidia in Norwegian broiler production in the years to come.

The economic significance of milder coccidia infections may prove very difficult to evaluate. Haug studied the relationship between parasite load and production efficiency, and found that parasite load alone was not a good measure of the economic significance of infection. Reduced production occurred when there was over 50,000 parasites per gram of faeces and the pathogenic strains dominated. A corresponding level of infection of more benign coccidia strains did not have the same effect on production.

Haug's studies has given us effective tools for survey and routine diagnosis of coccidia in the poultry industry, enabling flocks at risk to be more easily identified.

Cand. med. vet. Anita Haug defended her thesis for the degree of Philosohiae Doctor on June 26, 2008 at the Norwegian School of Veterinary Science, with the title "Coccidiosis in broiler chickens - identification, epidemiological aspects and evaluation of gross intestinal lesions of infected birds".

The thesis work was carried out at the National Veterinary Institute in Oslo, and the National Veterinary Institute at Uppsala, Sweden, and was financed by the Research Council of Norway.

Friday, August 29, 2008Print This Page
Sales Slump in the Organic Egg Market
UK - Up until a while ago, the organic egg sector was going through an increase in sales. But now, with customers having less money to spend, the organic egg market seems to be witnessing a sales slump.



Organic Farmers & Growers' chief executive, Richard Jacobs, said: "There is no denying that organic egg and table bird producers are now feeling the pain. From the certification end of the business, we are seeing some people move out of organic production, while a few others are reducing their exposure by taking some flocks out of organic status.

Sales data from TNS confirms a slow down in the market that has seen a 4.1% decline in volume of sales over the 12 month period up to 13 July 2008.

The data shows that sales in the last four weeks are down by 13.0% compared to the same period last year, according to Farmers Weekly Interactive.

Geoff Cooper sales and contract producer director at Noble Foods said: "The market is currently going through a difficult time there does appear to be a link to the credit crunch making the consumer feel poorer.

"However, as we all know eggs is a cyclical market and it wouldn't surprise me if we see the sector pick up again as we move forward," he added.

Hopes for a more positive outlook are echoed by Mr Jacobs who said: "I think we could be talking ourselves into a self-fulfilling prophecy and that, at least for now, things are not as bad as some headlines are trying to suggest."

Friday, August 29, 2008Print This Page
Ready-to-Cook Weight Up 6 Percent from Last Year
US - The USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) comment on the slightly higher poultry ready-to-cook weights in their monthly Poultry Slaughter Report.

 

Ready-to-Cook Weight Up 6 Percent from Last Year
Poultry certified wholesome during July 2008 (ready-to-cook weight) totaled 3.83 billion pounds, up 6 percent from the amount certified in July 2007. The June 2008 revised certified total at 3.66 billion pounds, was up 2 percent from June 2007. The June revision represented a decrease of 2.30 million pounds from last month's preliminary pounds certified.

The preliminary total live weight of poultry inspected during July 2008 was 5.13 billion pounds, up 5 percent from 4.87 billion pounds a year ago. Young chickens inspected totaled 4.35 billion pounds, up 5 percent from July 2007. Mature chickens, at 81.6 million pounds, were up 15 percent from the previous year. Turkey inspections totaled 687 million pounds, up 8 percent from a year ago. Ducks totaled 13.5 million pounds, down 12 percent from last year.

Young chickens slaughtered during July 2008 averaged 5.54 pounds per bird, up 1 percent from July 2007. The average live weight of mature chickens was 5.90 pounds per bird, down 5 percent from a year ago. Turkeys slaughtered during July 2008 averaged 28.4 pounds per bird, up 1 percent from July 2007.

Ante-mortem condemnations during July 2008 totaled 20.1 million pounds. Condemnations were 0.39 percent of the live weight inspected, as compared with 0.37 percent a year earlier. Post-mortem condemnations, at 43.3 million pounds, were 1.12 percent of quantities inspected, as compared with 1.20 percent a year earlier.

July 2008 contained 23 weekdays (including one holiday) and 4 Saturdays, while July 2007 had 22 weekdays (including one holiday) and 4 Saturdays.

Friday, December 05, 2008Print This Page
What Does 2009 Hold for Feed Prices?
US - Feed ingredient prices have fluctuated considerably this past year.

 

Feed accounts for two-thirds to three-fourths of the total cost of raising pigs and poultry, and is also a significant contributor to the cost of dairy and beef operations. Slight fluctuations in feed prices, especially for corn and soybean meal, can have significant impacts on overall livestock production costs.

What does 2009 bring for feed prices, and how should producers approach and develop a plan for procuring feed ingredients for this upcoming year? These and similar issues will be addressed in an upcoming PorkCast online seminar program December 9 from 1-2 p.m. Mark Schultz, North Star Commodities, will be providing information on options and plans for buying and pricing feed ingredients in 2009.

Interested individuals can access the free program live via the Internet by clicking here.

 
Hong Kong culls 80,000 chickens 
[11 December 2008] Hong Kong health authorities have slapped a ban on live chicken imports and ordered a cull of 80,000 chickens after three dead birds taken from a farm in the district of Yuen Long tested positive for the bird flu virus. Chickens in a second farm located within a 3-kilometer radius of the infected farm will also face the cull, totaling about 80,000 chickens. The government has banned imports of live poultry and birds for 21 days. There are about 600,000 live chickens in local farms, but most of the daily consumed chickens came from mainland China. 
 
 
 

 Vietnam moves ducks into shed
[2 January 2009] Vietnam is supporting owners of free range ducks in the Mekong Delta to raise them in closed farms to improve biosecurity and prevent them from the bird flu. Livestock authorities in An Giang said the province has over 2.2 million ducks, 13% of which is farmed in sheds. An Giang  aims to increase the number of farmed ducks to 50% by the end of 2008. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said the delta used to have 18-20 million ducks in its 10 provinces and most of them are raised in the open and feed on rice left-over from the paddy fields. But since the bird flu hit Vietnam in 2004, the ministry reported that over 10 million ducks in the Mekong Delta were killed by the disease or culled to contain the outbreak. 
 
 
 

[ December 2008] An expert from the University of Hong Kong said that misuse of the bird flu vaccine might have resulted in the latest outbreaks in Hong Kong. He warned that poultry farms in some parts of the world were using vaccines that did not provide full protection against the H5N1 virus and cannot keep up with its mutation process, adding that the virus has been mutating since it was identified in Hong Kong in 1997 with 10 strains of the virus discovered.

Worms in Free-Range Hens
Claire Knott, Stephen Lister and Philip Hammond, partners in Crowshall Veterinary Services in the UK, describe the most common worms in free-range poultry and how they can be controlled.



Claire Knott, BVM&S MRCVS


Stephen Lister, BSc BvetMed Cert PMP MRCVS


Philip Hammond, BVetMed MRCVS Whenever your birds have contact with their own droppings, there is a likelihood of exposure to intestinal worms. The infection starts with eggs voided in droppings and then picked up by birds eating or foraging in anything contaminated with such droppings, those eggs hatching and maturing into adults ready to lay eggs to pass out in the droppings again. Whether they then cause problems in your birds depends on the balance between challenge and control.

Answering some of the following questions will help push the balance in favour of your birds.

What can worms do to my birds?
Worm infections cause damage to the bird's gut. This may result in a variety of problems including:
Loss of shell colour and strength, yolk colour and egg size
Poor body weight gain leading to unevenness or sick birds. Affected birds may be dull and show pale combs.
Poor feed conversion
Increased cannibalism through vent pecking due to straining
Increased risk of egg peritonitis
Death, in very heavy infestations.
Which worms should I be worried about?
There are three main worms that may cause problems in free-range birds:
Roundworms (Ascaridia)
These are the biggest and the most common. They are white, up to 5cm long and may be visible in droppings in heavy infestations.
Hairworms (Capillaria)
These are much smaller (hair-like) and barely visible to the naked eye but can cause significant damage, even in moderate infestations.
Caecal worms (Hetarakis)
As their name suggests, these worms spend most of their time in the lower end of the gut, the caeca. Frequently, the cause no obvious harm in themselves but they can carry another parasite, Histomonas, into the bird. Histomonas is the cause of blackhead, and hence control of one parasite can help to control another. With the increasing incidence of histomoniasis &ndash' for which there is currently no treatment – the role of regular worming is even more important.
How do birds become infected?
Birds become infected by picking up worm eggs from grass, soil or faeces. The worm eggs need warm, moist conditions to develop outside the bird, which is why problems are frequently worse in the spring and summer, especially following a wet spring.
If we know all these answers, why does worm control so 'hit-and-miss'?
The answer probably lies in the fact that we do not spend enough time thinking about how the problem affects specific sites.

Worm are common and almost inevitable in laying flocks unless birds are effectively wormed before moving to laying accommodation and having the luxury of moving to 'virgin' pasture.
Worming prior to the onset of lay with the only licensed wormer means that production should at least start on with a clean slate.
Worms can build up quickly on the laying site and can peak at a time when birds are reaching their peak production.
Worming in lay can remove the offending worm burden.
Worming only once during lay may not prevent worms for the pasture re-infecting birds and building up to significant levels, suggesting repeated worming may be necessary.
So how does this affect me on my farm?
If you have to ask this question, then the answer is that you need to start looking!

Undoubtedly, some producers have been in business for many years and have never identified a problem. This may be due to a combination of the the fact hat your pullet rearer has delivered you a clean flock and either by good management, pasture rotation, soil type and drainage or good old-fashioned luck, your birds have not met a challenge during lay. Alternatively, your birds may have met a moderate worm burden, which has not had a significant effect on performance. Or you just have not noticed!

How do I know if my birds are carrying worms?
Worm burdens can be most easily identified by examination of droppings for the presence of visible roundworms although this will not help for hairworms, which can be more severe in their damage to bird performance but are too small to see.

Sending droppings samples to your veterinarian gives a more informative answer. Twenty fresh samples taken from the floor slats is a good sample.

A better strategy is to submit ailing, thin or other culled birds to your veterinarian for a routine post mortem examination and health screening, when visible and microscopic tests on the gut can be done. This often picks up a burden before it become patent, i.e. when birds are pushing out large numbers of eggs that could be detected in a droppings sample.

When should I test my birds?
It is a good idea to test your birds via their droppings soon after arrival on site to check they are worm-free before they start to lay. After that, it is worth establishing a programme with your veterinarian. Clearly, if you experience a drop in production, loss of egg size or shell colour, you should follow this up with a droppings sample and sick or recently dead birds.

Even if no specific problems are experienced, peak worm egg output tends to coincide with peak egg production by the hens. So a sample taken then, proving negative, gives confidence that there is nothing wrong.

A sample late in the life of the flock also gives a benchmark for your worm control strategy, and lets you know the likely status of that paddock for the next flock.

Armed with this information, you are either comforted that all is well, or you may uncover a lurking menace. At least with latter case, you know what you are dealing with and can do something about it.

What does all this tell me about how to control worms in my flock?
Consider some or all of the following actions:

Regular worming on the basis of previous experience and discussion with your veterinarian.
Effective paddock rotation to reduce worm build-up, and put off land becoming 'fowl sick'.
Use well drained land - or try to improve the drainage.
Avoid access to poached, muddy areas that encourage worms (and other pathogens).
Use stones in the area close to the pop-holes to help clean the birds' feet and allow droppings passed there to dry, break up and be exposed to ultraviolet sunlight, which is lethal to worms.
Keep pasture cut short, especially close to the houses, again to allow sunlight access to droppings.
Regular worm egg counts to monitor the success of your chosen strategy.
Submit birds for post mortem at peak, mid and/or end of lay to check the worm burden.
Armed with this information, you can develop a worming strategy and pasture management that suit your specific enterprise and conditions, and helps to avoid pasture problems before they affect your flock – and your pocket.

 
New processing plant opens in Vietnam
[15 January 2009] Phu An Sinh Food Processing Co has opened a chicken processing plant in Vietnam’s southern province of Ba Rai Vung Tau costing VND 40 billion (USD 572,246). The plant covers 30,000 square metres and is equipped with modern processing equipment from Europe that has a 20,000 birds/hour capacity. It will process over 300,000 birds/day for Ho Chi Minh City during the coming Vietnamese New Year.

300,000 birds per day,big operation.
 
 
 

Friday, January 16, 2009Print This Page
Study: Hen Mortality Affected by Housing System
SWEDEN - Free-range and barn-housed (litter-based) layers were more likely to have bacterial infections and parasites, and to suffer from cannibalism than birds kept in battery cages. These are the main conclusions of a recently published paper by Fossum and colleagues at the National Veterinary Institute in Uppsala investigating the causes of mortality in Swedish layer flocks.



The husbandry systems for laying hens were changed in Sweden during the years 2001 to 2004, and an increase in the number of submissions for necropsy from laying hen farms was noted. Hence, this study was started to compare causes of mortality in different housing systems for commercial laying hens during this change.

Methods
Based on results from routine post-mortem examination of 914 laying hens performed at the National Veterinary Institute (SVA) in Uppsala, Sweden between 2001 and 2004, a retrospective study on the occurrence of diseases and cannibalism, i.e. pecking leading to mortality, in different housing systems was carried out.

Using the number of caged flocks in which important categories of diseases were diagnosed as the baseline, the expected number of flocks with a certain category of disease in the other housing systems were estimated having regard to the total number of flocks.

Whether the actual number of flocks significantly exceeded the expected number was determined using a Poisson distribution for the variance of the baseline number, a continuity correction and the exact value for the Poisson distribution function in Excel 2000.

Results
Common causes of mortality in necropsied laying hens included colibacillosis, erysipelas, coccidiosis, red mite infestation, lymphoid leukosis and cannibalism. Less common diagnoses were Newcastle disease, pasteurellosis and botulism.

Considering the size of the populations in the different housing systems, a larger proportion of laying hens than expected was submitted for necropsy from litter-based systems and free-range production than hens in cages (P<0.001).

The study showed a significantly higher occurrence of bacterial and parasitic diseases in laying hens kept in litter-based housing systems and free-range systems than in hens kept in cages (P<0.001).

The occurrence of viral diseases was significantly higher in indoor litter-based housing systems than in cages (P<0.001).

Cannibalism showed a significantly higher occurrence in birds kept in litter-based housing systems and free-range systems than in caged birds (P<0.001).

Conclusions
The results of the present study indicated that during 2001 to 2004 laying hens housed in litter-based housing system, with or without access to outdoor areas, were at higher risk of infectious disease and cannibalistic behaviour compared to laying hens in cages.

Future research should focus on finding suitable prophylactic measures, including efficient biosecurity routines, to reduce the risk of infectious diseases and cannibalism in litter-based housing systems for laying hens.

Reference
Fossum O., D.S. Jansson, P.E. Etterlin and I. Vagsholm, 2009. Causes of mortality in laying hens in different housing systems in 2001 to 2004. Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica 2009, 51:3doi:10.1186/1751-0147-51-3.

Kenyan poultry farmers in trouble 23 Jan 2009
Poultry farmers in Kenya may be forced to reduce their flock due to the high price of feed.  Some have opted out of commercial poultry farming due to low returns from sale of bird products after spending so much on rearing them.
"Getting feeds has become a nightmare and many farmers are opting out of the poultry business. There will be a crisis very soon," said Ms Wairimu Kariuki, chairlady of the Kenya Poultry Farmers Association.

The association says the high prices of feeds prompts a reduction of birds reared, a move that may trigger a shortage or a price increase of poultry products in the market.

The hardest hit are commercial farmers rearing exotic layers and broiler breeds who rely heavily on manufactured feed.

Manufacturers of poultry feed have been in talks with the government to allow import of raw materials and to release part of the strategic grain reserve for animal feeds. The government has appointed four firms—Mombasa Maize Millers, Corn Products Corporation, Pembe Flour and Nouis Pryefus, an international commodities dealer— to import a million bags of yellow maize.

Mr Kinoti says the imports will help ease pressure on the high prices of poultry feeds as they can sustain the industry for three months. Players are, however, hopeful that with the start of the long rains due in three months there will be enough supply of raw materials, pushing down the prices of all feeds down.

Brunei, too, had recently expressed interest to export poultry and chicken eggs to Singapore, and is now in talks with AVA, the authority said yesterday.
The moves are part of Singapore's plans to cast the food net wider, and keep rising food prices in check.

European Turkey Industry in Difficulties, Says AVEC
The 2008 Annual Report from AVEC, the Association of Poultry Processors and Poultry Trade in the EU Countries, includes an overview of the turkey industry. Welfare and the reduction in Salmonella contamination are seen as particularly difficult issues for the future of the sector.


The European turkey producers are in a difficult situation: on the one side, they are under pressure from the retailers who want to increase their margins and on the other side, they are faced with the imports supplying the processing industry. In this very competitive environment, European production in 2007 was 1.848 million tonnes (EU-25), representing a decrease from 2006 of 2.5 per cent.

After strong restructuring in 2006 (-4.1 per cent in EU-15), there was no recovery in 2007 as new decreases are noted everywhere with the exception of Germany retaining its 2006 level. Poland maintains its positive development within the EU and further develops its production especially for other European markets.

High prices for agricultural products especially soybean make the European turkey sector even more vulnerable because of the turkeys' feed conversion rate. The perspectives for the turkey are especially more difficult as the pork meat sector has not compensated the costs of production to the retailers because the markets have been unbalanced.

It is also important to mention that sales of fresh products are decreasing and sales of processed products increase. The changed consumer behaviour favours imported meat from third countries where exporters profit from quotas with reduced tariffs.

The world turkey consumption has remained stable at an estimated 2 million tonnes. Germany has passed France with a per-capita consumption of 6.5 kg to France's 6.2 kg whereas the Italians consume 5.1 kg. Consumers buy mainly fresh or prepared products.

Targets for the Prevalence of Salmonella enteritidis and Salmonella typhimurium
Regulation (EC) No. 584/2008 of 20 June 2008 sets the community targets for the reduction of the prevalence of Salmonella enteritidis and Salmonella typhimurium in turkeys. The percentage of flocks of turkeys for fattening positive with the two serotypes must be reduced to a number of less than or equal to one per cent before 31 December 2012.

Such a reduction is important since the strict measures that concern fresh meat from infected turkeys from 12 December 2010 also must comply with the rules of Regulation (EC) 2160/2003 that is – fresh meat from poultry including turkeys cannot be marketed for human consumption if the meat does not meet the criterion for 'absence of Salmonella in 25 g'.

The European producers must carefully watch the feasibility of this community target, taking into consideration the recently published results of an EFSA survey on the prevalence of Salmonella in flocks of turkey in 2006/2007. It is difficult to establish such strict criteria for the marketing of meat before it has been possible to evaluate the progress reached within the transitional period to 31 December 2012.

Turkey Welfare
The working group on the welfare of turkeys has adopted the research programme on 18 June 2008. The aim of the project is to improve the competitive position of the European turkey producers by investigating the development and causative factors of foot pad dermatitis (FPD) in turkey and consequences on health, welfare and performance under experimental and field conditions. First, a uniform methodology for scoring the lesions discovered has to be established then the risk factors and the corrective measures must be developed. The main outcome will be to find techniques to improve the litter quality of the birds through their lifetime.

A multi-disciplinary approach to study the problems has been established with experimental and field conditions. Six research institutes participate in the study initiated by professionals from five avec member countries.

If the financial conditions are approved, the study will run over 36 months from 2010. The study will be funded 70 per cent by the EU and with 30 per cent from professionals.

DDGS in Feed Could Affect Meat Fatty Acid Content
The production of Dried Distillers' Grains with Solubles (DDGS) has increased dramatically in the US recently because of the focus of the country on the production of ethanol, writes ThePoultrySite senior editor, Chris Harris.


DDGS production is just going to keep on increasing as ethanol production from corn increases, according to R.E. Loar II from Mississippi State University in a presentation to the International Poultry Science Forum in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.

The rise in the cost of corn for feed, which is being pushed up by the biofuels industry and its desire for more and more corn for ethanol, means that the by-product from the ethanol industry, DDGS, is becoming more readily available to integrators.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*
As ethanol pushes feed corn prices up a biofuel by-product distillers' dried grains with solubles can be substituted in poultry feed. 
However, he told the Forum that while some research has been carried out into the effects of DDGS on pig meat quality, little work has been conducted on the effects on broiler meat.

Mr Loar said that for pigs it had been shown that there were material effects on the meat quality when DDGS was 20 per cent of the feed, but little or no effect was seen when fed at an inclusion level of 10 per cent.

He said that recently, associated feed costs have reached record highs due to recent increases in ingredients used in diet manufacturing for broilers. As a result, there has been a gradual shift towards the use of alternative feedstuffs such as DDGS.

The research carried out by the University of Mississippi evaluated the effects of feeding DDGS on meat quality and the consumer acceptability of broiler breast meat.

The study looked at the meat colour and how the pH of the meat changed with the addition of DDGS to the diet. It also looked at tenderness and shear force of the meat and two consumer panels of between 35 and 50 people tested it for flavour, taste texture and palatability. Finally, the study also looked at the effects the DDGS had on the fatty acid content of the broiler breast meat.

Mr Loar said that the birds, Ross × Ross 708 males, were grown on diets that contained either zero or eight per cent DDGS.

At 42 days old, the birds were processed and boneless skinless breast meat and thighs were collected for evaluation from birds within each treatment group.

Fatty acid profile and lipid peroxidation (TBARS) tests were performed on the thigh meat while the breast meat samples were evaluated for pH, colour (CIE L*, a*, b*), cooking loss, shear force and taste panel data.

Mr Loar said that there were no differences found in breast meat between treatments between the control birds and those fed the DDGS with regard to pH, cooking loss, shear force, breast meat colour and consumer acceptability of texture.

He added that as far as flavour and overall acceptability were concerned, consumers preferred the control treatment over the DDGS treatment.

He said the meat from the two test samples was also equal in contents of calcium, phosphorus and amino acids.

However, in the sensory test, consumers could not distinguish between the DDGS and control treatments.

"The consumer panels rated the control higher than the birds fed the DDGS, but there was not that large a difference," said Mr Loar.

"The use of eight per cent DDGS had limited effect on the thigh and breast meat quality, despite the consumer panels feeling there was a slight difference in acceptability."

However, he added that the DDGS treatment showed some differences in fatty acid composition of the thigh when compared to the control.

With higher percentages of linoleic and total polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), it is possible that the DDGS treatment may be more susceptible to oxidation. He said that the control had more saturated fatty acids and there was a greater amount of polyunsaturated fatty acids in the DDGS-fed birds.

Mr Loar added that overall, the inclusion of eight per cent DDGS in the diet did not adversely affect the resulting broiler meat, and both treatments resulted in high quality breast and thigh meat. However, he added that there was a need for more research into the changes in the fatty acid content of the meat from the birds fed DDGS.


February 2009

21 January 2009] Thai broiler processors and exporters are seeking more export markets in an attempt to boost overseas sales amid the global economic slowdown. Negotiations are on with Iran, Hong Kong and the Philippines regarding raw meat exports, according to the Thai Broiler Processing Exporters Association. Thailand expects to ship around 15,000 tonnes of raw chicken meat overseas in 2009.

Termites as poultry feed 16 Feb 2009
Backyard poultry farmers in India practice the method of feeding termites to feed poultry birds.
The practice has been documented by late Dr. Mariadass, a Tiruchi (Tamil Nadu) based veterinary doctor.
 
Farmers fill a mud pot with old jute sacks, paddy straw, maize husk or any available dried crop stubble and dried cow dung . This has to be moistened with water and the pot placed upside down in the field.
 
If the inverted pot is opened the next day it will be full of termites and can be given as feed for the birds.
Feeding termites has been found to improve nutrition in poultry birds.

There was a thesis in De La Salle- Araneta about maggots being used a protein source for layer.

I think the result was promising.

[4 March 2009] With rising food costs quickly becoming a cause for concern amongst consumers in Singapore, some food retailers are trying to ease that burden. Supermarkets like Giant and NTUC FairPrice are selling frozen chicken for SGD 1.99, almost half of the price each chicken normally costs.However, industry watchers say continuing to sell at a loss will only hurt industry players in the long run.

March,6 2009] A virologist in the US blames duck for the resurgence of the H5N1 bird flu virus in China and Vietnam, and called for wider surveillance and vaccination of ducks to stop the problem, adding that silent infections of H5N1 in ducks may be the reason behind the human cases in China. The virus has infected at least 14 people in both countries since the start of this year, killing seven of them.

Cassava poultry feed trial in Guyana 01 Apr 2009
The National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) in Guyana is awaiting test results from the US on the nutritional value of a cassava poultry feed before starting a trial of the experimental product at the end of this month.
The idea to use cassava as a source of poultry feed stemmed from a workshop hosted earlier this year which “aimed at implementing a strategy to start a cassava enterprise and industry development”, the Government Information Agency (GINA) said in a press release.
 
NARI has sent its experimental cassava product to the US to determine its nutritional values.
 
NARI has begun working with its private sector partner, Bounty Farms, on this venture. Director of NARI, Dr Oudho Homenauth, explained that the unpeeled cassava is sliced in thin pieces and sun dried so that it will break easily.
 
Once the cassava has dried to about 12% moisture, he said, it is ground into flour.
 
Homenauth noted that cassava feed, once feasible can replace the more expensive feeds made of corn and rice.
 
Bounty Farm will be doing the necessary formulations which will be compared to what is used conventionally to determine whether the cassava feed can serve as a substitute.
 

I think there have been a lot of research about cassava but there is little follow up.

1 April 2009] Bangladesh poultry integrator Aftab is exploring potential to export processed chicken to the Middle East, said Shah Habibul Haque. He said the Middle Eastern market is huge and closer to Bangladesh, but most of its chicken meat is from Brazil. If Aftab supplies processed chicken to the Middle East with more competitive price, it could take a sizeable share in this market.


"Brazil and Thailand,2 major players in the whole poultry markets"

Philippine chicken imports top 45000 tonnes
[9 April 2009] The Philippines imported some 45,770 tonnes of chicken and chicken products in 2008,up 2% from the 2007 figure. Imports of leg-quarters, which often make up the bulk of chicken imports, fell 35% from the previous year. Canada, the U.S. and Brazil were the top chicken exporters to the Philippines, accounting for 38%, 30%, and 18% of the total imports, respectively. Last year, the local poultry industry, which is valued at about USD 2 billion, increased by nearly 5.8% over its yearago level.

 China’s poultry meat exports challenged by Brazil
[30 April 2009] China’s cooked poultry meat exports to Japan and EU have been challenged by Brazilian producers due mainly to the depreciation of Brazilian Reais and falling production costs as a result of a bumper harvest of raw materials such as soybean, according to a Chinese poultry processor in the eastern province of Shandong. The company said the price of drumsticks from Brazil fell to around USD 2000 per tonne in Japan, a major export market for the Chinese poultry meat. Statistics show that poultry meat exports from China to Japan for the first two months of this year have declined to 18,182 tonnes, or 36.8% from a year ago while the export value is down 25%. 
 
 
 

24 July 2009] Thailand’s Department of Livestock Development, Thailand Research Fund, Suranaree University of Technology and a group of farmers in the northeastern province of Nakhon Ratchasima have come together to develop a new Thai native chicken breed called “Korach Broiler” and will promote farming and production of the breed at a commercial level. Said to offer high productivity, the Korach Broiler is fast growing, has firm meat, good meat taste and low cholesterol. The production of this native chicken will comply with food safety and traceability standards.

[6 August 2009] The US Senate has passed a funding bill for USDA and FDA which allows poultry chicken imports from China from plants that have secured approval. These plants will have to undergo annual inspections while their products will be subjected to increased inspection at US ports. However, current restrictions on Chinese chicken imports, which is being investigated by the World Trade Organization, will still be in place.

World Poultry Trade Overview - October 2009
By USDA Foreign Agricultural Service - This article provides a forecast for 2010, in which an economic recovery is expected to bolster world meat trade.

 

2010 Forecast: Economic Recovery Bolsters World Meat Trade
Economic recovery in 2010 will help stimulate improved demand for meat and poultry.


Beef and pork exports are forecast up one and three per cent, respectively. Whereas improved demand for beef is expected worldwide, the boost in pork will generally be concentrated in North America. Brazil, the only key beef producer with excess supplies, is expected as the principal beneficiary of increased demand. However, both Brazil and the United States will be able to take advantage of the rise in pork.

Broiler and turkey meat exports are forecast two and four per cent higher, respectively. Brazil will be the primary supplier as it focuses on growth to non-traditional markets. The United States faces a decline in broiler shipments on weak demand in major markets but modest growth is expected for turkey.

Broiler Meat 2010 Forecast Overview
Production forecast to rebound in 2010
Following recession-induced stagnant production, 2010 is forecast up three per cent at 73.7 million tons.

Growth is forecast to be largely driven by new historic production levels in Brazil and China (four and three per cent higher, respectively). Brazil's rise is spurred by strong export and domestic demand. China's increase is in response to strong domestic demand due to economic expansion. Contributing to global growth will be the world's leading producer, the United States, which is forecast two per cent higher at 16.2 million tons. Virtually all other major producers, particularly Argentina, India and Russia are forecast to expand production.






Exports forecast slightly higher amid growing supplies
Exports are forecast two per cent higher at 8.3 million tons. Plentiful supplies partnered with increasing consumption as the macroeconomic outlook improves will facilitate the positive environment for international trade.

Brazil's expanding exports are forecast six per cent higher to a record of over 3.3 million tons. Import demand is expected from a variety of markets in the Middle East and Asia as well as efforts to open new markets. Brazil's continued, long-term focus on developing non-traditional markets will buoy expansion.

US exports are forecast five per cent lower at nearly 2.9 million tons. Increased production in Russia and China to meet consumption needs as well as lingering non-tariff barriers to trade will weaken demand for US product.


Imports forecast to rise largely on developing and non-traditional markets
Global economic recovery is expected to stimulate consumption and raise import demand. While Russia, the EU and Japan remain the largest markets for broiler meat imports, their share of global trade is forecast to continue to stagnate or erode in 2010.

In the absence of a multilateral agreement on 2010 TRQs, the Russian forecast is based on 2009 TRQ levels and allocations. While the 2010 outlook depends greatly on future policy decisions for not only the TRQ but also the chlorine ban and imposition of non-tariff barriers, imports are forecast four per cent lower at 855,000 tons. The reduction is expected as the Russian poultry industry, due to government financial support, will grow faster than consumption.

Larger imports are forecast to be led by non-traditional developing markets in the Middle East and sub-Saharan Africa, which are slowly accounting for a greater portion of world trade. Demand in these markets is spurred by population growth, rising incomes and budding meat consumption. Poultry performs particularly well in these markets as it is a lower cost animal protein (compared to beef and lamb), versatile and does not have any religious taboo attached to consumption.






Turkey Meat 2010 Forecast Overview
Production to rise slightly in 2010
Following a decline in 2009, production is forecast to rebound two per cent to nearly 5.2 million tons on gains by Brazil and the United States which more than offset a decline in the EU. The United States is expected to rise two per cent to 2.6 million tons. Brazil's production is forecast to reach 480,000 tons on higher demand from both the domestic and foreign market. The world's largest producer, the EU, is expected to be stagnant.

Trade rises four per cent as world economy recovers
Exports of turkey meat are forecast to rise nearly four per cent to 551,000 tons. Both the United States and Brazil are expected to benefit from renewed demand. Mexican imports are forecast to rise by nearly 12 per cent on demand for cuts for processing as the economy rebounds from recession.

 
Mona rice, a layer feed supplement
[10 November 2009] A team of researchers from Kasetsart University has succeeded in inventing an innovation made from rice as a feed supplement for layers. The inventive fermented rice “Mona Rice” is 100% natural and proven safe. Its advantages include the ability to lower cholesterol in eggs by around 20-40% depending on usage while the egg yolk continues to hold the strong yellow color preferred by customers. Mona Rice will soon be commercialised and is expected to be made available by middle of 2010