European Hog News:

[Mustang Sally Farm]

Friday, March 23, 2012
UK Pig Industry Becoming More Competitive
UK - Pig producers are not looking at the future with any degree of confidence, though others in the supply chain have a more optimistic view.
 

This is the key finding from the annual BPEX Confidence Survey sent out to 630 people, covering producers, processors, allied industry, vets, retail/foodservice and civil servants which is now in its sixth year.

The measure of industry confidence is based on a number of factors, including attitude towards capital investment and perceptions of relative competitiveness with EU businesses.

The results revealed producers expressing increasing uncertainty over profitability and price volatility in the past year deterring them from making investment in their business for reasons other than those driven by the need for replacement or to increase efficiency, with little investment being made to increase the size and throughput of businesses.

The competitive outlook for the next 12 months is more optimistic with an increase in the proportion of people who felt their business would become more competitive in 2012.

BPEX Head of Communications Andrew Knowles said: "The industry has been going through a difficult time, producers are continuing to tread water waiting for evidence from supply chain partners of stability and direction which will give them the confidence to invest for the future and grow their businesses.

"It is good to see the overall view is the competitive outlook is more optimistic which is probably tied in to the forthcoming EU partial ban on stalls which will go some way towards creating a more level playing field for the UK and its major European competitors. But the industry must not be distracted by changes in EU welfare legislation and continue to address the fundamental gap that exists in terms of physical performance between UK and EU average performance."

The survey also looked at the quality of BPEX services and whether they were what was required.

In total, BPEX services were used by 75 per cent of respondents over the past 12 months showing that the organisation is reaching out to a wide audience across the different sectors.

When looking at specific sectors, the producer category has increased their use of BPEX services, increasing from 71 per cent in 2011 to 76 per cent in 2012.

Satisfaction with BPEX services remains high with 83 per cent of customers rating services as excellent or very good.

Andrew Knowles said: "We have worked hard to try to ensure BPEX services are commercially relevant to our customers and their business and the feedback is encouraging.

"We still have lots more work to do in this area and the recently published Directory of Services is another way for our customers to understand how we can help them."

[Mustang Sally Farm]

UK Slaughter Statistics - March 2012
UK clean pig slaughterings for February 2012 were 767,000 head and pig meat production was 64,000 tonnes.


Key Points
Pigs: UK clean pig slaughterings were 1 per cent higher than in February 2011 at 767 thousand head. Pigmeat production was 64 thousand tonnes, which was the same as in February 2011.
Cattle: UK prime cattle slaughterings were 6 per cent lower than in February 2011 at 159 thousand head. Beef and veal production was 70 thousand tonnes, 6 per cent lower than in February 2011.
Sheep: UK clean sheep slaughterings were 5 per cent lower than in February 2011 at 788 thousand head. Mutton and lamb production was 19 thousand tonnes, 4 per cent lower than in February 2011.
Section 1. UK monthly slaughter estimates
This table shows monthly estimates of the number of cattle, sheep and pigs slaughtered for meat for human consumption in the United Kingdom. The survey is run according to statistical, rather than calendar months, the number of weeks in the statistical month is specified below.

Table 1: UK Monthly Slaughter Estimates
Thousand Head
United Kingdom December 2011
4 weeks January 2012
5 weeks February 2012
4 weeks
Clean Pigs 743 943 767
Sows and Boars * 26 19
Steers 69 89 78
Heifers 57 75 62
Young Bulls 17 22 19
Cows and Adult Bulls 46 60 45
Calves 5 6 6
Other Sheep and Lambs 1007 977 788
Ewes and Rams 158 170 138
* Data are confidential

Section 2. UK average dressed carcase weights
This table shows the monthly average dressed carcase weight of livestock slaughtered for meat for human consumption in the United Kingdom.

Table 2. UK average dressed carcass weights
(kilogramme)
United Kingdom December 2011 January 2012 February 2012
Clean pigs 78.0 79.1 79.3
Sows and boars 151.3 148.7 149.6
Steers 365.4 368.4 369.6
Heifers 320.7 325.0 325.2
Young bulls 348.4 348.5 347.8
Cows and adult bulls 311.6 318.6 319.0
Calves 50.5 49.5 46.1
Other Sheep and Lambs 18.7 19.6 19.8
Ewes and Rams 24.7 25.5 25.8

Section 3. UK monthly home-killed production of meat
This table shows the monthly volumes of meat produced in the United Kingdom. Data is shown according to statistical, rather than calendar months, number of weeks in statistical month as specified.

Table 3. UK monthly home-killed production of meat
(thousand tonnes)
United Kingdom December 2011
4 weeks January 2012
5 weeks February 2012
4 weeks
Pig meat 61 78 64
Beef 64 84 70
Mutton and Lamb 23 23 19

Section 4. UK average weekly slaughterings
This following table shows the average weekly slaughter figures for the last thirteen months. The monthly slaughter figures in section one are affected by the number of weeks in the statistical month. To get a clearer measure of trends weekly averages are calculated by dividing the number of livestock slaughtered each month by the number of weeks in the statistical month.

Longer term trends can be seen in the charts following this table.

Table 4. UK average weekly slaughterings
(thousand head)
United Kingdom 2011 2012
Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb
Clean pigs 191 189 177 178 185 187 190 199 199 207 186 188 192
Sows and boars * * * * * * * * * * * 5 5
Steers 20 21 20 20 18 17 19 22 21 20 17 18 19
Heifers 17 16 15 15 14 13 14 15 15 16 14 15 16
Young bulls 6 6 6 7 8 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 5
Cows and adult bulls 12 11 10 12 12 11 12 13 15 16 11 12 11
Calves 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 1 1 2
Other Sheep and Lambs 207 201 192 180 211 260 279 291 312 284 252 195 197
Ewes and Rams 40 35 34 34 35 39 40 40 45 43 39 34 34
* Data are confidential




United Kingdom average weekly slaughtering - Pigs



United Kingdom average weekly slaughtering – Cattle



United Kingdom average weekly slaughtering – Sheep
Section 5. UK slaughterings by country
This table shows monthly estimates of the number of cattle, sheep and pigs slaughtered for meat in England and Wales, Scotland, Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Data are shown in statistical months, rather than calendar months. The totals for the countries may not add up to the Great Britain totals or the United Kingdom totals in section one, due to rounding.

Section 5. UK Slaughterings by Country
(thousand head)
  December 2011
4 weeks January 2012
5 weeks February 2012
4 weeks
England & Wales
Clean pigs 574 720 591
Sows and boars * 25 19
Steers 42 55 48
Heifers 32 45 37
Young bulls 12 15 12
Cows and adult bulls 34 46 34
Calves 5 5 6
Other Sheep and Lambs 864 825 661
Ewes and Rams 153 165 134
Scotland
Clean pigs 56 64 52
Sows and boars 0 0 0
Steers 16 20 18
Heifers 16 18 15
Young bulls 2 2 2
Cows and adult bulls 5 6 4
Calves 0 0 0
Other Sheep and Lambs 120 129 110
Ewes and Rams 3 2 1
Great Britain
Clean pigs 629 784 643
Sows and boars * 26 19
Steers 58 75 66
Heifers 47 63 52
Young bulls 13 17 14
Cows and adult bulls 38 51 38
Calves 5 5 6
Other Sheep and Lambs 983 953 770
Ewes and Rams 155 167 135
Northern Ireland
Clean pigs 113 155 124
Sows and boars 0 0 0
Steers 11 15 12
Heifers 9 12 10
Young bulls 4 5 4
Cows and adult bulls 8 9 7
Calves 0 0 0
Other Sheep and Lambs 24 23 18
Ewes and Rams 2 3 3
*Data are confidential


March 2012

[Mustang Sally Farm]

Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Danish Pork Exports Up in 2011; Dutch Exports Down
GLOBAL - While Danish exports of fresh and frozen pork were five per cent higher in 2011 than the previous year, Dutch exports fell marginally.


China accounts for nearly 50 per cent of global production and consumption of pig meat. However, given the scale of the industry, small production changes can have a significant impact on price. During summer of last year, Chinese pig meat prices rose to record highs. Since then, there has been a steady fall in prices.

According to the AHDB European Market Survey for 23 March, pig meat prices in China are now less than 5 per cent higher than their level a year ago.

Some of the major factors contributing to falling prices in China is the expansion of the Chinese pig herd as a result of improved profitability, government subsidies and warmer weather, which led to a lower incidence of disease outbreaks this winter.

The Chinese government has recently released its 12th five-year plan for agricultural development. The plan aims to increase Chinese pig meat production by six per cent by 2015. It also sets out goals to modernise the industry and improve productivity.

2011 witnessed a contrast in Dutch and Danish pig meat exports. While Danish exports of fresh and frozen pork were five per cent higher in 2011 than the previous year at over 1.2 million tonnes, Dutch exports of fresh and frozen pork fell marginally in 2011, compared with 2010, despite a rise of two per cent in production.

The growth in Danish exports emulates an increase in pork production over the same period and some an increase in export demand. Trade with other member states of the EU rose by three per cent year on year. Shipments to non-EU states rose by 10 per cent but still only accounted for 29 per cent of trade.

Dutch pig meat trade with other EU member states dropped by 4 per cent year on year, whereas exports to non-EU markets increased by 20 per cent to make up 17 per cent of the total. The average export price increased six per cent year on year. By value, Dutch exports to non-EU markets increased by 30 per cent.

[Mustang Sally Farm]

Friday, March 30, 2012
Pork is Tops When Eating Out
UK - The popularity of pork is growing when people are eating out of the home with bacon leading the way.
 

New figures from NPD Group/Crest show that pig meat, including pork, bacon, sausages and ham, the most consumed red meat in the out-of-home market with 68.7 per cent of all red meat servings.

It also experienced the greatest increase in servings in 2011 compared with a year ago. The figures show total pig meat servings increased by 8.1.

In the main this growth was driven by bacon, which saw servings grow by 29.5 per cent and sausages, which grew by 21.3 per cent. Ham has also moved up the charts, by 11.7 per cent and pork saw an increase of 4.6 per cent.

BPEX foodservice trade manager, Tony Goodger, said: “Quality assured bacon is a fantastic ingredient for all types of menus. It’s hugely versatile and delivers a punch of flavour to dishes.

“Sausages made from quality assured pork also continue to be one of the most popular foods eaten out of home, appealing to both adults and children alike.

“Both are relatively low-cost proteins and, in the current climate when every penny counts, chefs are clearly recognising their profit potential.

“Pork has always represented good value for money in comparison with other meats, but now we’re starting to see more chefs buying whole pig carcases and experimenting with a wider range of cuts.”

[Mustang Sally Farm]

Irish CSO Livestock Slaughterings February 2012
The number of pigs slaughtered in February 2012 was 11.5 per cent higher than in February 2011.
 

The number of cattle slaughtered in January-February 2012 was 2.7 per cent lower than the corresponding 2011 period.

Over the same period there was an increase of 9.0 per cent in sheep slaughterings and an increase of 12.1 per cent in pig slaughtering.

Comparing EU figures for the periods January to December 2010 and January to December 2011, Ireland showed a 9.3 per cent increase in pig slaughterings while of the major EU pig producing countries, Poland, Denmark, Spain and Germany recorded increases of 5.1 per cent, 3.8 per cent, 3.0 per cent and 1.7 per cent respectively.

During the same period France recorded a decrease of 0.5 per cent.

[Mustang Sally Farm]

Thursday, April 05, 2012
Help from Southern Hemisphere for English Pigs
UK - Australian pig expert Dr Paul Hughes will reveal the latest knowledge on pig reproduction next month at two special BPEX Two-Tonne Sow events for English pig producers. ‘Reproduction: What’s New?’ will be held in Chippenham and Wetherby on the evenings of 9 and 10 May 2012.
 
When Paul visited two years ago, his meetings were a sell-out success. He provides a clear and often challenging view on the practicalities of breeding herd management and how to improve performance, drawing on years of pig farming experience and his research at the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI).

BPEX knowledge transfer manager Angela Cliff said: “New ideas and advice on how they can be put into practice are invaluable, as we move the English industry nearer to the two-tonne sow goal.

“We’re really looking forward to this update and are thrilled to offer producers the chance to talk with Paul directly.”

The topics for both meetings are:

Gestation management (housing and feeding)
Seasonal infertility
Feeding for litter size
Lactational oestrus
There will be an open discussion afterwards, troubleshooting problems commonly seen out in the field, including a small panel of English pig industry representatives; Mick Hazzeldine from Premier Nutitrion and Dr Steven Jagger from ABN will be among those on the panels on 9 and 10 May respectively.

[Mustang Sally Farm]

Tuesday, April 03, 2012
JSR Launches ‘Faster Finishing’ Boar
UK - Pig and Poultry Fair 2012 will see the launch of a keenly anticipated new Sireline, the ‘faster finishing’ JSR Geneconverter 800m Boar, by leading global pig breeders, JSR Genetics.
 

Bred specifically for speed of growth, JSR Geneconverter 800m progeny are up to three days faster to finish, giving an extra five kilos for those wanting more weight at the end of the production cycle. In JSR’s nucleus units, the top 10 per cent of animals are consistently achieving 100kg in 120 days with weaning–to–finish growth rates well in excess of 900g per day.

The new Sireline, whose development is a result of JSR’s international breeding programmes and advanced development technologies, is also a response to direct customer demand.

Dr Grant Walling, JSR Genetics Managing Director, said: “We enjoy very close links with our customers and had become aware that for many, faster growth – so reducing days to slaughter – is a real priority that’s not being adequately met."

With its genetic development programmes continually developing new lines, JSR has been able to focus on traits that have now delivered market leading products.

Stephen Waite, Head of Science for JSR Genetics, commented: “We are always seeking new products, and constantly have new innovations in the pipeline. It means we have been able to focus on providing new genetics that we believe will provide these much needed traits for producers. Interestingly, it was by looking at the early growth stages, often neglected, that we have been able to achieve such remarkable results.

“We now have a new, very exciting boar that is exceptionally fast growing. The animals that we are selecting from on our nucleus farms are consistently exhibiting exceptional growth,” added Mr Waite.



JSR Geneconverter 800m
JSR Geneconverter 800m – top 10% nucleus performance
100kg in 120 days
40kg in 63 days
630g per day from birth up to 40kg
1320g per day in the 40–91kg growth stage
900g per day from weaning to finish
“630 g/day is remarkable growth in small piglets,” added Dr Walling, “making the JSR Geneconverter 800m ideal not only for producers looking for quicker returns but also those wanting to improve productivity by getting more kilos in a set period of time. Our commercial trials on GC800m progeny have confirmed the ability of these genetics to consistently deliver outstanding results on farm.”

Commercial progeny trial data
Birth weight: 1.81kg
Weaning weight: 9.32kg
Weaning age: 27.60 days
Weight at slaughter: 106.20kg
Days to slaughter: 151.64
The new ‘faster growing’ JSR Geneconverter 800m boar will now take its place in the JSR Sireline range alongside the JSR Geneconverter 700, the choice for feed efficiency; the JSR Geneconverter 600, chosen for carcass yields and the Geneconverter 500 which gives exceptional meat eating quality.

The benefit of JSR research and development is that each and every candidate line – whilst bred to focus on individual characteristics – is subject to all of the breeding technologies that JSR have invested in.

Dr Walling confirmed: “Every breed routinely undergoes intra–muscular fat (IMF) scanning to determine subcutaneous fat, muscle and intra muscular fat percentages and also CT scanning to ensure large yields in the most profitable cuts. They are also tested for feed efficiency in our custom built FIRE (feed intake recording equipment) testing house.

“For the JSR Geneconverter 800m, this means that good grading, very competitive feed efficiency figures – and of course, being robust, healthy and easy to handle – have all been delivered alongside its key strength of strong growth and fast finishing. That’s where it really excels.”

Recommended for use with the JSR Genepacker 90 for indoor production units, or outdoor producers with a predominantly white genetic makeup, JSR Geneconverter 800m genetics will be available only from JSR AI studs with a limited opportunity to purchase boars for AI collection on farm.

Visitors to the Pig & Poultry Fair are invited to visit JSR’s stand to find our more about the new JSR Geneconverter 800m – including how it tastes! Bacon rolls and sausages sandwiches, provided by the Geneconverter 800m will be available.

Meet the JSR team and find out more about the new JSR Geneconverter 800m at the Pig & Poultry Fair on 15 and 16 May 2012 on JSR Stand 98 in Hall 02 or visit the company’s web site.

[Mustang Sally Farm]

Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Don’t Forget Water, Says BPEX
UK - The priority for newly weaned pigs is to maximise water and feed intake.
 
Water can often be the ‘forgotten nutrient’ but feed intake is determined by water consumption, not the other way round. The most important points for piglet water supply are:

It should be good quality clean water
Check it regularly
The welfare code and Red Tractor recommendations are to maintain a minimum flow rate of 300ml per minute. Preferably, it should be 450 to 600ml per minute
Ensure header tanks are clean and covered.
For more information, download the factsheet 2TS Action for Productivity 16 Water supply from here.

[Mustang Sally Farm]

Friday, April 20, 2012
Steady Growth in Rosderra's Pig Exports to China
IRELAND - Irish meat processor Rosderra is one of the companies with an existing relationship with the giant Yurun Group that is based in Nanjing. The company has been selling pigmeat into China since the country gave final approval to Ireland to resume exports in 2007.


Independent.ie reports that Rosderra's exports have grown steadily to China during this period and the total for 2011 topped €30m.

Rosderra boss Jim Hanley expects trade with China to expand further this year as the company continues to broaden its customer base.

"We will ship between €5m and €6m worth of pork in the next six weeks to China," Mr Hanley said.

He points out that the company exported 34,000 tonnes of pork produce to China last year, which accounted for between 11pc and 13pc of their total output.

While Britain remains the primary export market for Irish pork and bacon, China has overtaken our near neighbours in terms of importance for Rosderra.

Mr Hanley explains that imports of pork into China exceeded 126 million tonnes in 2011, the highest level ever recorded. And this is despite over 660 million pigs being slaughtered annually by China for domestic consumption.

With pork continuing to be the primary protein source for the country's urban population, the volume of imports is forecast to increase significantly over the next 10 years.

[Mustang Sally Farm]

Thursday, April 26, 2012
Meat from New Pig Breeds: Tender and Delicious
DENMARK - New pig breeds provide meat that is tender and tasty. Production of high-quality meat from alternative pig breeds may be fertile ground for new Danish niche products.

Crossings between the Hungarian curly-haired hog and traditional Danish breeds has resulted in exciting, new types of meat. [Photo: Danish Pig Production]What happens when you cross a Hungarian pig with a sheepskin coat with one of the traditional Danish pig breeds? Or, if you mate a normal Danish pig with the dark-skinned Iberian pig? This is the question scientists from Aarhus University decided to investigate in cooperation with the University of Copenhagen and the Danish Meat Research Institute at the Danish Technological Institute.

The aim was to identify differences in flavour, tenderness, texture, water distribution, fatty acid composition and metabolic products. The results from the research will be presented at a workshop on 31 May at the Aarhus University’s Research Centre Aarslev on Funen.

For years, Denmark has been able to deliver pork of a uniform and high quality, but there is a growing trend among consumers that they would like unique niche products. The introduction of new, alternative pig breeds can open the door for the development of such new gourmet meat products. The scientists therefore examined meat from crosses of boars of the Iberian breed and the Hungarian curly-haired hog (Mangalitza) and sows of the Duroc and Landrace/Yorkshire crosses produced under Danish conditions.

Flavour and chemistry studied
Meat and meat products from the various crosses were compared by the scientists in a number of detailed chemical and physical analyses. The flavour of the products was assessed by sensory analysis. It turned out that the meat from the crossings with the alternative breeds was tender and delicious and had a good texture.

The chemical characterization of the meat showed that offspring of pigs crossed with the Iberian breedhad a slightly different profile of metabolic products than traditional Danish pigs. This could indicate that the exotic crosses are less sensitive to stress, which may explain the improved texture of meat from these pigs.

The chemical and flavour analyses showed that the different pig breeds did not have significant differences in their composition of flavour substances.

During the project, the scientists also examined the effect of high-pressure processing of the meat. High-pressure treatment of meat at 5000 to 6000 bar effectively kills bacteria and safe meat products with a longer shelf life can be produced without heat treatment. Pressure treatment also affects the meat texture and water-binding capacity, which makes it possible to produce meat products with less salt and fewer additives. The longer shelf life means that freezing and consequent loss of quality can be avoided.

The project was supported by the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, Svineafgiftsfonden and Promilleafgiftsfonden.

[Mustang Sally Farm]

Friday, April 27, 2012
Bone Disease Causing Recumbency in Pigs
UK - Respiratory disease prominent with an upsurge of PRRS in East Anglia, streptococcal disease, which is still a common diagnosis in post-weaned pigs and another case of bone disease causing recumbency in pigs on an inadequate diet have been observed in the latest AHVLA Scanning Surveillance Report.
 

Reproductive Disease
Fungal infection as part of a larger problem of reproductive failure
Fungal abortion was diagnosed by Bury St Edmunds in one litter from a closed indoor breeder-finisher unit on which more widespread abortion was suspected as sows were coming into milk approximately three weeks early as if due to farrow but piglets were never found. A high regular and irregular return rate was also occurring. Sows were vaccinated for erysipelas and PRRSV, parvovirus vaccination was also undertaken but only in gilts. One aborted piglet was submitted together with five mummified piglets from a different full-term litter. Aspergillus species was isolated from foetal stomach contents of the aborted piglet in pure growth, no other causes of abortion were detected, in particular no parvovirus antibody or virus was detected. Fungal abortion can occasionally occur in pigs, usually related to mouldy feed or bedding. It can cause sequential foetal death as seen in some litters on this farm, however it is unlikely (unless mycotoxins are involved) to cause infertility and a second submission of aborted and mummified piglets was submitted to investigate further. Porcine parvovirus PCR and other tests on these piglets did not yield any infectious causes of abortion and no fungal growth was obtained. Histopathology on the hearts did not reveal myocarditis making PCV2 associated foetopathy and EMCV unlikely. Investigations continue on this unit.

PRRS outbreak causing abortions, stillbirths, weak piglets and deaths of farrowing sows
severe PRRSV outbreak was diagnosed on an indoor weaner-producer unit. Disease began a month prior to submission as respiratory disease manifesting as coughing, inappetence and malaise mainly in the gilt yard which then spread to sows. In the week prior to submission six sows died just after farrowing after showing respiratory disease. Abortions also increased in the month prior to submission and, of 14 sows to farrow at the weekend prior to submission, 50 per cent of piglets had died either as stillbirths or having been born weak. Fifteen dead piglets from three litters were submitted which were stillborn or weak at birth. Given the prominence of the respiratory disease on the unit and the relationship of respiratory disease to sow deaths and stillborn/weak piglets, the likely diagnoses were considered to be PRRS and/or swine influenza, rather than notifiable disease. The unit was urged to submit a dead sow to investigate further and the following day, a sow dying after farrowing was submitted. This sow had severe well-established fibrinous pleuropneumonia with most of the lung consolidated and from which Pasteurella multocida was isolated. PRRSV was detected in the sow by PCR and also in two of the piglets tested and in the serum of another affected sow, consistent with a diagnosis of PRRS. The unit was vaccinating for PRRS with no obvious problems with vaccine storage or administration to account for the apparent vaccine failure and a report was made to VMD. No swine influenza virus was detected. Since the diagnosis was made, morbidity and mortality have reduced and the clinical situation is improving. Vaccination has been intensified on the unit.

Alimentary Diseases
Coccidiosis causing widespread diarrhoea from a week of age
Three live 10-day-old piglets were submitted to Shrewsbury to investigate the cause of diarrhoea affecting up to 70 per cent of piglets from 7-10 days of age with 45 piglets dying in the previous batch of 200 piglets. Sows were vaccinated for E. coli and clostridial disease. Gross findings were similar in all three pigs, with the entire length of the intestines dilated with watery to creamy, yellow-green, somewhat smelly contents. Histopathology revealed marked villus stunting and blunting with variable numbers of developing intraepithelial Isospora within the more distal aspects of the villi and in all three piglets there was a fibrinopurulent and necrotising enteritis associated with isosporosis. Live typically affected piglets are ideal for diagnosis of coccidiosis in preweaned pigs as significant disease may be present without detectable oocyst excretion.

Further outdoor units affected with intestinal torsion in replacement gilts
Four of 25 190-day-old replacement gilts were showing lethargy, reduced appetite, dyspnoea and coughing and two died. The problem began six days prior to submission approximately one week after the gilts arrived on the outdoor breeding unit. One dead gilt was submitted to Bury St Edmunds in good body condition. The gilt was dehydrated and post mortem examination revealed a clear significant intestinal torsion with no evidence of respiratory disease. There was a significant proportion of sandy material in the large intestine. It was recommended that any further gilts dying be submitted to determine whether this was a one-off or part of a group problem. We have seen several ‘outbreaks’ of intestinal torsion in replacement gilts after their arrival from indoor units onto outdoor breeding units. Excessive ingestion of sandy soil and stones is likely to be playing a part and amongst the measures which might be taken to reduce the risk of torsion are provision of plentiful straw to distract the gilts in the paddocks and feeding more regularly.

Respiratory Diseases
Active PCV2 associated disease with swine influenza causing respiratory disease
Live six-week-old pigs were submitted to Thirsk for post mortem examination to investigate wasting evident from two to three weeks post weaning on a 350 sow weekly farrowing farrow to finish indoor unit. Pigs were vaccinated at eight weeks old for PCV-2 and Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae. The pigs were wasted and hairy and had variable cranioventral purple lung consolidation with some significant interlobular oedema. In one pig there was excess fibrinous pleural fluid and early visceral pleurisy. Swine influenza was detected by PCR and a variety of bacterial causes of pneumonia were isolated, including Haemophilus parasuis, Pasteurella multocida and S. suis. Histopathology confirmed severe lymphadenopathy with lymphoid depletion and some intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies typical of PCV-2 associated disease. A diagnosis was made of swine influenza superimposed on a background of active PCVAD, with secondary bacterial pneumonia. It was recommended that the PCV-2 vaccination protocol should be reviewed.

An upsurge of PRRS outbreaks was diagnosed in the Bury St Edmunds region. Several typical cases are described below. Whether this upsurge relates to the spread of a particular strain, different strains or to disease manifesting on units where it had previously been controlled is, at this stage, unclear and is being investigated.

Widespread respiratory disease due to PRRS with pasteurellosis after entry to finishing unit
Approximately 50 per cent of 1,300 indoor 14-week-old finishers were reported to be showing respiratory signs with 14 deaths over a two week period. One fresh pluck was submitted showing consolidation of the ventral parts of both middle lung lobes. Pasteurella multocida and PRRS virus were detected. Immunohistochemistry confirmed PRRSV involvement in the pneumonia. The pigs had been vaccinated for PRRSV on arrival nine days prior to submission but were already coughing and it was suspected that the pigs had been challenged prior to arrival.

Mixed bacterial infection with PRRS in wasting growers
Wasting and respiratory disease were reported in approximately 10 per cent of growers in each batch of 300 in straw yards on an indoor breeder finisher unit. Pigs were vaccinated for Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae and PCV2, PRRS vaccine had also recently been initiated although the submitted pigs were not vaccinated. Mortality was approximately 2 per cent. Three pigs in poor body condition were submitted, two had chronic extensive pneumonia while two had significant diarrhoea without specific mucosal lesions. Both Haemophilus parasuis and Pasteurella multocida were isolated from the pneumonic lung and PRRSV was detected in the pigs by PCR. Immunohistochemistry confirmed involvement of the PRRS virus in the pneumonia. Brachyspira pilosicoli was isolated from one of the pigs with diarrhoea supporting a diagnosis of concurrent Brachyspira pilosicoli colitis. The unit has initiated PRRS vaccination of rearing pigs.

Poor response to antimicrobial treatment in coughing finishers with PRRS challenge
Clotted blood samples were submitted from a group of 2,000 16-week-old housed finishers in which approximately 10 per cent were affected by coughing, wasting, reddened ears and approximately 20 deaths with a poor response to antimicrobial treatment. PRRS was suspected to be underlying the problem and this was confirmed by detection of PRRS virus in two pools of five sera by PCR and seropositivity in unvaccinated finisher pigs.

PRRSv detected in coughing unwell gilts on outdoor unit
Mixed tissues including a pluck were submitted from a 26-week-old gilt on an outdoor unit. The gilt was one of a group of 30 all of which were coughing, lethargic and inappetent over a three day period prior to submission. The rest of the group improved following antimicrobial treatment. This one gilt died. There was a severe fibrinous pericarditis and endocarditis affecting the left atrioventricular valve and a nontypable Streptococcus suis was isolated from the heart valve. More significantly, with respect to the clinical disease in the rest of the group, PRRS virus was detected by PCR and was considered to be the most likely cause of the group problem.

Mixed viral infection with Glasser’s disease causing rapid wasting and coughing
Concurrent swine influenza, PRRSV and Glasser’s disease was diagnosed as the cause of rapid wasting with coughing in 15 of 340 13-week-old pigs, six other pigs had died over the previous week. One dead pig in poor body condition was submitted which was quite pale with watery blood due to a deep gastric ulcer affecting the entire pars oesophagea. There was a fibrinous polyserositis and a generalised lymphadenopathy. Haemophilus parasuis was isolated confirming Glasser’s disease and both swine influenza (not pandemic H1N1 2009) and PRRSV were detected by PCR. Dual infection with both swine influenza and PRRS was likely to be a significant factor precipitating Glasser’s disease.

Glasser’s disease diagnosed with underlying swine influenza in weaners
Increased mortality in seven-week-old weaners with nervous signs, swollen joints and low grade cough was found to be due to combined Glasser’s disease and swine influenza. The pigs had shown a poor response to antimicrobial treatment. Three dead pigs were submitted which had fibrinous polyserositis typical of Glasser’s disease which was confirmed by isolation of Haemophilus parasuis and swine influenza (pandemic H1N1 2009 strain) was detected by PCR.

Swine influenza with mixed bacterial infections
Four six-week-old weaners were submitted to Thirsk to investigate increased respiratory disease and wasting on an indoor 600-sow farrow to finish unit. There was also an increase in abattoir pleurisy lung scores. In summary, porcine respiratory disease complex was diagnosed due to Streptococcus suis and Haemophilus parasuis infections with underlying influenza and salmonellosis. It is likely that the incursion of influenza allowed other pathogens to manifest. It is not uncommon for pigs in which influenza is diagnosed to have been submitted as a result of the secondary infections rather than the influenza itself.

Concurrent swine influenza and PRRS associated with salmonellosis post-weaning
Multifactorial disease with both swine influenza and PRRS infections was diagnosed as the cause of a very poor performance in pigs post weaning on a 300 sow indoor farrow to finish unit. Pigs were reported to scour, become dyspnoeic and approximately 10 per cent then lose condition and die within the first ten days post weaning. Lung lesions were significant with multifocal haemorrhages, wedge-shaped purple/black areas of discolouration, some grey consolidation of cranioventral lobes and some areas of firm beige rubbery lung. Both PRRS and pandemic H1N1 2009 influenza were detected by PCR and Salmonella Typhimurium Copenhagen was isolated from lung. Dual infection with PRRS and influenza was likely to have compromised the pigs and led to salmonellosis. Vaccination of the sow herd for PRRSv is being considered (the herd was not previously vaccinated) as well as diligent attention to hygiene and acidification of water in order to mitigate the effects of the salmonellosis.

Urinary Diseases
Kidney infection causes sow deaths on outdoor unit
Chronic pyelonephritis was diagnosed as the cause of illness and death of a sow on an outdoor unit on which there had been two previous unexplained sudden deaths in sows in the previous week. The sow had been treated with antibiotics and the causative organism was not isolated. The sow was estimated to be five weeks pregnant, interestingly sows are considered to be more susceptible to pyelonephritis in the three weeks post-mating when their urine is more alkaline and supports the growth of organisms causing pyelonephritis better.

Nervous Diseases
Streptococcus suis type 7 was isolated from a swab taken from the meninges of a ten-week old grower to investigate the cause of sudden death. Ten pigs had been affected out of a group of 400, eight of which had died. S. suis 7 is an uncommon cause of primary disease in UK pigs but is prominent in some European countries.

Streptococcus suis type 2 continues to cause mortality in pigs of a range of ages and several examples are described below.

The carcase of a three-month-old gilt was submitted to Winchester with a history of fitting prior to death. The liver was markedly congested with fibrin strands present on the surface. The meninges were congested and haemorrhagic in appearance and S. suis type 2 was isolated confirming streptococcal meningitis.

Four dead six-week-old pigs were submitted to investigate the cause of lameness and nervous signs, manifesting as recumbency with tremors, in 45 of 1,200 pigs with 21 deaths over a two week period. There was a fibrinous meningitis and polyarthritis in two of the three pigs, S. suis type 2 was isolated from meninges, joints and liver confirming a diagnosis of S. suis type 2 disease. No involvement of swine influenza or PRRSV was detected.

Systemic and Miscellaneous Disease
Neonatal mortality due to lack of milk
A single whole litter of neonatal piglets were found dead one morning, resulting in the submission of two carcases to Preston. There was no indication that the piglets had sucked (no milk found in the alimentary tracts) and, as no other diagnosis was established, it was concluded that the likely cause of death was starvation complicated by a liver rupture and haemorrhage in one piglet. The farmer was advised to check the milk supply of sows if further cases occurred.

Musculoskeletal Disease
Streptococcus suis type 14 polyarthritis
Streptococcus suis type 14 was isolated from joints of a 2-week-old piglet submitted to Leahurst with polyarthritis, peritonitis and pericarditis. Fourteen of 35 piglets were affected by sudden recumbency over the period of a week. In the previous batch of litters, 3 of 35 had died and several recovered following antibimicrobial treatment. S. suis type 14 is as recognised cause of such outbreaks.

Poor bone mineralisation causing recumbency suspected to be due to an inadequate diet
Eight of a batch of 71 four month old pigs fed confectionery and custard waste with sow nuts were affected with hind limb weakness leading to reluctance to stand and recumbency. Post mortem examination at Shrewsbury revealed synovial changes involving the stifles and hip joints but no significant bacteria were isolated. There was also no evidence of neurological disease on neuropathological examination. Bone analysis revealed a significantly low bone ash content with normal calcium and phosphorus content. The poor bone mineralisation was suspected to be due to dietary deficiency. Review and improvement of the mineral content of the diet was prompted by these findings.

[Mustang Sally Farm]

Monday, May 07, 2012
Weather Not Helping with Pig Meat Demand
UK - The recent spell of dull, cold, wet, miserable, gloomy, inclement weather is doing nothing to perk up demand for pig meat at a time of year when the prices normally start to rise as barbecues are fired up on the nation's patios and al fresco eating becomes the norm, writes Peter Crichton.


 


The DAPP added 0.59p to stand at 146.92p at a time when its future as an index price is under threat from abattoirs who had previously complained it was ahead of the market. The irony is that the DAPP is now 1.28p below the average shout price.

However despite poor retail demand and a short week ahead, prices have held reasonably firm with three of the main shout price buyers following Tulip's example and standing-on and Cranswick putting an extra 1p in the pot and lifting its contract price to 147p to narrow the gap between it and Vion with the rest of the field.

As a result the latest league table standings are now as follows:

150p Woodhead
149p Gill
148p Tulip
147p Vion, Cranswick

Although some spot bacon buyers were suggesting they might trim their bids back by a copper or two, once again the underlying shortage of pigs in the supply chain meant that they had to stand-on to secure the supplies they needed and once we return to a full working week and (hopefully) better weather, demand should pick up.

Most spot bacon was traded at around the 150p mark with small premiums available for lighter weights, but no pigs were reported to have been rolled which might let us start the following week with a clear sheet.

In addition to the unseasonal weather the euro continues to face a crisis of confidence and traded on Friday afternoon worth a mere 81.19p compared with 87.87p a year ago effectively reducing the delivered cost of imported pigmeat by 10 percent compared with 12 months ago.

Cull sow prices also came under pressure because of a mixture of a weaker euro as well as reports of falling pigmeat prices across many of the northern European countries with the result that British cull sow operators pulled their prices back by between 3p–4p/kg with most delivered quotes now between 122p and 125p according to spec.

On the feed price front ex-farm feed wheat is still trading at around £170/tonne, although futures quotes have eased a shade reflecting higher estimated yields at harvest time and better worldwide cereal availability.

The weaner market remains very much under pressure mainly due to the high cost of feed as well as a lack of any real confidence in pig prices in three months' time with the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board 30kg ex-farm average weaner price static at a disappointing £45.29/head.

Many pundits are however pointing to a much brighter outlook for GB pig producers once the effects of the European Union mainland stall ban start to bite with signs that pig prices could follow what happened in the egg industry and put a smile back on producers' faces.

It will be interesting to see what the general mood of the industry is for the upcoming Pig and Poultry Fair that takes place at Stoneleigh on the 15-16 May, but "glass half empty" seems to be the current view.

[Mustang Sally Farm]

UK Minister Opens up Food, Pig Exports to China
17 May 2012

 

UK & CHINA - From food and drink, to skills and technolgies, British businesses trying to break in to China are getting Government backing as Food and Farming Minister, Jim Paice, heads out to the country on a mission to open up trade, particularly for British breeding pigs.

As the world's biggest economy with the largest population, China offers huge opportunities for Britain’s farming, food and drink sector, which has a reputation for food quality and safety and for innovation and expertise in farming.

Food and Farming Minister Jim Paice said: “Food and farming already plays a vital role in the UK economy but I believe there are still huge opportunities for growth in emerging markets like China.

“We need to keep ahead of the game by developing strong trade relationships with the world’s second largest economy. That’s why I’ve made this trade mission a priority.

“China wants what Britain has to offer – outstanding food and drink, high quality animals for breeding and farming skills and expertise that are second to none.”

China’s growing middle class is increasingly buying foreign food and drink seeing it as aspirational and recognising its high quality. Whether it is Scotch whisky or frozen lobster, artisan crisps or malt drinks, an increasing number of British favourites are becoming supermarket staples and delighting Chinese consumers. That is why Jim Paice will look to build relationships with key retailers and importers to smooth the path for other British producers looking to make their mark on China.

He will also promote British businesses offering high quality breeding pigs to China. Pork is the fashionable, meat of choice, for the Chinese and with a growing population with more money in their pockets, the demand for pork is booming. And while the trade in breeding pigs is worth millions to the UK economy each year, the skills and technologies we sell to support breeding programmes has the potential to be even more lucrative.

In Beijing, the Minister will meet key Chinese officials to develop trade relationships and seek out further export opportunities.

[Mustang Sally Farm]

Is the EU Serious About Continuing to Produce Pigs?
18 May 2012


IRELAND - IFA National Pigs and Pig Committee Chairman Tim Cullinan called a high level meeting of Teagasc and UCD pig feed research and advisory specialists as well as the main nutritionists and input traders that supply compound feed and ingredients to the pig industry in Portlaoise.

Mr Cullinan said: “The unprecedented volatility in feed markets is causing serious financial losses on Irish pig farms. Pig prices should be increasing with input prices, but this is simply not happening fast enough. Everyone in the chain upstream and downstream from the pig farm appears to have a margin except the pig producer. All the while the EU is not making progress to help the industry by approving the novel feedstuffs that we so desperately need to reduce costs. New varieties are being planted around the world while we are at a standstill unable to import them due to political upheaval on the subject without any scientific basis.”

Professor John O'Doherty, UCD said that feed is the greatest single cost factor (70 per cent) in pig production. “In pig diets, energy accounts for the largest proportion of the cost (82 per cent) and it is critically important that the energy content of a diet is characterized in the best possible way. Net energy has been proposed as a superior system that describes the feed energy a pig actually uses. However, NE is much more difficult to determine and more complex than DE, which may be a reason why it is not as widely used as it should be. Currently, only France, The Netherlands and Germany have developed net energy systems to describe dietary net energy contents.”

“Ultimately the consequence for diet formulation is that rations formulated under the NE system will be lower in protein, because the cost/MJ energy prohibits the inclusion of a large amount of soya bean or rape seed meal, and favours the inclusion of free amino acids. At the same time, choosing ingredients with a low cost of energy will reduce the cost of a mixed diet by as much as 5 per cent during the grower and finisher phases,” Mr O'Doherty claimed.

It was also discussed at the meeting that a trend has developed in trading of cereals in the past few years where up to 30 per cent of cereals are traded by cereal farmers before the planting actually takes place. Thereafter this product can be traded up to seven times before reaching an end user.

Mr Cullinan said: “Currently it can be assumed that each transaction is creating a profit for traders while producers at the end of the chain are unable to buy feed at a cost that will covered by the price of pigs. Irish pig feed prices can be up to €30/tonne more expensive than that used on the continent. The feed industry must focus on where a reduction in the cost of feed can be achieved for Irish producers.”
 
Due to the downturn in the world economy and the increase in demand for food worldwide this serious volatility in commodities has become a factor that must be contended with by all in the industry. The advice coming from the feed industry was that pig farmers need to take longer positions in the market.

“However all elements of the pig production chain need to realise that this volatility will feed right through should more pig farmers go out of business with the result of meat becoming scarce and less need for feed,” Mr Cullinan concluded.
 

[Mustang Sally Farm]

EU Pig Prices: Record Prices in Spain
30 May 2012

 

EU - This week, friendly European pig prices are prevalent in markets, even if price increases could not be enforced everywhere.

In Spain, the price went up to a converted €1.77 per kg slaughter weight, the highest level experienced there for more than eight years.

At the beginning of the holiday season, the Spanish slaughter companies’ demand for pigs for slaughter still cannot be covered.

After the French prices have not made any progress for a long period of time, remaining at a very unsatisfying level, they now also went up by +5 cents. This may be attributed to increasing domestic demand on the one hand and to lower quantities on offer of pigs mature for slaughter on the other hand. Yet, the French producers are far from cost-covering prices, at €1.55 per kg.
 
In Denmark, the quotation went up by +3 cents. There, the meat business is reported to be improved, and the Danish exports are still going well. The Belgian quotation also could go up by €1.61 per kg. Just like in Germany, no price changes were reported from Austria and the Netherlands.
 
Trend for the German market: The German slaughter companies’ demand continues to be good. Although this week one day of slaughter has been missing due to Pentecost, no backlog supply has piled up. Batches were sold at a 5 cents’ additional charge on the concerted price for the new week of slaughter at the ISN market. The meat business proves to have become friendlier over the past weeks.

As a result of the weakening euro as well, the export business also gathers momentum. As a consequence, the prices are expected to remain at least stable.
 


Week

D

NL

DK

B

F

PL

CZ

IT

ESP

AUT

GB

SWE

IR



Week 15

1.626

1.570

1.573

1.593

1.542

1.583

1.718

 

1.713

1.561

1.716

1.073

1.459



Week 16

1.626

1.570

1.573

1.593

1.542

1.601

1.699

1.589

1.713

1.561

1.750

1.063

1.459



Week 17

1.626

1.570

1.573

1.581

1.541

1,621

1,691

1.582

1.713

1.561

1.786

1.070

1.459



Week 18

1.626

1.561

1.600

1.569

1.516

1,617

1.686

1.576

1.713

1.561

1.794

1.062

1.459



Week 19

1.576

1.522

1.601

1.544

1.499

1.608

1.698

1.538

1.713

1.509

1.801

1.062

1.459



Week 20

1.576

1.522

1.601

1.544

1.490

1.571

1.660

1.516

1.713

1.509

1.796

1.052

1.497



Week 21

1.626

1.570

1.602

1.581

1.503

1.546

 

1.500

1.733

1.540

1.818

1.039

1.497



Week 22

1.626

1.570

1.629

1.606

1.550

 



1.500

1.768

1.540

1.828

1.051

1.497



Prices in Euros (€)