World Hog news:

[mikey]

Wednesday, November 04, 2009Print This Page
Recession Hits Atria's Performance
FINLAND - Finnish meat processing company Atria Group's third quarter net sales showed an 8.4 per cent fall year on year.



The company said that the recession has lowered demand in all of Atria's business areas. The Group's EBIT in the third quarter was €16.9 million, representing 5.2 per cent of net sales.

As a result of successful management of product margins and costs, Atria Finland's EBIT improved slightly from the figure for the corresponding period in 2008.

To ensure future competitiveness, an efficiency improvement programme was launched during the review period. The effects of the programme will begin emerging gradually at the end of the year and will be fully realised by Q3/2010.

Atria Scandinavia's comparable net sales (excluding the net sales of the Läätta Mååltider unit) decreased by 4.9 per cent.

As a result of a more stable Swedish krona, better raw material prices, an improved sales structure, and efficiency improvements, Atria Scandinavia's profitability showed improvement since the beginning of the year.

Atria Russia's net sales increased by 26.4 per cent year on year. The earnings improvement continues to develop positively, the company says.

The operating loss of Campomos decreased markedly, and, because of the good profitability of Pit-Product, only a slight operational loss was posted. The integration and efficiency improvement of Campomos, which was acquired toward the end of last year, has progressed as planned.

Pig slaughtering volumes in the Finnish operation are lower than last year, which decreased Atria's export sales during the period under review.

The production of pork decreased by 5.1 per cent in Finland in comparison to the corresponding period in 2008 (source: Suomen Gallup Elintarviketieto Oy, October 2009).

Atria's pork processing volumes decreased by some four per cent, so the company said it was able to increase its procurement share of domestic pork.

The poultry slaughtering volume also has been adjusted in response to lower demand.

The downward trend in sales of the Food Service products, which first emerged during the autumn of 2008, has also had an effect on the development of net sales.

To ensure future competitiveness, Atria Finland launched a comprehensive efficiency improvement programme with which it seeks to achieve annual savings of approximately €5 million in its cost structure.

Overall market development in 2010 is expected to be weaker than that for 2009.

Atria Scandinavia's market shares have remained stable although the recession has weakened demand, especially for the Foodservice products.

The company said that a restructured business and centralised production and logistics in Scandinavia will make for a stronger and sleeker Atria Deli product range and generate considerable cost savings. Market conditions and raw material prices are expected to remain stable in the last part of the year.

Atria Russia's net sales for the period increased significantly year on year, which is mainly due to the consolidation of Campomos, acquired last autumn, into Atria. However, the weakening of the Russian rouble against the euro weighed down the growth in net sales.

Atria's market share in modern retail trade in the St Petersburg region remains strong at 27 per cent. The market share in Moscow also remains stable.

During the review period, Atria Russia continued to implement its efficiency improvement programme, aimed at improving the cost-efficiency of the Russian operations.

Atria Group's third quarter net sales in Estonia remain at the same level as that seen last year.

The company said the performance in Estonia was unsatisfactory but somewhat better than in the second quarter of the year.

The company believes that the slowing of economic growth and the resultant weaker consumer demand will have an effect on Atria's sales volumes.

Moreover, the discontinuation of the salad and sandwich business in Sweden and of business with unprofitable customers in Russia, as well as the weaker Swedish krona and Russian rouble, will result in the Group's full-year net sales remaining somewhat lower than in 2008.

As a consequence of improved operational effectiveness and more stable currency rates, Atria Russia and Atria Scandinavia are expected to see improved fourth quarter results year on year.

However, as a result of weak performance near the beginning of 2009, full-year earnings in Russia and Scandinavia will remain below last year's level. Atria Finland's full-year EBIT is expected to grow year on year, but the Group's full-year EBIT is predicted to fall slightly in comparison to 2008.

[mikey]

, November 06, 2009Print This Page
Influenza A/H1N1 Outbreak in Swine Confirmed
TAIWAN - A new outbreak of Pandemic Influenza A/H1N1 has been reported in Taiwan's swine.



The country's veterinary authorities sent an immediate notification to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) yesterday, 5 November. Prevalence of the H1N1 virus was confirmed on 2 November in the town of Guanshan.

The source of the outbreak has not yet been identified. According to the OIE, an A/H1N1 influenza virus surveillance programme began since January 2009 in Taiwan. Clinical signs such as coughing and diarrhoea were observed in a pig farm located in T’ai-Tung County on 19 October.

Disinfection and cleaning of the index farm was conducted and completed. Movement control has been also implemented.

The country's Animal Health Research Institute exmined swine samples. The tests conducted were gene sequencing, real-time reverse transcriptase/polymerase chain reaction (RRT/PCR) and virus islolation. All tests confirmed the presence of the virus.

The OIE, in conjunction with the country's specialists, has applied several measures to contain the spread of the disease.

[mikey]

Friday, November 06, 2009Print This Page
Pork with Anabolic Steroid Found in HCM City
VIET NAM - More than 10 per cent of pork tested in Ho Chi Minh City this year has been found containing clenbuterol that was fed to the animal to keep their meat lean, officials said Wednesday.



ThanhNien News.com reports that the city Animal Health Department had taken nearly 500 samples of pork from markets and slaughterhouses in the city. Around 50 tested positive for the substance, the department told a meeting with HCMC Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and local pork traders.

The figure was down 30 per cent compared to 2008 but the department cautioned that the contamination could be higher because the establishments were informed of inspections in advance and could have taken evasive action.

More than 100 pork traders at the meeting were asked not to buy pigs that were fed with the chemical and cooperate with the city authorities to track down farms that used the chemical, which is prescribed to patients with breathing disorders as a decongestant and bronchodilator, but also used as an anabolic and metabolism accelerator.

Clenbuterol accelerates the catabolism of fat in pigs. It not only shortens growth time but also increases the sale price of pork and pig organs.

Long-term consumption of the medicine can lead to malignant tumors, posing dangers, especially to patients with high blood pressure or diabetes. People with excess intake of clenbuterol can develop palpitations, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, tightness of chest, anxiety, shivering, weakness and instability. The toxicity cannot be eliminated through cooking.

The use of clenbuterol in Europe is limited to horses.

In February, at least 70 people in China’s Guangdong Province suffered food poisoning after eating pig’s organs containing clenbuterol. The victims complained of stomachache and diarrhea, according to reports by the Monitoring and Quality Assurance in the Food Supply Chain network supported by the European Commission.

Since 1998, there have been at least 19 clenbuterol food poisoning cases in China affecting more than 1,750 people including one confirmed death, the network said.


 

[mikey]

Friday, November 06, 2009Print This Page
Guidance Document on Pig Protection Endorsed
EU - EU Member States endorsed yesterday at SCoFCAH a guidance document on control and surveillance measures to protect pigs against the H1N1 influenza virus.



The veterinary services are to focus efforts on timely detection of the H1N1 virus by means of targeted surveillance and sustainable movement controls once virus enters pigfarms. The proposed measures are based on the underlying principles of vigilance, proportionality and flexibility

The Member States unanimously endorsed a draft Commission Decision on this issue, during yesterday's meeting of the Standing Committee of the Food Chain and Animal Health (SCoFCAH).

SCoFCAH also granted Community financial support for the design and construction of the facilities of a control post to ensure the welfare of animals on transit in the port of Burgas, as included in a programme presented by the Bulgarian authorities. The Community financial contribution amounts to 152 000 EUR.

Finally, SCoFCAH supported unanimously a Commission draft Decision amending the rules on classical swine fever (CSF) in the light of the significant improvement of the disease situation in Romania. Certain derogations for fresh pig meat and of meat preparations and meat products obtained from fresh meat from CSF-free Member States and then processed in Romania under strict traceability measures are now allowed.

However, the disease situation in Romania still requires additional animal health control measures and their implementation along with the functioning of the new regime will be thoroughly monitored.

[mikey]

Human H1N1 Flu Virus Found in Pork Samples
HONG KONG - Two pork samples taken from Sheung Shui Slaughterhouse on 22 October have tested positive for human H1N1 flu, the Food & Health Bureau says.



This is the first time such a virus has been detected in pigs in Hong Kong University's regular flu virus surveillance programme since 1999. No gene reassortment has occurred and the virus remains genetically similar to regular human H1N1 flu viruses.

Experts believe the virus has recently transmitted from humans to pigs. The risk of humans contracting the virus has not risen and there is no need to test chilled and frozen pork.

As the findings echo similar reports in other countries, there is no cause for the public to be overly concerned, the bureau said today, adding those involved in pig farming and the slaughtering trade will be among the target groups to be vaccinated when the human H1N1 flu vaccination programme begins.

The Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department has contacted all local pig farmers reminding them to stay vigilant and report any abnormalities in their livestock. It will regularly inspect farms and monitor pigs' health.

The Government has contacted Mainland authorities to further enhance the monitoring and inspection of registered farms supplying live pigs to Hong Kong. The Food & Environmental Hygiene Department will enhance inspections, including boundary checkpoints.

It is safe for people to eat pork and pork products which are handled properly and cooked thoroughly.

[mikey]

Monday, November 09, 2009Print This Page
Pigs Recovering from H1N1 Virus
TAIWAN - The pigs on a farm in Taitung, eastern Taiwan diagnosed with the influenza A (H1N1) virus last month are reported to be recovering and showing no new traces of the virus



The infection was discovered among a herd of 160 pigs on a farm in Taitung County's Guanshan.

A Council of Agriculture (COA) official at the Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine, told Taiwan News that tests conducted by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) on 5 November showed all the affected pigs free of the virus.

A third round of tests is will be conducted on 11 November.

The COA spokesman said that the most probable cause of the outbreak was contact with humans.

[mikey]

Tuesday, November 10, 2009Print This Page
Ammonia Gas Leak Halts Pig Abattoir Operations
SINGAPORE - Operations were halted at Singapore's only pig abattoir on Monday due to an accidental ammonia gas leak.



It happened in one of the pork chiller rooms and the abattoir in Buroh Lane was cordoned off as a safety precaution and to rectify the leak.

The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) said operations are expected to resume on Tuesday, once the plant gets the all clear.

It added that chilled pork from pigs imported from Indonesia will be back on sale on Thursday.

Some 900 pigs arrive in Singapore every day from the Indonesian island of Pulau Bulan. This accounts for about 20 per cent of all pork consumed in Singapore.

However, AVA said the incident will have minimal impact on the supply of pork in Singapore because there is sufficient supply of chilled pork from Australia and frozen pork from other approved sources.

AVA will ensure that it will be safe for the abattoir personnel to resume operations and that the pork produced is safe and free from ammonia contamination.

[mikey]

12 November 2009] Two pork samples taken from Sheung Shui slaughterhouse in Hong Kong have tested positive for H1N1 flu, said the Food & Health Bureau. This is the first time such a virus has been detected in pigs in Hong Kong University's regular flu virus surveillance program since 1999. Experts believed the virus recently transmitted from humans to pigs. However, the bureau said there is no cause for the public to be overly concerned as the risk of humans contracting the virus has not risen, adding that those involved in pig farming and slaughtering will be among the target groups to be vaccinated when the human H1N1 flu vaccination program begins. The Hong Kong government has contacted mainland authorities to further enhance the monitoring and inspection of registered farms supplying live pigs to the territory. The Food & Environmental Hygiene Department will enhance inspections, including boundary checkpoints

[mikey]

Korea pork exports grow 44%
[12 November 2009] Korean pork exports from January to August 2009 soared 44% to over 8000 tonnes year-on-year, thanks to resumption of pork imports from Japan. After a four-year ban on imports of Korean pork, Japan took the first shipment of 21 tonnes of pork worth USD 119,000 from Korea’s Jeju Island, the only area where exports of fresh pork from Korea is allowed. Japan suspended pork imports from Jeju in November 2004 after a pig farm there was found to vaccinate his pigs with hog cholera vaccine. Vaccination against hog cholera is discouraged because it complicates diagnosis on the health of the animal. The discovery prompted Korea to isolate vaccinated pigs and take steps to control hog cholera without resorting to vaccination. Jeju has now been classified as a hog cholera free zone by Japan.

[mikey]

12 November 2009] Korean pork exports from January to August 2009 soared 44% to over 8000 tonnes year-on-year, thanks to resumption of pork imports from Japan. After a four-year ban on imports of Korean pork, Japan took the first shipment of 21 tonnes of pork worth USD 119,000 from Korea’s Jeju Island, the only area where exports of fresh pork from Korea is allowed. Japan suspended pork imports from Jeju in November 2004 after a pig farm there was found to vaccinate his pigs with hog cholera vaccine. Vaccination against hog cholera is discouraged because it complicates diagnosis on the health of the animal. The discovery prompted Korea to isolate vaccinated pigs and take steps to control hog cholera without resorting to vaccination. Jeju has now been classified as a hog cholera free zone by Japan.

[mikey]

Northland Farmer Demonstrates Pigs in Paddocks
NEW ZEALAND - A Northland farmer is opening his farm gate to the public to prove that pigs can be farmed successfully outdoors.



Bert Borger, of Te Rata Family Farm, raises heritage Tamworth pigs.

In May, comedian Mike King and a film crew from TVNZ’s Sunday programme broke into an indoor pig farm in which pigs were kept in crates, sparking debate about the ethics of pig farming in New Zealand, and the viability of farming them outdoors.

Bert and his wife, Rebecca, operate one of the country’s largest free-range egg farms, and have recently moved into pigs.

A forester by training with strong feelings about land management and the way in which animals are kept, for Bert it is a bottom-line that the pigs are farmed as naturally as possible – and that means living outdoors their entire lives.

“There’s been a lot of talk recently about what’s possible and what’s not, and what free-range truly means,” he said.

“That’s something that every farmer has to address for himself or herself, but for me, keeping them indoors at any stage of their lives – even for finishing before they go to be processed – just isn’t on. I want them to have as natural a life as possible.”

Te Rata Family Farm is a 400-acre property at Paparoa, on the Northern Kaipara Harbour, and in May featured on TVNZ’s Country Calendar programme.

As well a pigs, the farm features 9000 free-range organic hens, and cattle, sheep and goats.

The pig operation is not certified organic due to a national shortage of certified organic feed, but Bert farms with organic practices and avoids using chemicals.

The Borgers have their own butchery in Paparoa, where sausages, bacon and hams are made, and also supply pork to selected outlets in Auckland and Northland.

The open day will be held on Saturday, November 28, from 10am to 3.30pm. Admission is free but visitors will be invited to make a donation to the Tearfund Gift for Life Project, which provides training, basic materials, seeds and livestock for farmers in developing countries.

[mikey]

Pandemic Influenza A/H1N1 Continues in Iceland
ICELAND - The H1N1 flu, which reportedly broke out on 27 October 2009, is pressing on in Iceland.



On Wednesday, 11 November 2009, the country's veterinary authorities sent Follow-up report No.1 to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).

According to the OIE, the virus was, in all probability, transmitted from humans to pigs at a pig farm. The entire country is under threat from the spread of the virus.

A reverse transcription - polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test was conducted and results confirmed the presence of the H1N1 virus.

[mikey]

Is New Zealand Pork on the Christmas Menu?
NEW ZEALAND - “Is New Zealand pork on the Christmas menu?” asks Angela McLeod, President of the New Zealand Federation of Business and Professional Women (BPWNZ), “If its not, it should be!”



BPWNZ is a member of the CoOLNZ coalition pushing for mandatory country of origin labelling of fresh and single ingredient foods and believes consumers should support New Zealand pork farmers along with other businesses, as part of a strategy to improve the nation’s productivity; an important part of the economic recovery.

“We should also be buying New Zealand farmed pork because we know that our farming methods have not included growth hormones and that only about half of them involve the use of sow and/or farrowing crates and for a very short length of time. We also know that more of them are farming using free-range and barn raising methods”

The same can definitely not be said about imported pork.

There is a risk that imported pork could carry diseases such as PRRS, that we do not yet have in New Zealand and if our biosecurity is breached these diseases would decimate the pig population and our pork industry.

“We need mandatory country of origin labelling of fresh and single ingredient food – so that we can make an informed choice about the food we’re purchasing; for the good of our family and our country.

“Thank goodness the New Zealand Pork Industry has seen sense and labelled their meat so that when buying a ham for Christmas or bacon for Sunday brunch, the choice is easy” says Angela McLeod, “their 100 per cent rosette labels carry the guarantee that the meat was farmed in New Zealand”

“It’s a pity the government doesn’t see fit to legislate for labelling that offers that sort of guarantee”

[mikey]

More German Pork, Poultry Meat; Less Beef
GERMANY - In the third quarter of 2009, 1.9 million tonnes of meat were commercially produced in Germany, which is 1.8 per cent more than in the same period of 2008. The data have been translated for ThePigSite by Jackie Linden.



The Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) reports that the production of poultry meat rose by five per cent or 15,700 tonnes to a total of 330,200 tonnes in the months of July to September 2009 compared with the same period of 2008. The production of poultry meat reached a new all-time high and accounted for 17.3 per cent of total commercial meat production.

Broiler production had increased in the previous months and this trend continued in the third quarter (Q3) of 2009. Broiler production reached 193,100 tonnes, an increase of 6.8 per cent or 12,400 tonnes compared with the same quarter last year. For the period July to September, 111,400 tones of turkey meat was produced, which was 2.4 per cent or 2,700 tonnes more than in the same quarter in the previous year. At a lower level, output of duck meat grew by 10.4 per cent to 15,900 tonnes.

Commercial red meat production in Germany rose by a modest 1.1 per cent to almost 1.6 million tonnes. This comprised 1.3 million tonnes of pig meat, 290,000 tonnes of beef, 4,600 tonnes of sheep meat and 650 tonnes of goat- and horse-meat.

The volume of pig meat produced during Q3 2009 was two per cent or 24,800 tonnes more than the same period in the previous year. Contributing to the increase was a rise of 3.1 per cent or 375,000 animals of German origin while for the first time since Q2 2006, the number of animals from other countries fell by 12.5 per cent – 167,000 fewer animals. The total number of pigs slaughtered in commercial premises during the period was 13.9 million – 1.5 per cent or 209,000 animals more than in Q3 2008.

In contrast to poultry meat and pig meat, the production of beef during Q3 2009 was 2.3 per cent or 6,800 tonnes lower than the same period last year. The total number of cattle slaughtered was just 0.3 per cent lower. One category that showed an increase in numbers was that of cows (+4.5 per cent), which was attributed to very low milk prices. Detailed figures on the national dairy herd are due to be published by Destasis on 17 December this year in a census of the cattle population.

More detailed information and long-term developments in meat production can be obtained free of charge on table 41331-0004 of the Genesis-Online database.

Commercial meat production in Germany in Q3 2009
(preliminary results; compared to Q3 2008)
Animals Units Q3 2008 Q3 2009 Change versus
previous year
(%)
Total cattle '000 animals 924.5 922.1 – 0.3
  '000 tonnes 295.9 289.1 – 2.3
- Bullocks & bulls '000 animals 415.4 389.7 – 6.2
  '000 tonnes 152.1 144.8 – 4.8
- Cows '000 animals 334.3 349.4 + 4.5
  '000 tonnes 98.5 103.1 + 4.7
- Heifers '000 animals 102.7 106.3 + 3.5
  '000 tonnes 29.3 30.5 + 4.2
- Calves '000 animals 72.1 69.7 – 3.3
  '000 tonnes 9.1 9.5 + 3.6
- Young cattle '000 animals - 6.9 -
  '000 tonnes - 1.2 -
Pigs '000 animals 13,646.4 13,855.4 + 1.5
  '000 tonnes 1,262.5 1,287.2 + 2.0
Sheep '000 animals 252.7 225.0 – 11.0
  '000 tonnes 5.4 4.6 – 13.5
Goats '000 animals 3.8 4.5 +20.3
Horses '000 animals 2.1 2.2 + 0.9
Goat- and horse-meat '000 tonnes 6.3 6.5 + 2.8
Total red meat '000 tonnes 1,564.4 1,581.6 + 1.1
Poultry 1) '000 tonnes 314.5 330.2 +5.0
- Broilers '000 tonnes 180.8 193.1 + 6.8
- Ducks '000 tonnes 14.4 15.9 + 10.4
- Turkeys & guinea fowl '000 tonnes 108.8 111.4 + 2.4
TOTAL MEAT PRODUCTION '000 tonnes 1,878.9 1,911.8 + 1.8
1) Output from poultry slaughterhouses with a capacity exceeding 2,000 birds per month.

[mikey]

Teschovirus Encephalomyelitis Cases in Haiti
HAITI - Since January 2009, a teschovirus PTV-1 serotype has been circulating in pigs in Haiti.



The American Association of Swine Veterinarians, (AASV) reports that the virus has been identified by USDA's Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostic Lab at Plum Island.

While the virus does not affect humans, it is causing important losses to Haiti pig producers resulting in acute encephalomyelitis in pigs with an infectivity of 30 to 40 per cent and a lethality of 40 to 50 per cent, according to field observations. Surviving animals often remain paralysed.

Citing a report from the French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD), AASV says that the disease is widespread and has reached the border with the Dominican Republic (DR), threatening the DR as well as other countries of the region. The contamination of pigs occurs by ingestion or inhalation of products contaminated by faeces, urine or oral secretions of infected animals, the virus being very resistant in the environment.

The DR already reinforced surveillance at borders and a workshop is organized the second week of August to inform field agents in charge of Classical Swine Fever about this new threat, with support from Haitian veterinary officers.

The AASV adds that 11 serotypes of porcine teschovirus (PTV) are recognised, most resulting in sub-clinical or mild disease in pigs, the only known host. Highly virulent strains of PTV-1, however, cause teschovirus encephalomyelitis. Pigs of all ages are susceptible and clinical signs include fever, anorexia, depression and incoordination, followed by painful hypersensitivity, paralysis and death within three to four days. Muscle tremors, stiffness or rigidity, nystagmus, seizures, changes in or loss of the voice, opisthotonos and clonic spasms of the legs may be seen. Although mild cases may recover, progressive paralysis, beginning in the hindquarters, may be observed in the advanced stages with death in up to 90 per cent of the cases resulting from respiratory paralysis. There are no characteristic gross lesions.