World Hog news:

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Thursday, May 15, 2008Print This Page
Funding Initiatives for Eco Friendly Meat
UK - On the back of a government initiative to reduce greenhouse gases by a massive 80%, all agricultural sectors have come under scrutiny. Now, the a Scottish Rural Development Plan, are encouraging livestock and processing companies to apply for funding which will make their businesses more environmentally friendly.



Quality Meat Scotland, the red meat industry body, believes the SRDP can help the sector in Scotland respond to growing expectations for a significant cut in emissions.


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"Rather than wait to be told what to do producers may prefer to consider what changes would suit their individual business" 
QMS Senior Business Analyst Stuart Ashworth
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Speaking at the Beef and Lamb Forum in Perth today (Tuesday 13th May) QMS Senior Business Analyst Stuart Ashworth said: “Although we have made significant progress since 1990 in reducing greenhouse gases from ruminant livestock and fertilisers, we have to be realistic and accept that demands for our industry to become more eco friendly are not going to go away.

“Scientists around the globe are identifying new ways of helping agriculture do its bit to minimise climate change and close inspection of the SRDP suggests that there are real opportunities to secure financial support to make changes at farm and processor level.

“Rather than wait to be told what to do producers may prefer to consider what changes would suit their individual business, from tree planting to utilising the latest developments in grassland science, and look to secure money in the SRDP to help fund them.”

The Scotland Rural Development Programme is a £1.6 billion programme of economic, environmental and social measures designed to develop rural Scotland over the next seven years. Aplications can be made online now through the Scottish Government website at www.ruralgateway.org.uk

QMS is already involved in a number of small-scale research projects into helping the industry identify ways of reducing its greenhouse gas emissions.

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Friday, May 16, 2008Print This Page
Retailers' Failure Causes Heavy Losses
UK - Many pig farmers are suffering heavy losses and are, as a result, leaving the industry due to retailers' failure to pass on recent price rises on pork and pork products to producers.



The message came from BPEX chief executive Mick Sloyan at the British Pig and Poultry Fair this week, as he called on retailers to pass on price increases to the producer, reports Farmers Guardian.

He said that while retail prices of pork and pork products were up £1/kg, producers had seen only a 10p rise in the price they receive.

“Consumers will not need to pay much more, retailers will continue to make a profit.”

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Friday, May 16, 2008Print This Page
Decline in Pork Output Expected
BEIJING - China's pork production is expected to decline due to Monday's earthquake which hit Sichuan, the country's largest lean-hog producing area. As a result of the catastrophe, pork and pork product prices may also rise.



According to Businessday, the earthquake hit Sichuan, the province that accounts for about a 10th of China’s total pork production, Hanver Li, MD of Shanghai JC Intelligence, an advisory company on grain markets, said in Shanghai yesterday.

“We expect pork production to fall by around 10%-15% in the region before they can sort out all the transport, water, electricity and other logistics by August or September,” Li said.

Sichuan produces 65-million lean hogs every year, Li said. Chinese shipments of commodities in the province were disrupted after the earthquake killed 20000 people, closed the main railways and blocked roads. Less pork on the market could cause a rebound in prices, which have eased after almost doubling in the past year.

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Friday, May 16, 2008Print This Page
Pig Industry Gets Royal Backing
UK - The British pig industry has been given royal backing, calling for support for pig farmers.


 
HRH Prince Charles

The Prince of Wales has sent the industry a letter of support, urging consumers to support the sector.

The statement was read out at the Pig and Poultry Fair in the UK this week.

The statement said: "I could not be more please to have this opportunity of sending my warmest good wishes to all the exhibitors at this year's Pig and Poultry event at the National Agricultural Centre.

"I particularly want to take this opportunity to express my deep concern for the pig sector which, I know, is going through an immensely difficult time.

"My heart goes out to all those farmers who are facing such desperate problems as a result of the huge rise in feed costs.

"Thanks to the enormous efforts of BPEX and the National Pig Association, there is a growing awareness of the problem and those retailers who are raising their prices as a result should be congratulated.

"However, little, if any, of the increase is being passed down the chain to the farmer and, unless urgent action is taken, this country's pig sector, which has never received subsidies, could be decimated.

"This would be a tragedy for this country, which produces some of the finest quality pigs and which operates according to the highest standards of husbandry and animal welfare - for instance, 40 per cent of British pigs are reared outdoors, something unique in Europe.

"I can only urge consumers to do everything they can to support British pig farmers by buying pork, bacon, ham and sausages, which bear the Quality Standard Mark, or which are clearly organic or free-range pigs raised by British breeders.

"I can only pray that in due course the fortunes of our pig farmers will be transformed and that next year's Pig and Poultry Fair will be a cause for celebrating a revitalised pig sector."

 
BPEX CEO Mick Sloyan
At the fair, the CEO of BPEX Mick Sloyan said that the whole market had been dominated by feed costs in recent times.

He said it was not just the price of corn that had hit the producers, but also soya which had doubled in price and he said that the effects of feed costs were not restricted to the UK but was a problem around the world.

Mr Sloyan added that the market in the UK for imports and exports has also been severely affected by the change in the rate of sterling against the Euro.

He said that part of the effect of feed price rises and exchange rate changes was the reduction in the European pig herd.

"We are going to see considerable signs of a reduction in the European breeding herd," he said.

"It is going to be a considerably tighter market, but feed is really a global issue."

He said that in North America Canada is cutting its herd and the US is reducing output.

"There is going to be a tightening of the market and at the same time a growth in consumption.

"I think we are going to see a strong market going into 2008 -2009."

Across Europe, Germany has seen a two per cent increase in sow slaughterings and in Hungary sow numbers have fallen by 10 per cent and in Poland by 11 per cent.

In the UK the industry has been receiving a positive response to its promotional campaigns and analysts TNS have shown a six per cent rise in pork sales.

He said the industry is running an integrated campaign to support producers, principally advising how to use expensive feed more efficiently. He said the PCV2 research project that will be running to the end of the year was proving a success and the mass vaccination trial was running across most if not all of the country.

He said there had been applications for vaccination for 206,000 sows - 55 per cent of the herd and he was hoping this would be raised to 75 per cent of the breeding herd.

"Producers are staring to see an impact," he said.

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Tuesday, May 20, 2008Print This Page
DuPont Opens Facility in Asia for Animal Health Solutions
CHINA - DuPont has expanded its biosecurity offering in Asia with a new DuPont Animal Health Solutions facility in Shenzhen, China. The plant produces Virkon® S, the leading virucidal disinfectant. DuPont plans to manufacture other animal health product offerings at the site in the future.

 

DuPont Animal Health Solutions products are widely used in the livestock industry for customized biosecurity programs that help prevent pathogens from establishing themselves and also help prevent the spread of infection on the farm. Sales of DuPont Animal Health Solutions are growing at more than 50 percent annually in China alone.

 
Virkon® S is regarded as the most effective virucidal disinfectant agent available worldwide.
"This investment is part of our commitment to drive innovation and growth for DuPont's biosecurity offerings, improve food safety in China, and stay close to customers in Guangdong Province, which is a core market for animal health in China," said Gary Spitzer, vice president and general manager -- DuPont Chemical Solutions Enterprise. "Coupled with the startup of our facility in India last year, we believe the animal health industry in the Asia Pacific region is one of the fastest growing markets in the world. With local facilities in place, DuPont can respond more quickly and effectively to local customer needs, providing faster service to effectively combat regional disease outbreaks."

The state-of-the-art facility at Shenzhen offers powder and liquid product lines, as well as flexible packaging solutions, including a broad spectrum of product packaging for smaller farmers in China. The local facility also will result in a shorter lead time for local and regional customers, providing better emergency disease control in the region. DuPont plans to expand other clean and disinfect product lines that will promote the use of formulated cleaners such as DuPont Biosolve® Plus to offer better surface cleaning. The plant in China will produce additional powder and liquid disinfect product lines based on market requirements and local regulatory approvals.

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Tuesday, May 20, 2008Print This Page
Cherkizovo Pig Sector Plumping Up
RUSSIA - Cherkizovo, one of Russia's leading integrated and diversified meat producers, today announced that volumes in the company's pork segment more than doubled (2.45 times) in the first quarter of 2008.



Pork Division
As the increased capacity from the first two modules at the Lipetsk pig breeding and raising facility came on stream, pork volumes rose to to approximately 10,000 tonnes, from approximately 4,000 tonnes in the equivalent period in 2007.

Throughout the first quarter of 2008 pork prices in Russia followed the global positive pricing trend and increased by 11% to $2.33 per kg of live weight (excluding VAT) in the first quarter of 2008 compared to $2.11 per kg (excluding VAT) in the first quarter of 2007. In rubles, prices increased by 2% to 56.60 rubles per kg of live weight (excluding VAT) compared to 55.4 rubles per kg (excluding VAT) in the first quarter of 2007.

Meat processing Division
In its meat-processing segment, the Company continued to increase the share in its product mix of premium and higher margin value-added products, such as semi-smoked, cooked smoked sausages, deli and meat retail format, and decrease volumes of lower-priced, lower margin products. Sales volumes in the first quarter of 2008 within the meat-processing segment increased by 4% to approximately 34,000 tonnes as compared to approximately 32,800 tonnes in the first quarter of 2007.

As a result of the continuing shift towards higher margin products average prices within the meat-processing segment increased by 19% in the first quarter of 2008 to $3.81 per kg (excluding VAT) as compared to $3.20 per kg (excluding VAT) in the first quarter of 2007. In rubles the prices increased by 10% to 92.54 rubles per kg (excluding VAT) as compared to 84.18 rubles per kg (excluding VAT) in 2007.

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Tuesday, May 20, 2008Print This Page
Facing Up to the Challenge
UK - The British Pig Executive (BPEX) technical group has set itself four main targets in the face of serious challenges to the pig industry.

 

The main aims are to see significant advances in meat eating quality, production efficiency, health and welfare and reduced carbon and nitrogen footprint.

To show the progress made, the BPEX Annual Technical Report gives an in-depth look at what the group has been working on.

BPEX Director of Pig Industry Development Mark Wilson said: "During the year foot and mouth disease, high feed prices and increases to environmental legislation all challenged the industry's resolve to continue investing in the future.

"Despite the effects of things largely outside producer control, the technical performance of the national herd is showing valuable improvements and this trend needs to continue and accelerate.

"Further increases to environmental legislation required significant additional inputs addressing consultations on, for example; nitrate vulnerable zones, the water framework directive and IPPC.

"The results of many projects to improve meat eating quality through BPEX activity with the processors are now beginning to come through.

"Improvements in herd health and production efficiencies are within the producer's control and it is extremely encouraging to see a great deal of work being undertaken here. Despite the challenges of rocketing feed costs, producers have still been looking at improving their competitive position, through attending workshops and exchanging ideas.

"There's no doubt the current problems are serious but by applying new ideas that are already available, solutions are being found. I believe there are ideas in the report, which will get businesses thinking along with new projects that will make a real difference. Hopefully the next year will bring some much-needed stability."

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Tuesday, May 20, 2008Print This Page
Farmers Fined for Feeding Swill
AUSTRALIA - Three Forbes district farmers have been fined a total of A$32,980 in Forbes Local Court for swill feeding 620 pigs at three separate properties in the Central West, the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries.



"This is one of the largest swill feeding busts seen in NSW," Minister for Primary Industries, Ian Macdonald, said.

NSW DPI manager of agricultural compliance, Andrew Sanger, said the pigs were being allowed to feed on sheep carcases as well as other dead animal carcasses including pigs and poultry from the Forbes properties.

"The three men involved in the swill feeding racket are brothers Stephen Mark McConnell, Grahame Mark McConnell and William Arthur McConnell," he said.

"They were charged with 14 offences related to feeding prohibited substances to stock and failing to prevent stock from having access to prohibited substances (carcasses)."

The NSW DPI and the local Rural Lands Protection Board investigated the case and brought it before the court as a breach of the Stock Diseases Act.

Dr Sanger said the seriousness of the offences can not be overstated.

"Swill feeding is illegal. Activities like this increase risk of spreading a number of endemic diseases like Anthrax, and have the potential to cause exotic disease outbreaks such as foot and mouth disease," he said.

"Throughout the horse flu outbreak we saw first-hand the devastation exotic disease can cause.

"Diseases associated with swill feeding animals have the potential to cause massive disaster for our livestock industries through loss of export markets, lost production and large-scale animal health and welfare issues."

The men were fined A$19,000 and ordered to pay court costs of A$13,980.

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Thursday, May 22, 2008Print This Page
Majorcan Black Pig Selected Among the 15 Most Interesting
SPAIN - The European project quality Pork Chains selected the Majorcan Black Pig, among 15 production models, to be studied from the sustainability point of view, as well as from that of the genetic particularity of this animal, catalogued in Spain's list of breeds as an endangered autochthonous pig breed and in FAO's as a 100% purebred.



This selection is an acknowledgement to the work done, along the years, by the Conselleria d'Agricultura i Pesca (Ministry of Agriculture and Fishing) of the Balearic Government, through IBABSA (Balearic Institute for Animal Biology) and IRTA (Institute for Food and Agricultural Research and Technology).

The studies carried out on the Majorcan Black Pig focused on the meat and fat quality of this pig, as well as on the extensive production model of this animal in Mallorca.

Being selected in the Quality Pork Chains will allow the introduction of the production system characteristics of the Majorcan black pig and the quality of its products to the European Union. This choice has been highly appraised by the implied institutions, as it will allow the enlargement of studies, which will have a direct repercussion in the benefit of the Majorcan breed and of the final consumer.

The fact that the Majorcan black pig is bred in extensive conditions, in which these free-range animals are obviously free to graze at will, thus making good use of Mallorca's ecosystem resources in this production system, has been considered in the selection of this breed among the 15 most interesting ones. In addition, the unique genetic characteristics of this animal, a purebred, which has never been crossed, give its meat and fat characteristics not present in any other breed of pigs. This selection will also contribute to preserve the Majorcan black pig.

Starting this month, April, IBABSA and IRTA's technicians, together with the Majorcan Black Pig Stockbreeders Association, are developing a working plan to establish a joint strategy for the dissemination of this breed's characteristics. Considering the interesting results obtained in the studies already carried out, these two institutions and the Escola d'Hostaleria de Balears (Balear's School of Hostelry and Catering) have organized a scientific symposium about the Majorcan Black Pig, which will be held on May 8.

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Wednesday, May 21, 2008Print This Page
Quake has Minor Impact on Pig Meat Company
CHINA - A leading vertically-integrated meat-processing and meat product supplier in China, China Yurun Food Group Limited, has reported that it only had minor interruption to production at its three hog slaughtering factories in Sichuan as a result of the recent earthquake in southwest China.



Some cracks were found in the Group's production plant in Dujiangyan and the Company has taken immediate action to repair the relevant facilities and equipment.

The Group aim to put its operation there back to normal once the electricity and water supply at Dujiangyan is reconnected.

With an annual slaughtering volume of only 59,000 head last year and the current daily slaughtering volume at 160 head, the company said its total contribution to the Group's slaughtering volume is insignificant.

The production plant and equipment at the Neijiang and Guangyuan factories were not damaged by the earthquake and the operations continue as usual.

However, it is estimated that the earthquake will tighten the hog supply and may temporarily affect the operation of these factories.

"We are extremely saddened by the enormous loss experienced in southwest China as a result of the earthquake while we are grateful that the damage to our factories in the area was limited and should not result in a significant impact on our total operations for the meanwhile", said Mr. Zhu Yicai, Chairman of Yurun Food.

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Thursday, May 22, 2008Print This Page
Retail Pork Prices Rise Due to New High
TAIPEI - Hogs Taiwan were sold for NT$7,419 per 100 kilogram yesterday -- a new nine-year high -- due to a supply shortage, reports The China Post.



Council of Agriculture (COA) data suggest the average price of hogs was NT$6,500 at the end of last year. It went up to NT$6,491 in April, before surging to NT$7,000 in the beginning of May.

Over the weekend, price went up to NT$7,383 per 100 kilograms, and it soard to NT$7,419 yesterday.

The price hike has resulted in an increase of the retail price of pork, scaring off consumers looking for the meat in traditional markets island-wide. At the same time, some lunch box operators have raised the prices of pork chop meals to reflect an increase in cost.

Normally, Taiwan has a daily demand of 23,000 hogs," said COA. "Yet last week only 20,000 to 21,000 were supplied. Yesterday only 18,984 were supplied."

Hog farmers, meanwhile, said a price increase will only continue, now that the Dragon Boat Festival is around the corner. "Most hog farmers are betting on a continued price increase and have held off the slaughtering before their animals get bigger," one farmer was cited as saying. "A price decline is not foreseeable in the short-term."

[mikey]

Friday, May 23, 2008Print This Page
Environmental Impact Can be Lessened in Pig Production
DENMARK - A more efficient use of nitrogen on pig farms and pig feed with digestion-promoting qualities can help reduce the effect on the environment when farmers produce pigs, according to a PhD thesis from the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences.



Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a tool used to evaluate environmental effects.

In a PhD thesis from the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Aarhus, this tool is used to show that pig farms are the link in the pork production chain with the greatest environmental impact with regard to global warming, eutrophication (nutrient pollution) and acidification.

The thesis also proves that the production of fertilizer and feed contributes significantly to global warming, whereas the slaughterhouse and meat transport by ship do not affect the environment very much.

Laughing Gas the Villain
The largest contribution to global warming comes from laughing gas, which is primarily emitted from manure and denitrification of nitrate. The largest contribution to eutrophication and acidification comes from nitrate and ammonia, respectively.

"All these compounds contain nitrogen. An obvious way to improve pork’s environmental profile would therefore be to improve efficiency of nitrogen use on the pig farms and in the production of pig feed," says Randi Lundshøj Dalgaard, who is the author of the thesis.

Global Warming Can be Mitigated
She points out that it is possible to reduce potential global warming per kg pork by approximately five per cent.

This can be done by adding the digestive enzyme xylanase to the pig feed.

However, the enzyme has only a limited effect on the eutrophication potential.

The reduction of greenhouse gas emissions is primarily due to reduced feed uptake because with the addition of xylanase to the feed the pigs can digest their feed better and thus eat less at a given growth rate.

Biogas Reduces Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Separation of pig slurry into a liquid fraction and a fibre fraction or degassing slurry in a biogas plant after which the biogas is used for the production of heat and electricity was also studied in order to see if these processes reduced environmental impact.

"Even though slurry separation resulted in less slurry transport and less use of phosphorus fertilizer on the farm on the receiving end, the reduction in greenhouse gas emission was very limited compared to the amount of greenhouse gasses emitted from the other links in the pork production chain," Randi Lundshøj Dalgaard explains.

Producing biogas from slurry and using the energy to produce electricity and heat can, however, reduce greenhouse gas emission per kg pig significantly.

"On the other hand, production of biogas does not have the same potential for reducing the amount of phosphorus ending up in the fields on the pig farm as slurry separation has," she says.

Randi Lundshøj Dalgaard points out that there is a need for further development of methods to quantify emission of laughing gas and phosphorus as well as CO2 emission caused by changed land use in order to improve the quality of future life cycle assessments of agricultural products.

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Friday, May 23, 2008Print This Page
Don't ZAP Salmonella Control
UK - With changes to the ZAP salmonella scheme having been recently instigated, there is now a requirement for all finishing pig farms to have a Salmonella Control Plan. This has to be drawn up in conjunction with the unit's vet and audited as part of the Farm Assurance scheme.

 

While it may no longer appear as urgent for producers to reduce their salmonella scores, they should remember that the principles of salmonella control apply not only to salmonella but also to all other infectious diseases, says Paul Thompson, veterinary consultant to pig-breeding company ACMC.

Salmonella score can still be a useful indicator as to the efficiency of cleaning on the farm, since the hygiene measures which help to reduce the salmonella ZAP score also lessen the impact of other economically-important diseases.

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Monday, May 26, 2008Print This Page
Tiwi Land Council Passes New Laws
AUSTRALIA - Due to health problems that dogs and pigs are causing, the Tiwi Land Council is bringing in tough new by laws to deal with the growing number of dogs and pigs in the Nguiu Community on Bathurst Island, off Darwin's north coast.



Barry Purantatameri says elders met last week to discuss the health problems that dogs and pigs were causing in the community, writes ABC.

He says a pig cull will start today and continue throughout the week.

"The reason behind it is kids are getting scabies and they been suffering from too many dogs and pigs.

The council says there is also a rising number of dog attacks in the community, and say pigs are stomping through homes, knocking over rubbish bins and digging up water mains.

The plan has been applauded by Deputy Chief Minister Marion Scrymgourm who says more Indigenous communities should bring in similar controls.

[mikey]

Monday, May 26, 2008Print This Page
Azerbaijan Ministries Pay for Quarantine Swine Slaughter
AZERBAIJAN - The State Veterinary Service (Ministry of Agriculture of Azerbaijan) and the Finance Ministry have compensated the damage of AZN 1.265 million caused to 378 residents of the Nij village of Gabala region because of slaughtering of swines, reports ABC.az.



The latter were revealed the nidus of African plague infection.

SVS press secretary Yolcu Khanveli said that the Ministry and the Service started giving compensations earlier this May.

“The process of compensation payment for the villagers finished around a week ago,” Khanveli said.

The compensation was established in accordance with market prices. Totally it was slaughtered 4,683 swine heads (506 tons of pork).