Monday, April 11, 2011
China Vows to Tighten up on Food Safety
CHINA - The Agriculture Ministry has vowed to enhance supervision on animal products following the recent pork contamination scandal.


China vows to intensify supervision on quality and safety of animal products in the wake of pork contamination scandal, said Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) yesterday (10 April).

Vice Agricultural Minister Gao Hongbin said that it is imperative to crack down on illegal food additives such as clenbuterol and enhance quality supervision during the process of slaughter, sale, transport and stock in major pig-breeding areas, according to a statement on MOA web site.

Minister Gao called on local pig-producers to promote mass breeding in the industry's standardised drive as part of efforts to transform the development mode of animal breeding.

He also noted that local authorities should take precautions against imported animal diseases.

Clenbuterol is fed to pigs to stop them from accumulating fat. It is banned as pig feed in China because it is poisonous to humans.

Shuanghui Group's subsidiary in Jiyuan City, Henan Province, was exposed to public that it had used pork tainted with the fat-burning drug, clenbuterol, in its products on 15 March.

Friday, April 08, 2011
PIC Strengthens Leadership Position in the Philippines
PHILIPPINES - PIC Philippines celebrates its 15th anniversary by announcing two milestone agreements to grow its dam line production base by more than 5,000 GGPs and GPs.
 

These additions enhance the existing supply network of 3 nucleus farms, 12 multiplication units and 5 distribution centres spread across the archipelago and reinforce PIC’s position as the leading supplier of healthy genetics to the nation’s 1.6m sow herd.

PIC has partnered with two corporate powerhouses, Venvi Agro-Industrial Ventures Corp. and RDF Meatshop, Inc., who are also engaged in poultry and egg production, real estate development and meat retail to develop the projects in Luzon.

Construction of the Venvi-Agro 2,400-sow level facility began in August 2010, within a 460 hectare property in San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte. It is a 2-site system with climate control and automatic feeding systems. The farm will be energy-positive as power will be produced from methane fueled generators and solar power. The initial stocking started in January 2011 and sales of breeders will start before year-end. Atty. Larry Valdez, President of Venvi Agro, said, “Having understood the level of investment needed to become a serious player in this business and seeing the market opportunities from visiting commercial operations around the country and the US, we decided to get things right from the start by choosing the right partners. With PIC’s help, we have properly addressed the factors - genetics, facilities, health, technology and people - needed to shorten the learning curve and make this a successful venture.”

RDF Meatshop, Inc., held the groundbreaking ceremony for its 2,500 sow unit in Tarlac in February, with stocking scheduled for the 3rd quarter of 2011. The buildings are equipped with climate control, automatic feeding systems and methane powered generators. RDFMI is the company behind the immense success of the Fresh Options meat shop chain currently running more than 70 branches in 8 provinces, and still growing. It began its first venture into pork production with PIC seven years ago with a 600 sow commercial unit. Despite quadrupling the size of that farm, demand from the meat shops continues to outstrip supply. Building on that success, RDFMI favors PIC as the genetics of choice in expanding its operations as PIC meets Fresh Options’ high standards in providing quality meats for their customers.

Vincent Borromeo, PIC Philippines General Manager, commented, “We are delighted to be working with such proactive partners in moving these projects forward. Supply side limitations have been a constraint to growing our share of the market. Now we look forward to providing local producers with greater availability of superior, healthy genetics that will set the pace for faster genetic improvement in the Philippines.”

Friday, April 08, 2011
Brazil's Pork Exports Gain Again in February
BRAZIL - Pork export volume in February was almost eight per cent higher than in the same month of the previous year but the value of those exports was up more than 20 per cent in US dollar terms.


According to ABIPECS, Brazil exported 39,060 tons of pork in February 2011, which is 7.6 per cent more than the same month last year. The average price per ton in US dollars – $2,575 – was 11.5 per cent higher than one year ago. The value of February's sales was almost US$100.6 million, which was 20.0 per cent more than February 2010.

For the year to date, the volume exported was 73,869 tons, just 2.0 per cent below the equivalent figure for 2010. The value of those export is up 11.1 per cent at $193.6 million. The average price is $2,621 per ton, which is 13.3 per cent above that of one year ago

World Agricultural Production - March 2011
 

Brazil: Good Conditions for First-Crop Corn Boost Harvest Prospects
 Brazil corn production for 2010/11 is forecast at 53.0 million tons, up 2.0 million or 4 percent from last month, but down 3.1 million or 6 percent from last year. Harvested area is estimated at 12.90 million hectares, up 0.15 million or 1 percent from last month and down 0.03 million or 1 percent from last year. Yield is forecast at 4.11 tons per hectare, up 3 percent from last month but down 5 from last year.

Brazil has two corn crops. The first is a long-season crop that is planted in late September. The long-season crop is currently maturing and is in good condition. The second is the safrinha crop, which is grown mainly in the center-west region. Safrinha’s share of the country’s corn crop has increased significantly during the past five years, to nearly 40 percent of Brazil’s total corn output. Safrinha corn is planted immediately after the harvest of the early-maturing soybeans, but soybean harvest delays have resulted in a high occurrence of the safrinha corn being planted beyond the normal planting window, which typically ends in late February. Final yields for safrinha corn will depend largely on precipitation from March through early May.


Argentina: Estimated Record Yield for Wheat
The USDA forecasts Argentine wheat production for 2010/11 at 15.0 million tons, up 36 percent from last year. Area is estimated at 4.3 million hectares, up nearly 18 percent from last year. Yield is estimated at a record 3.49 tons per hectare, up 16 percent from last year and substantially higher than the five-year average of 2.58 tons per hectare.

Low soil moisture caused some concern at the onset of planting, but timely rains in early November allowed high prices to push more area into wheat than last year. Frequent rains throughout the season were beneficial and increased yields more than expected. Harvest is in progress.


Australia: Wheat Prospects Stable Despite Poor Crop Conditions in the West and Delayed Harvest in the East
Australia’s 2010/11 wheat harvest is complete, with the majority of the crop already delivered to bulk handlers. The USDA estimates production at 26.0 million tons, up 1.0 million or 4 percent from last month, and up 4.0 million or 19 percent from last year. Estimated output is the highest in 7 years. The area is estimated at 13.4 million hectares, down 5 percent from last year. The yield is forecast at 1.95 tons per hectare, 25 percent higher than last year.

The major wheat cropping areas in New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria and South Australia experienced overall excellent water availability and favorably cool weather throughout the growing season. Although excessive rainfall in eastern Australia from late November through early January resulted in harvest delays and a likely reduction in grain quality, the wheat crop along the east coast is reported to be the highest in many years. Western Australia experienced one of the worst seasons for wheat and other winter crops in over 40 years, with low soil moisture and above-average temperatures throughout the season for much of the west coast. Wheat output in Western Australia turned out to be better than previously projected. The yield gains in New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, and South Australia offset the year-to-year decline in Western Australia.


Mexico: Cold Snap Destroys Winter Corn in Sinaloa
The USDA forecasts Mexican corn production for 2010/11 at 22.0 million tons, down 8 percent from last month but up 8 percent from last year. Area is estimated at 6.6 million hectares, down 5 percent from last month but up 5 percent from last year. A cold snap in early February that lasted nearly a week damaged winter corn in the state of Sinaloa, with temperatures plunging to minus 8 degree Celsius in some locations. On February 4, the coldest night, 14 of 32 temperature stations reported values of minus 1 degree or lower. Frost damage for corn occurs when the temperatures drop below -1 degree Celsius. Sinaloa plants approximately 1.3 million hectares of corn and produces roughly 4.5 million metric tons, or around 25 percent of Mexico’s total corn production. Industry sources estimate that 90 percent of Sinaloa’s corn crop – roughly 90,000 hectares – may have been damaged by the prolonged below-normal temperatures. Mexico produces two corn crops: spring/summer and fall/winter. The fall/winter crop accounts for 25 percent of the country’s total corn production, and 75 percent of the winter corn is produced in Sinaloa. The rest is grown in the Tamaulipas and Veracruz area. Sinaloa corn is sown in December and January and harvested in May/June, and nearly all is irrigated.

Brazil: Estimated Soybean Production Increased
Brazil soybean production for 2010/11 is estimated at 70.0 million tons, up 1.5 million or 2 percent from last month, and up 1.0 million or 1 percent from last year. Harvested area is estimated at 24.25 million hectares, unchanged from last month but up 0.75 million or 3 percent from last year. Yield is estimated at 2.89 tons per hectare, up 2 percent from last month but down 2 percent from last year. The soy crop is in good condition. Harvest is underway, with progress slightly behind average and yields reported as average to above average. Harvest delays are attributed to late planting (due to low soil moisture when farmers were ready to plant) and frequent rain during February. The wet weather has led to occurrences of fields being harvested with a high grain moisture content. Some soybean fields were “terminated” (treated with chemicals to enable farmers to begin harvesting soybeans that were not yet fully mature) so that they could begin planting the second (safrinha) cotton and corn crops. Now that the window to plant the safrinha crops has closed, the harvest of later-planted and longer-season soybeans will begin.

China Soybean Revisions for 2009/10 and 2010/11
China’s 2010/11 soybean production is estimated at 15.2 million tons, up 0.8 million or 6 percent from last month and 0.2 million or 1.5 percent from last year’s revised estimate. Area is estimated at 8.8 million hectares, up 5 percent from last month but down 4 percent from last year. Farmers planted less soybean acreage in 2010 because profits were higher for alternative crops such as rice and corn. The estimated yield of 1.73 tons per hectare is up 6 percent from the drought-impacted crop of 2009/10 and above the 5-year average. The weather in 2010 was generally favorable for soybean growth in Northeast China, where more than 50 percent of the crop is produced. The area and production estimates for 2009/10 were revised upward to 9.2 million hectares and 15.0 million tons based on official government statistics.

Australia: Record Cotton Crop Forecast
The USDA forecasts Australia’s 2010/11 cotton production at 4.5 million 480-pound bales, up 0.5 million or 13 percent from last month and 154 percent from last year. Harvested area is forecast at 0.6 million hectares, up 7 percent from last month, and up 0.4 million or 200 percent from last year. The yield is forecast at 1633 kg/ha, up 5 percent from last month but down 15 percent from last year.

Australia cotton is at advanced flowering to boll formation stages. The favorable planting conditions, combined with rising cotton prices, led to increased plantings of both irrigated and dryland cotton. Most cotton growing regions in New South Wales and Queensland experienced above-normal winter and spring rainfall resulting in excellent planting conditions in October and November. Irrigation water is plentiful, with improved on-farm reservoirs and water allocations up 100 percent.

From late November to early January, rainfall was excessive in some major cotton growing areas of central-south Queensland and northern New South Wales. This caused moderate to excessive flooding in some areas. Although the floods had devastating impact in certain areas, field observations made by crop-assessment specialists from the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service indicate that most cotton growing areas actually experienced limited flood damage and the majority of cropping areas are now benefiting from the improved soil moisture profiles and the abundant irrigation reserves. Prospects are high for both yields and total harvested areas and by all estimates the Australian cotton industry is on track for a record cotton harvest.


Brazil: Estimated Cotton Production Increased
Brazil cotton production for 2010/11 is estimated at 8.80 million bales, up 0.60 million bales or 7 percent from last month and up 3.35 million bales or 61 percent from last year. Harvested area is estimated at 1.30 million hectares, 7 percent from last month, and up 56 percent from last year. Yield is estimated at 1,474 kilograms per hectare, nearly unchanged from last month, but up 6 percent compared to last year.

The early-planted, long-season cotton crop is setting bolls and is in good condition. A reduction in the area sown to soybeans in the center-west region (due to wet planting weather) coupled with high cotton prices provided incentive for farmers to increase first-season cotton area. The second-season (safrinha) cotton crop is planted immediately after the harvest of the early maturing soy crop in mid-January, but weather-related harvest delays for soybeans in the centerwest region has resulted in late planting safrinha cotton. Final yields for safrinha cotton typically depend in large part on the amount of rainfall received before the dry season arrives in early May.


India's Cotton Production Revised Downward
India's 2010/11 cotton production is estimated at 25.0 million 480-pound bales, down 4 percent from last month, but up 2 million or 9 percent from last year. Area is estimated at 11 million hectares, a 7 percent upward change from last year. The yield is 495 kilograms per hectare, slightly up from last from last year.

The 2010 monsoon rainfall progressed well. In general, cumulative rainfall was very favorable compared to the previous year, promoting good crop development. According to the provisional planting estimates from the Ministry of Agriculture in India, cotton plantings in the major producing areas increased from last year. Encouraged by relatively favorable early-season rainfall, high domestic prices, and anticipated export demand, cotton growers in the States of Gujarat, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh significantly increased planted area compared to last year. As of December, the majority of the crop was in advanced maturity stages and rated in mostly fair to good condition. Harvest is underway and progressing well in most areas. Deliveries to ginning facilities are higher than last year in several states, including Punjab, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh, although recent market arrivals indicate a smaller crop than previously projected. This is due in large part to drier-than-normal weather toward the end of the season, especially in Gujarat. The poor late-season weather has resulted in declining yield prospects.

Thursday, April 07, 2011
Pork Commentary: The Only Sure is Volatility
CANADA - This week's North American Pork Commentary from Jim Long.


Jim Long is President &
CEO of Genesus Genetics.
As we look at the coming months the only sure thing we see in the swine, and grain markets is volatility. Price ranges are moving at unprecedented levels.

A year ago 53 – 54 per cent lean hogs were averaging $70.45 per pound. Last Friday they were $90.03 or about $40 per head higher year over year. Some hogs are now trading at almost $1.00 lean per pound with premiums.


500 – 550 pound sows last week were moving at $63.36 live weight a pound, a year ago it was $56.79 which is about a $35.00 per head increase. We expect sow prices to jump another $30 - $40 per head in the next few weeks as summer barbeque season approaches and market hog prices increase.


The latest US weekly sow marketing’s were 59,000 head. At that level we believe there is no breeding herd expansion.


USDA pork carcass cut – outs averaged $92.12 per pound at the end of last week. With market hogs at around 90 cents per pound, packer margins have narrowed considerably. US market hogs last week were 2,128 million down 40,000 from a year ago. As we move seasonally closer to 2 million head a week we expect not only higher hog prices but tighter packer margins as they fight over hogs for their chains and maintaining market share domestically and for exports.


The hog market over the coming months should get support from very strong cattle prices. For example October live cattle came on the board at 93 cents about a year ago while last Friday October closed at a new record high $126. On a 1200 pound steer that is about $400 per head! There is no doubt record high cattle prices are going to pull hog prices up as consumers purchase pork as a meat alternative.


The USDA released its analysis last week that the US corn crop would be 4 million acres more than last year (88.19 – 92.18). The USDA also estimates a total increase of 9 million acres in the five major crops (236 – 245).


The downside for hog producers in the USDA estimates was the 6.52 billion bushels of corn in inventory which is well below expectations. Immediately the lower stock number pulled corn prices higher moving old crop corn up around 70 cents per bushel for May to close at $7.36 – a new high for this crop year.


It will be more than interesting to observe what happens globally on crop plantings this spring. Higher grain prices will definitely increase prospective plantings. This US has already found a potential 9 million more acres to plant. Russia and the Ukraine combined are expecting 130 – 135 million metric tonnes of wheat this crop year an increase from last year’s drought shortened 100 million tones. There is no doubt in our mind Canada also will find potentially a few million more acres to seed. We expect higher prices in grains will lead to maximum use of fertilizers, herbicides, improved seed, etc... Nothing like high prices to cure high prices.


The Politicians in Washington are debating whether to maintain the $6 billion subsidy for ethanol. Now we read that the corn ethanol supporters see it as national security issue. Corn ethanol protects America. It used to be about the environment but that’s been proven mostly a joke so it’s now a new story. Mostly we think it’s about the money. When food prices rocket higher with record beef, pork, etc… and there is more instability in many countries due to record high food prices it will be interesting to see how the National Security issues plays out. We would argue one of America’s greatest historical assets is the ability to produce food in excess at a low cost. Never depending on any other country to feed it. America’s economy and standard of living has been enhanced by the smallest percentage of disposable income (10 per cent) going for food in the world allowing the other 90 per cent of disposable income to drive America consumerism.
Summary
Lean hogs are on track to hit the $1.00 we predicted last August. High feed prices will continue to dampen breeding herd expansion, while domestic pork and export demand will stay strong aided by record high cattle prices.


Author: Jim Long, President & CEO, Genesus Genetics

Thursday, April 07, 2011Print This Page
Higher Retail Pork Prices Needed for Profitability
US - A US-based agricultural economist warns the price consumers pay in the grocery store for pork will need to rise for pork producers to maintain profitability




Farm-Scape is sponsored by
Manitoba Pork Council and Sask Pork

FarmScape is a Wonderworks Canada production and is distributed courtesy of Manitoba Pork Council
and Sask Pork. 
Although near record high live hog prices have brought US pork producers back into the black rising feed costs have kept a lid on profits.

Dr Ron Plain, an agricultural economics professor with the University of Missouri, notes US exports were up last year, the USDA is forecasting exports could set a new record in 2011 and we're starting to see improvement in the US economy which will translate into stronger domestic demand and that too will be good for hog prices.

Dr Ron Plain-University of Missouri
Retail prices here in the United States in January and February, both months were the fourth highest ever.

Seasonally retail prices tend to move higher as you move on into summer.

We're expecting record high retail prices in grocery stores for pork this year.

Bacon has been an especially strong price situation for the past year or so.

Bacon's a bit of an in food right now and that's helping lift the overall value of the pork cut-out.

Seasonally we tend to get the highest hog prices here in the United States in late spring early summer so if we're going to be able to move hog prices higher for another 60 or 90 days we're going to have to push that grocery store meat case price of pork to record levels.

The key as to whether we're going to be able to sustain that or not is overall strength of the economy and one of the other key things that's helping out is beef prices in grocery stores are already at record levels so, from a competing meats standpoint, pork doesn't look over-priced at all.

Dr Plain says if the US economy picks up we're likely to see some strong demand for pork but any signs of weakening in the US economy will be negative for hog prices.

Uncertain Times Ahead for Producers
The world's biggest pork exporters are likely to be vulnerable to trade disruption as the result of disease, and increasing regulations in the EU and US will push up the costs of pig and poultry production. These are Rabobank's predictions for the next decade, writes Jackie Linden, Senior Editor.

David C. Nelson, global strategist for Rabobank International, presented his predictions for the pig and poultry industries at the opening ceremony of the VIV Asia trade show in Bangkok, Thailand, in March.

He expects disruption of world trade patterns for pork as the result of disease,such as the current foot and mouth disease (FMD) crisis in Asia. Mr Nelson also predicts rising production costs in the US and EU as further welfare and environmental regulations are introduced in those countries.

Introducing his topic – Focus 2021 – Mr Nelson explained that producer prices have not risen significantly in past years because the increase in agricultural land has matched the growth in the human population. GDP growth, however, is accelerating demand for animal proteins, especially in Brazil, China, India and Indonesia, he said.

At the same time, the increase in crop yields has been slowing down for decades.

In Brazil, Mr Nelson said, the costs of land and fertilisers, as well as currency fluctuation, have increased costs of production and crop prices.

Another area growing in importance to supply global grain needs is Russia's Black Sea region. The proportion of its wheat crop exported rose over the last decade from five to 25 per cent. Productivity should be increased there, suggested Mr Nelson, although yields are variable. Productive area has increased lately.

Me Nelson identified the Black Sea region and parts of Brazil as 'Cereal traps' where the distances to ports and/or poor infrastructure hamper exports. Russia has solved this problem by expanding animal protein production in the Black Sea region.

He went on to describe the 'China Corn Conundrum'. With soybean imports last year increasing by 60 million tonnes, equivalent to 45 million tonnes of soya bean meal. Assuming a ratio of 2:1 in the requirements of corn to soybean meal, experts expected China's corn imports to increase by 90 million tonnes. In fact, corn imports increased just 30 million tonnes, leading to speculation over the use of China's imported soy last year.

Feed costs were high in both 2008 and 2011 but Mr Nelson explained that the situation this year is different as there is not light at the end of the tunnel. Even with a fair US corn crop and the expected increase in planted area, the harvest is unlikely to produce a comfortable 15 per cent stock-to-use ratio.

In terms of key global animal protein issues, Mr Nelson noted the changed in global meat company rankings. In recent years, Brazilian companies have tended to take over from US companies. In future, he expected to see the rise of Chinese and Russian companies into this league table. Intra-country consolidation is a likely feature in the US and EU, he said.

Russia was the top destination for meat exports but government policy for greater self-sufficiency in pork and poultry meat means that the world's leading meat exports will need to seek new markets in the coming years.

Disease outbreaks are likely to be a key issue for the global pork industry, according to Mr Nelson. The recent FMD outbreak in South Korea is known to have hit great grandparent stocks so the recovery of the pig industry there may take years to recover.

FMD is also an issue in China, where the sow herd is down three per cent over the last year, and pig meat output is forecast to be back to its 2005/06 levels, albeit at higher prices. As a result, China may increase pork imports substantially this year although with such high prices, will the gap in the market be met by increasing imports of grain or pork, Mr Nelson asked.

Previously, Russia led the rankings as a pig meat importer but the growing level of self-sufficiency there will free up the global market to some degree.

In conclusion, Mr Nelson said he sees the key features in global meat trade as pork trade disruption resulting from serious pig disease and rising production costs in the US and EU arising from a growing burden of welfare and environmental regulations.

March 2011

Foot and Mouth Disease – Asia's Fastest Growing Challenge?
"FMD control has been an enduring priority globally and today presents the fastest growing challenge facing Asia," stated Dr Sacha Seneque of Merial Australia, at the 5th Asian Pig Veterinary Society Congress, held last month in Pattaya, Thailand, writes Stuart Lumb.

Efforts in pursuit of FMD control have had enormous political, financial and emotional impact. Dr Seneque cited the recent outbreaks in Korea and Japan as examples, in terms of the impact these two outbreaks have had on the respective countries. The current type O outbreak in South Korea is the worst in the country's history and and the most significant in the world since the the UK outbreak in 2001.

Many will remember the unprecedented media coverage and the concerns about how that outbreak was handled. When animal suffering and destruction are measured in millions of head and where the financial impact is measured in millions of UK pounds and where the social and emotional costs are inordinately high the quest to improve control efforts and minimise FMD's destructive impacts are worthy priorities.

FMD's impact is growing in Asia due to several factors:

The disease has greater negative effects on growing populations of improved and more efficient production animals
There is greater virus risk of virus spread due to increased movement of humans and livestock products
There is an increasing gap between the developed and developing countries in Asia.
The result is that we are faced with a situation where increased populations of concentrated and highly susceptible animals are having greater risks of being exposed to FMD virus (FMDV).

FMDV has a discrete range of serotypes (seven are known to exist) and several sub-types each with an ability continually to evolve and mutate, contributing to wide genetic and antigenic variation, plus the disease can be spread in widely ranging ways.

The epidemiology of FMD in Asia is influenced by a combination of factors, said Dr Seneque. This includes: variation in the virus strain; the consistency of effective control measures and new strain introductions (originating from distant outbreaks that are transmitted via animal movement or other mechanisms) to susceptible populations. Seasonal and cyclical periods of increased disease prevalence are observed, suggesting that there are factors that favour periods of increased transmission or host susceptibility that predispose epizootic risk.

The current state of play in Asia is as follows, regarding the distribution of FMD viruses, Dr Seneque continued. Today, serotypes O, A and Asia 1 are considered endemic in one or more of the FMD-affected countries in Asia, with type C having last been reported in the Philippines in 1995. Type O strains have been responsible for the most severe epidemics experienced in Asia, e.g. Taiwan in 1997 and Korea in 2009/10.

Virus Spread
It is accepted that the most important endemic mechanism of virus spread in Asia is by live animal movement, both within disease-affected countries and and across borders. This is largely driven by the economics of trade, explained Dr Seneque. Cattle, buffalo or pig movements are the source (or implicated) in most cases, and well documented trading patterns that reflect local demand have a high correlation to outbreak risk factors and disease 'hotspots' in the Indochina region.

In the absence of other possible sources, the many biosecurity failures observed over recent years suggest that people have been responsible for transferring FMD between farms. This may prove to be an important and underestimated transmission risk within this region.

Country/Zone FMD status
Classification with Zone 1 is given to those countries or regions that are FMD-free, where routine vaccination is not practised.

In Zone 2 are countries or zones where FMD is endemic. This group is subdivided into Zone 2a, i.e. areas where commercial livestock enterprises are not well developed, veterinary services may be weak and FMD cases are not uncommon, and Zone 2b, i.e. those that have well developed commercial sectors with interests in securing and developing the considerable premium trade opportunities that present with increased market access. These countries generally have well developed veterinary services.

Vaccination
In FMD-endemic countries, vaccines are often regulated to aid vaccination compliance aims and to ensure appropriate quality vaccines are used. In Asia, available FMD vaccines are routinely used in the vast majority of commercial herds (usually at the producer's motivation and expense) and today, more than 95 per cent of pigs in commercial units are vaccinated.

In FMD-free countries, routine use of FMD vaccination is banned (in compliance with OIE disease-free status requirements).

FMD vaccination limitations exist: vaccination with one FMD serotype does not confer cross-protection against other serotypes, plus vaccine efficacy may vary between isolates of the same FMD serotype if antigenic diversity is great.

Experiences and Challenges
Recent years have seen several regional countries secure 'Disease-Free' recognition that have required validation of disease freedom after disease, e.g. South Korea and Japan, eradication from an established endemic or outbreak situations, e.g. Philippines and Indonesia). Others, although not disease-free, have reduced outbreak prevalence to sporadic outbreaks, e.g. Taiwan, Viet Nam and Thailand, after successful implementation of comprehensive disease control initiatives.

Dr Seneque concluded that Asia has unique diversity that is relevant to trans-boundary disease movement risks, e.g. animal movement pathways. Add to this the dynamic socio-economic and urbanisation changes that can influence disease epidemiology and it could be viewed as inevitable that there will be FMD movement from endemic hot-spots or outbreak areas to neighbouring geographies.

FMD in South Korea: an Update
Dr Seneque gave an update on the current situation in South Korea. The outbreak started on 23 November 2010 and, within six weeks, it had spread over 60 per cent of the country. By the end of December, it was realised that slaughtering was ineffective and so ring vaccination was implemented, followed by blanket vaccination. By early March 2011, huge numbers of animals had been slaughtered, including 2.2 million pigs. The army is now involved with movement controls, disinfection and vaccination now implemented.

Water and soil contamination has occurred and meat consumption has dropped due to consumers' food safety concerns. It is estimated that 40,000 jobs have been lost in the countryside as a consequence of FMD, the animal population has dropped by 30 per cent and the outbreak has had serious ramifications as far as the tourism industry is concerned.

Friday, April 01, 2011
High Commodity Prices Continue in Light of Report
US - High commodity prices appear to be here to stay indefinitely despite a US Department of Agriculture report issued yesterday that projects increased US corn acreage this year, said a Purdue University agricultural economist.
Purdue News
 

The Prospective Plantings report projects that corn farmers will plant more corn acres and fewer soybeans. Corinne Alexander said the report, coupled with lower-than-expected US grain inventories, offers little hope for relief from high commodity prices.

"US grain stocks, or inventories, are very tight, and whether that is because of lower production or higher use, we don't know yet," Professor Alexander said. "What we do know is that we need to have at least an average crop production year in 2011 to keep up with the current rate of use."

Professor Alexander and Chris Hurt, another Purdue agricultural economist, will present a free live webinar from 7-8:30 p.m. EDT Thursday (31 March) to update US farmers on the report – what it means for US and world grain markets and likely effects on prices. They also will offer strategies for pricing crops and capturing revenue offered by the markets.

The report, issued annually and based on farmer surveys nationwide, projects a 5 per cent increase in corn acres, at 92.2 million acres, and a 1 per cent decrease in soybean acres, at 76.6 million acres.

At those projections, even with average yields commodity prices are unlikely to decrease because of the tight world grain inventories. Any price relief would have to come in the form of an above-average yield; even still, Professor Alexander said the price relief would be marginal.

If yields were abnormally poor, commodity prices would increase to the point of rationing use, she said.

"In the event of poor crop yields in 2011, prices would have to increase enough to reduce usage by 1 billion bushels for corn and 200 million bushels for soybeans," Professor Alexander said. "That would mean an average-crop-year corn price of $7.50 per bushel and $14.75 per bushel for soybeans."

Higher grain prices mean higher consumer food costs and high feed costs for livestock producers.

"Feed is the biggest cost for livestock producers," Professor Hurt said. "If grain prices continue upward, there could come a point when many livestock producers would start to liquidate."

With current market livestock prices, some producers can afford up to $8 per bushel on corn. Anything higher would be enough to drive many operations toward financial losses.

Although high grain prices initially seem to benefit growers, Alexander cautioned that prices high enough to induce rationing eventually could lead to lower demand and lower prices.

"If we end up in a rationing scenario, it could lead to demand destruction for grain producers," Professor Alexander said. "Herd liquidations could ultimately translate into lower crop demand in subsequent years, which could reduce grain prices."

Information for the Prospective Plantings report is gathered in early March, so Professor Hurt cautioned that in any given year the difference between what farmers tell the USDA they intend to plant and what they actually plant can shift.

"If we get into a situation where planting is delayed and farmers are unable to get corn planted early enough, many will switch those acres to soybeans," he said. "Some producers may also change their minds on what to plant based on what commodity markets are doing."

Twenty-four Purdue Extension County offices will serve as host sites for the webinar. To find a local host county, please click here and click the nearby counties on the Indiana map.

Wednesday, April 06, 2011
CBG Spends $400 Million to Get More Pork Eaters
JAMAICA - Large agro-producer Caribbean Broilers Group (CBG) has invested over $400 million to get more Jamaicans eating pork despite anti-pork preferences of many Jamaican consumers.


Concurrently the group wants to invest more funds in order to eliminate bacon importation within three years, Jamaica Observer reports.

The island has one of the lowest pork consumption rates in the world roughly one-seventh of the global average, according to Dr Keith Amiel corporate affairs manager at CBG in an Observer interview yesterday. The hurdles includes the dominant chicken diet and second the anti-pork influence of Rastafari and Adventist groups, he stated.

"There has been confusion in the Jamaican context because of the approach to pork by the Rastafari Adventist and other groups. The most eaten meat in the world is pork and in Jamaica we eat only six kilogrammes a year whilst Cuba next door eats 42 kilogrammes," stated Dr Amiel who added that the average person in the world eats 40 to 45 kilogrammes. "So in Jamaica we are low and out. Yet we have this international image of Boston Jerk Pork and Jamaica Jerk Pork and so on."

He reasoned that opportunities exist to increase local pork consumption by filling supply shortfalls in beef and mutton of which $100-$150 million of the latter meat is imported a month.

The CBG which also produces CB Chicken spent an initial $200 million investment in its pork facility at New Pork East in Bodles and also a pig farm in Lucea seven years ago. Yesterday Amiel revealed that the group more than doubled that investment based on the 20 per cent growth of local pork market.

"It represents the success of those initial investments and since then much more money has been invested into the pork products," stated Dr Amiel who was mum on expenditure in order to respect private shareholder confidentiality.

He however stated that further investment would commence shortly in an attempt to eliminate the island's bacon and pig-parts importation within three years. The tourism sector has mainly fueled this growth, he explained.

"The Europeans eat an awful lot of pork, sausage and bacon. The idea is to expand this aspect of the business," he said."We will increase production so as to make the island self-sufficient and satisfy the requirements of the tourist industry which is increasing at a rapid rate. Especially European tourists."

The island eats some 130,000 pigs a year and employs some 6,000, according to Dr Amiel quoting a government report. The poultry industry by contrast employs 30,000.

The New Pork East facility focuses on pig research, development and breeding pig stock utilising imported semen from Canada. He noted that poultry is a mature industry with Jamaicans eating that meat daily.

"Chicken has even become a breakfast meat," he stated then alluded to the fact that chicken's dominance once mirrored Pork's fledgling status."We have been able to grow that industry successfully."

Wednesday, April 06, 2011
Who Can Guarantee China's Pork is Safe?
CHINA - Detection of the toxic additive clenbuterol in pig feed has once again undermined Chinese consumers' confidence in the country's food producers.


The Chinese government is serious about the scandal. The Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) announced that it will cooperate with eight ministries and commissions to launch a one-year crackdown on illegal additives in pig feed which have proven to be toxic to humans.

In big cities, like Chengdu and Nanjing, contaminated products from the food company suspected to be involved in the scandal have been soon moved off the shelves in supermarkets.

Some provinces have ordered that slaughterhouses should check their products everyday to avoid unsafe meat to be sold to the public.

Wan Long, Chief Executive Officer with the Henan-based Shuanghui Group, China's largest meat producer involved in the clenbuterol event, apologized last week.

Wan admitted the company's mistake and disclosed at a meeting that the scandal had so far cost the company more than 12.1 billion yuan (about US$1.85 billion).

The government hopes that all these efforts would produce some results in saving consumers' confidence.

Pork is the most popular meat in China. Each year more than 600 million pigs are harvested, according to Wang Zongli, vice director of the husbandry office in the Ministry of Agriculture.

Statistics from the China Animal Agriculture Association (CAAA) show that in 2009, pork accounted for 65 percent of the meat consumed by Chinese.

Clenbuterol, a poisonous chemical that can reduce a pig's body fat to produce lean meat, was found in meat products from Jiyuan Shuanghui Food Co., Ltd last month.

Experts said that the chemical is very harmful to people's health, as it might cause cancer and other diseases.

Li Peitang from Dayi County of southwest China's Sichuan Province has been raising pigs for more than 10 years, and now owns a pig farm with 3,000 hogs, making 1 to 2 million yuan a year.


Clenbuterol is very cheap and using it can reduce a pig's fat by 10 per cent, Li says.

"Lean pork fetches 1.6 yuan higher per kilogram than fattier cuts," he said.

"The scandal will hit the meat industry hard," said Qiao Yufeng, vice chairman of the CAAA.

In 2008, melamine-tainted milk powder killed at least six infants and sickened 300,000 across the country, which deeply eroded consumers' faith in the integrity of China's dairy industry.

Experts and many ordinary Chinese have pinned their hope on stepped government monitoring and revised regulations to ensure safe production of food in the country.

A netizen nicknamed sdcharles has blogged, "Where have all the people in charge of supervision gone? Only after the problem has come to light do they start doing something. Why shouldn't they all be fired?"

While Zheng Fengtian, a professor with the the School of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development at Renmin University of China said, "It's ridiculous that Shuanghui didn't check for loopholes in supervision. Rather, it talked about feeding pigs. Is it shifting public attention?"

Professor Zheng believes that the widespread use of clenbuterol is just one of many problems with the country's meat industry. "Antibiotics are fed to pigs to stop them from getting sick, while growth hormones are added to quicken their growth."

According to a central government circular issued last October, various governmental departments were given specific responsibilities to strengthen monitoring and regulations to stop clenbuterol and other toxic substances being used in meat production.

However, Qiao Yufeng notes that the departments might shift their responsibilities so they can escape blame should something bad arise.

Professor Zheng suggests tightening supervision at the last stage in the supply chain before the products reach the market.

"Disqualified products have no market. This will force producers to behave," he said.

While Li Peitang, the farmer, said that most of the problems concerning meat quality existed at the feeding stage.

"We should ensure the safety of feed so as to tackle the problems from the beginning."

Mr Qiao said that the general public and mass media could play an important role in supervision. "They have always been the whistle-blowers. It is a strong force for social supervision."

Meanwhile, Shao Yunkai, a media officer with the Consumers' Association in Heilongjiang Province, cautioned consumers to be sensible.

"With the improvement of people's living standard, consumers paid more attention to health," he said. Lean pork with less fat was considered to more healthy.'However, he said, "fat meat has its nutrition as well, and blindness of consumers in their choices might give opportunity to the immoral producers."

Backyard farmers to benefit in P167B program for ruminant industry

Posted on March 1, 2011 by KatarHol5

0

BY PAUL ICAMINA
WHAT may look like obstacles are opportunities.

All that’s needed is a well-coordinated push for the ruminant animal industry to be a vibrant agribusiness, according to the Ruminant Animal Industry Road Map 2010-2034.

The government will spend P167 billion starting last year until 2034, or P7 billion annually, to kick-start the country’s moribund dairy and ruminant industry.

The aim is to increase the 3.9 million ruminants in 2010 to 6.9 million by 2034.

The output: increase in breeding stocks every generation of about five years, with corresponding increase in the production of milking animals for distribution to small farmers.

One of the perceived opportunities – instead of obstacles – is the ever-increasing demand for milk and meat due to the high population growth rate, urbanization and rising income.

Ruminants – dairy cattle, carabaos, goats and sheep – can produce high-value products such as milk.

But each year, the country imports 99 percent of milk and dairy products worth $712 million (in 2008). About 84 percent of that is in powdered form.

While it is rising ever so slowly, domestic milk production is only about 35 percent of total liquid milk supply.

With meat, local ruminants contribute only about half of the carabeef and beef.

All these because of the small local herd: less than 30,000 heads of dairy buffaloes, cattle and goats.

Ruminants are also raised basically in smallholdings; nearly all of beef cattle are raised in backyards – 98 percent of the beef cattle and 99.9 percent of buffaloes, cattle and goats.

The formula to correct the dire situation, as charted by the road map, is simple enough: raise more ruminants by using crop by-products and idle lands.

The added attraction is that ruminants also play key roles in improving health, nutrition and poverty; most poor households are in rural areas with large tracts of idle land.

The idea is to invigorate the rural economy by promoting enterprises along the value chain; develop high-value dairy and meat products, including those for exports; and improve nutrition at the same time.

The Ruminant Animal Industry Road Map is built upon key strategies: increasing the number of ruminants; genetic improvement; and investment in support services and infrastructure like dairy processing facilities.

The government will retain ownership of breeding animals; pricing will be market-driven where transfer price of offspring includes amortization of breeders cost and financing charges; and livestock leasing instead of doling it out through dispersals.

The road map envisions self-sufficiency in ready-to-drink milk, increase red meat consumption per person by half in the long term; and increase animal productivity for the first six years by 5 percent and 10 percent for the succeeding six years.

Targets include increasing cattle and carabao heads by 2 percent, goat by 5 percent and sheep by 10 percent.

An initial massive importation of breeding animals is expected to produce succeeding generations of breeding animals.

All to increase the average daily family income of smallholders at least twice the minimum wage, with 10 percent of them evolving into entrepreneurs.

Enterprise development – which gets half of the budget over 24 years – involves making available to about 104,000 smallholders the milking animals produced from the contract breeding of imported ruminants.

Each beneficiary will receive at least one pregnant buffalo or cattle heifer or 10 pregnant goats. Recipients should have prior experience in raising livestock, reliable source of forage and potable water and willing to put up an animal shed.

They are expected to retain the female offspring as replacement and as expansion of the milking herd; only the male offspring shall be sold for meat.

As soon as the herd reaches the maximum carrying capacity of available forage, the smallholders can engage neighbors as contract growers, herders or forage suppliers.

Interested livestock farmers with enough backyard herds will be supported to become private artificial insemination technicians.

Successful smallholders can then expand into commercial production of milk and meat and employ other workers.

Ultimately, the share of local milk production will reach 73 percent; that of meat will be 22 percent.

The immediate benefits are increased income or employment; some 1.3 million farm workers are expected to gain employment over 24 years. About 632,000 farm families will benefit from livestock distribution, including milking animals.

Another 625,000 rural folks will have additional employment as artificial insemination technicians, calf and kid rearers, forage producers, contract caretakers and milkers.

The expected increase in dairy herd will utilize at least 600,000 hectares under coconut – or 20 percent of the 3 million hectares planted to coconuts.

The road map was drawn in consultation with academe and major stakeholders that included the Dairy Confederation of the Philippines, Federation of Cattle Raisers of the Philippines, Large Animal Raisers of Mindanao, Federation of Goat and Sheep Producers Association of the Philippines, United Small Ruminant Raisers Association, Philippine Association of Meat Processors and the Meat Importers and Traders Association.

The government was represented by the Department of Agriculture, Philippine Carabao Center, National Daily Authority, Livestock Development Council, Bureau of Animal Industry and the National Meat Inspection Service.

New Zealand Cattle and Beef Semi-Annual Report 2011
Beef production in New Zealand is forecast to fall by nine per cent in 2011, reflecting an expected decline in slaughter rates during the first half of the year, according to the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service.
 


Executive Summary
Dry weather and drought concerns during the fourth quarter of 2010 helped boost cattle slaughter. Total slaughter hit 3.991 million head, which is five per cent more than the previous forecast and up four per cent from the previous year. The spike in slaughter translated into an unexpected increase in both production and exports. At 643,000 tons carcass weight equivalent (CWE), production was four per cent higher than previously forecast and up three per cent over the previous year. Exports finished the year at 530,000 tons (CWE), four per cent ahead of the previous forecast and 3.1 per cent up from the previous year.

Beef production is forecast to be three per cent less than originally forecast in 2011, reflecting an expected decline in slaughter rates during the first half of the year. This puts forecast beef production at 8.75 per cent less than in 2010 and three per cent lower than the previous forecast. Likewise, exports are forecast at 478,000 tons (CWE) in CY 2011, which is four per cent less than the previous forecast and 10 per cent lower than 2010 export volumes. The decline is primarily driven by the on-going reduction in the size of the beef herd and the spike in slaughter during the last quarter of CY 2010.

While originally forecast to remain stable, exports to the US market fell 6 per cent to 222,000 tons (CWE) in 2010 and are forecast to fall further in 2011 to 205,000 tons (CWE), due partly to the sharp decline in cow beef production and the ongoing decline in bull beef production, which are the basic components of exports to the US market. While still the largest market for New Zealand beef, the US share of total New Zealand exports has been trending downward. It currently stands at approximately 42 per cent.

Indonesia became New Zealand’s second largest beef market, on a quantity basis, in 2010. Exports jumped 41 per cent to 36,940 tons (PWE). Exports to the Korean market reversed a downward trend in CY 2010 jumping seven per cent to 34,292 tons (PWE). Exporters report a spike in demand from the Korean market due in part to the Australian floods in Queensland and the FMD outbreak in Korea.

New Zealand is aggressively negotiating Free Trade Agreements (FTAs). While exporters report that FTAs do not necessarily drive business decisions, they do provide a framework to work out trade-related issues, especially SPS and non-tariff barriers, and, in some cases, significant market access gains. For instance, in the New Zealand – China FTA, tariffs, which ranged from 12 to 25 per cent when the agreement was signed, will be eliminated by 2016. New Zealand beef exports to China have increased from 5,300 tons (PWE) in 2008, the year the agreement went into force, to 8,022 tons in 2010, a 51 per cent increase.

Commercial meat production or operation-produce crossbreeds and percentage grade stock with no documented heritiage but may also house purebreed breeding stock to improve your herds quality.

The four genetic traits for improved meat goat production are identified as:
-adaptability to environment
-reproductive rate
-growth rate
-carcass value

there appears to be no real set standard for meat goat production as of yet in the Philippines so Mustang Sally will adapt the Canadian standard as it guidelines.
-meat is produced from prime young stock between the ages of 6 and 18 months of age.

Canadian liveweight classes for meat goats-30lbs.(13.63 kg)-60lbs.(27.27kg)-90lbs.(40.90kg) and 150lbs.(68.18kg)
-30lbs or 13.63kgs. kids-35-49lbs. or 22.27kgs.
-60lbs. or 27.27kgs,kids-50-75lbs. or 34.09kgs.
-90lbs,or 40.90kgs.young goats
-150lbs,or 68.18kgs.

some producers will move 30lbs.or 13.63kgs. kids into the fattening setting and raise them to the 70-100lbs range for meat production while the meat is still prime and the stock still young.

There appears to be a standard for goat meat cuts but not for live goats which also needs to be addressed.Standards will need to be borrowed from countries that already have standards and tweeked to fit the Philippine goat market.I am not here to suggest to others to follow our examples but standards gives the producer a guideline to follow and an idea of what weight class to raise and a standard for livehead classes will help any produce identify prime,choice,good and fair.Better quality stocks should be recognized for the producers hard work over stocks of poorer quality and adds creditability for the consumers who support our industry.

The boer breed today is the backbone for the meat industry and the driving force behind some of the upgrades that is taking place.

Ontario Develops
Goat Research Center

By Alan Harman 

A Center of Excellence for Goat Research and Innovation has begun work in Ontario, Canada, aimed at fostering new opportunities for growth and development in the sector. The center is backed by the Greater Peterborough Innovation Cluster, Ontario Goat Breeders Association (Ontario Goat), the Ontario Dairy Goat Co-operative, Trent University, and the University of Guelph. It will use input from researchers and industry stakeholders to identify key issues to focus on. So far these include industry sustainability, market responsiveness, animal health, product development, basic research and genetics.


Ontario Goat executive director Jennifer Haley.
 

According to a printed statement from the innovation cluster, the vision of the center is to promote the growth and competitiveness of the goat and small ruminant sectors by servicing consumer demands for consistent, quality products in the market place. The center will facilitate the co-ordination of research activities in the goat sector and will enable economics research to support the industry's competitiveness and sustainability.

Research will be undertaken by Trent University in Peterborough, Ontario, and the University of Guelph in Guelph, Ontario, while activities will be coordinated at the innovation cluster.

It is anticipated that, as partnerships are established, additional research locations will become involved.

Ontario Goat executive director Jennifer Haley said the center doesn't have a physical location and is more a collaboration between the partners.

"The industry has grown to the point where it needs these types of resources," she said. "We need to get ourselves together, unite and come together with common goals."

Greater Peterborough Innovation Cluster president & CEO Andy Mitchell said creation of the center, which will be coordinated between the two universities, made it an exciting day for the goat industry.

"The impacts of the research that will be conducted through the centre are expected to have global implications," Mitchell said. "Through leading edge research in key areas of activity the center will support the industry's competitiveness and sustainability."

Haley said the Canadian goat industry views the incorporation of the center as a huge step in the right direction.

"There is so much potential for all involved in the goat industry and this type of initiative is another important milestone in building a solid foundation towards realizing the full potential of goat milk, meat and other related products," she said.

The center will launch the Ontario and Canadian industry into several very significant opportunities.

Production-driven research will help producers and processors to become more competitive in home and export markets.


Canadian goat farms will be supported by new research and profitability studies, made feasible by the new center. Photos by Kendra Keels
 

The market for milk, meat and food products is becoming better served through raw material quality and finished product positioning. As the special properties of goat milk and meat are exploited for positive human health benefits, the contributions made by genetics to these breakthroughs will provide the foundation for a worldwide export market for breeding stock and genetic materials.

Trent University manager of corporate research partnerships John Knight said he was surprised by how little formal study was being done on the goat in Canada.

"The raising of these animals is all by art as opposed to science and there's very little research being done on the products that goats produce," he said.

Knight told reporters the university would use its DNA and genetics laboratories to analyze goat milk and a new masters program in sustainability studies to assist the goat center.

"There are a lot of issues that require some research on how to create better farming practices," he said. "Goat milk has a lot of health benefits."

Trent and the University of Guelph are developing a research collaboration agreement.

Haley said the center would take advantage of the different laboratories and researchers at the two universities.

"It's using existing resources and it's focusing them into the research priorities," she said. "They're already looking at the properties of goat milk, they're already looking at the different animal diseases that impact goats."

There are about 2,000 goat farmers in Ontario that produce milk, meat and fiber.

Chantelle Held of the Centre of Excellence said the aim is to promote the growth and competitiveness of the goat and small ruminant sectors by servicing consumer demands for consistent, quality products in the marketplace.

She said with the industry growing significantly in Ontario, the time was right to launch a center.

"We need that research to stand behind," she said.

Lloyd Wicks of Ontario Goat called creation of the center a great first step for the industry.

"With more than 800 million goats worldwide, that's 800 million reasons for us to get on with the business of research in this industry," he said.

New opportunities for national and international collaboration will only move that industry forward.

"We have a great product and we're going to make it a lot greater," he said.

That's where Trent and Guelph can play a valuable role, he said.

Ontario Dairy Goat Co-operative official Lisa Thompson said the center would help drive the dairy, meat and fiber industry forward in Ontario.

"We need this in terms of the research and the news that will garner more awareness and profile for Ontario's goat industry and throughout Canada," she said.

Creation of the center follows a report released in 2009 that said such an initiative was both timely and feasible.

 
 

The report said there are an estimated 270 dairy herds in Ontario with farm gate sales of C$25 million annually. Central Ontario accounts for about 25 percent of the milk produced.

It said opportunities to develop the industry are growing as Ontario's population expands with recent immigrants who are predisposed to consuming goat products, such as milk and meat.

Owen Roberts, who teaches agricultural communications at the University of Guelph, wrote in the local newspaper there is no doubt in Ontario agriculture, 2010 was the Year of the Goat.

"Ontario farmers are catching up with the rest of the world by discovering the virtues of goats as livestock," he said.

"Goats don't require as much land, feed or water. They can produce meat and milk; the latter makes superb high-protein, low-fat chévre cheese that's become trendy and highly sought by well-heeled North Americans. In fact, some of the best goat milk cheese is made locally."

Meantime, in another announcement during Ontario Goat's 5th annual international goat symposium in Stratford, Ont., federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz approved about C$700,000 (US$676,375) in program funding to get an integrated dairy goat genetic improvement program under way.

The GoGen pilot project, to be overseen by Guelph-based Ontario Goat, will help the industry make genetic improvements to increase milk production and improve meat quality through superior genetics.

The funds will also be used to update, modify and bring efficiencies to goat genetic tools that are already provided to the dairy cattle industry.

The three-year program will involve 15 pilot goat farms. They'll work on developing superior genetics, production and management activities that can be adopted by goat milk producers.

Member of Parliament Gary Schellenberger said the goat industry represents one of the largest growth opportunities in Ontario agriculture today.

"This project has great potential to help goat producers become more profitable, increase sales and access new milk and meat markets," he said.

The pilot project will help determine the value and benefits of a domestic genetic improvement program specifically geared to the goat industry.

"By implementing an integrated pilot program, the Ontario goat industry can demonstrate the value that these combined programs and services can have to the entire goat industry and to the individual goat producer," Haley said.

"The GoGen project will provide a toolbox full of production management tools that will ultimately help producers become more efficient and return more dollars to their operations."

Agricultural Adaptation Council chairman Jim Rickard said the project would allow producers to learn the value of implementing goat genetic improvement programs from their peers through the use of pilot herds.

"These programs can help position the Ontario goat industry to capture future growth opportunities, both domestic and export, and remain competitive."

Haley said the project would work with several existing programs, including CanWest DHI for milk testing, www.goatgenetics.ca for goat evaluations, and Genetic Corp. (Gencor), a leader in the cow genetics industry, on genetic evaluation and assessment of artificial insemination tools.
 
note:Canada now has taken this livestock, the goat very serious and is about to pump lots of money into this program to promote this livestock for both domestic and international markets.Goats have finally found their way into worldwide acceptance for the value they hold.Goats the new wave livestock for the future.The Philippines is right along with the rest of the world with their own goat programs.