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31 July 2011

Merck’s new coccidiosis vaccine approved for US poultry market

//22 Jul 2011
Merck Animal Health has obtained regulatory approval from the US Department of Agriculture for Coccivac-D2 — a new-generation version of a coccidiosis vaccine to replace Coccivac-D.
“Coccivac-D2 builds on the field-proven performance and dependability of Coccivac-D, but its spectrum is even more in step with the Eimeria populations found in today’s broiler-breeder and layer operations,” said Charlie Broussard, DVM, director of US poultry technical services.

He explained that Coccivac-D2 has a more focused antigen profile of the six major species of chicken coccidia (E. tenella, E. mivati, E. acervulina, E. maxima, E. brunetti and E. necatrix.) “We eliminated E. hagani and E. praecox, two of the least important pathogenic Eimeria species of the chicken,” Broussard added.

As with all Coccivac vaccines, Coccivac-D2 provides a balanced, controlled dose of live Eimeria oocysts to stimulate the bird’s natural immunity against this costly and highly prevalent disease. Coccivac-D2 is currently available in 5,000-dose and 1,000-dose vials.

The development of Coccivac-D2 is the result of Merck Animal Health’s ongoing commitment to quality control. As part of this process, all master seeds used to produce the vaccinal oocysts in Coccivac-D2 were tested for purity, quality and re-qualified by USDA. This new product will also help streamline production and result in a more efficient manufacturing process for Merck Animal Health coccidiosis vaccines for poultry.

Source: Merck Animal Health

China: Pork prices decrease

//27 Jul 2011
According to the Ministry of Commerce (MOC), China’s pork prices dropped 0.2 percent.
It is the first weekly price drop since May. The drop occurred the week ending July 24.

Zhou Wanjun, from the National Development and Reform Commission, expects pig prices to stabilise by the Spring Festival next year.

China has recently seen a major increase in food prices, also increased pork prices have been an issue. It was revealed that pork prices in June this year climbed 57.1 year-on-year.

Source: China Daily

USDA proposes EU additions to Newcastle Disease free list

//29 Jul 2011
The US Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is proposing to amend the regulations governing the importation of animals and animal products by recognising 25 member states of the European Union as the APHIS-defined European Union poultry trade region and adding it to the list of regions APHIS considers to be free of Newcastle disease.
APHIS also determined that the region meets requirements for being considered free of highly pathogenic avian influenza. In addition, AHIS is proposing to establish requirements governing the importation of live birds and poultry, including hatching eggs, and poultry meat and products from the APHIS-defined European Union poultry trade region, and to update avian disease terms and definitions.

APHIS is taking these actions based on a risk evaluation prepared by APHIS in which the agency determined that the proposed region meets the agency’s requirements for being considered free of Newcastle disease and highly pathogenic avian influenza. These actions facilitate the importation of live birds and poultry, and poultry meat and products, from the APHIS-defined European Union poultry trade region while protecting the United States from communicable avian diseases.

This proposed rule was published in July 19 Federal Register and consideration will be given to comments received on or before Sept. 19, 2011. Comments can be submitted via this link.

Source: APHIS

28 July 2011

Death penalty given in clenbuterol case in China

//27 Jul 2011
A Chinese court has sentenced five people from a feed premix company in Fujian province, that were arrested and charged with supplying clenbuterol. One received a suspended death penalty.
The Intermediate People's Court of Jiaozuo, in Henan province, found the defendants guilty of "endangering public security by using dangerous means". The five people who received sentences by the Chinese court are clenbuterol producer, Liu Xiang, who was handed a death sentence with a two-year reprieve. His wife, Liu Honglin, who was found to be an accomplice, was sentenced to nine years for buying raw materials he used in making the pig feed additive. Xi Zhongjie was sentenced to life in prison. Xiao Bing to 15 years and Chen Yuwei to 14 years.

If was found that the accused produced and sold lean meat powder despite it being harmful. The accused distributed the substance in Henan, Shandong and Jiangsu provinces and five other provincial regions.

Liu Xiang and Xi produced and sold 2,700 kilogrammes of the additive, making profit of 2.5 million yuan ($387,000); Chen Yuwei, Zhengzhou-based, capital of Henan province, sold more than 600 kilogrammes, with a profit of 700,000 yuan; and that Xiao Bing, based in Luoyang, Henan, sold 1,300 kilogrammes,making over 600,000 yuan.

The accused stated that there were no reports in which consumers got ill as a result of eating clenbuterol-tainted meat.

Clenbuterol, an additive known as "lean meat powder", is used in pig feed to speed up muscle building and fat-burning, resulting in leaner pork.

However, humans eating food containing clenbuterol can suffer nausea, headaches, limb tremors and can even cause cancer.

Banned in feed and water
The Chinese Ministry of Agriculture banned the use of Phenylethanolamine A in feed or animal drinking water at the end of last year.

It also announced in April that it will cooperate with eight ministries and commissions to launch a one-year crackdown on toxic additives.

In a separate case, police in Sichuan province on July 3 cracked a case involving the sale of 12,399 kilograms of clenbuterol. The haul was valued at 15.8 million yuan ($2.45 million), the biggest so far.
Source: Photo: China Daily

Alltech successfully defends mycotoxin binding technology

//25 Jul 2011
Alltech has successfully defended its technology and innovation on mycotoxin inactivation for another eight years.
The United States Patent and Trademark Office confirmed the validity of US Patent No. 6,045,834 C1, which pertains to Alltech’s unique composition for binding and inactivating mycotoxins in animal feed, as well as the process for forming the main ingredient. The patent will remain in place through April 16, 2019.

Alltech’s mycotoxin innovation has a proven scientific backbone that includes eight patents and 52 peer-reviewed papers. An additional 17 PhDs and 19 Master’s have been completed through 14 years of research on the technology.

The company also recently debuted KnowMycotoxins.com, its redesigned web site to help time-strapped industry professionals overcome mycotoxin challenges.

Available in six languages, the site includes up-to-date information on mycotoxin regulations and provides an opportunity to interact directly with global mycotoxin specialists.

Additionally, the site delivers mycotoxin training complemented by an interactive series of videos highlighting the different mycotoxins hotspots at the farm level. These videos are also available on the YouTube channel “KnowMycotoxins Videos."

The Philippines: Higher profits with probiotics in pig feed

//28 Jul 2011
Producing pork without the use of antibiotics and other synthetic chemicals is increasingly becoming the trend in swine production. That is because pigs grown the organic way are claimed to be best for good health and consumers are willing to pay a higher price for antibiotic-free meat. That is why there are companies that are developing probiotic products for use in growing organically grown animals, especially pigs...
One such company is the Lacto Bacillus Pafi Techno Resources Corporation (LactoPafi) based in Guadalupe, Cebu City, the Philippines. It has come up with its own probiotics called PafiGro.

A study at UP Los Baños showed that PafiGro’s feed conversion (FC) is 7% more efficient compared to both the control and Antibiotic Growth Promoter (AGP) groups.

It was observed that the pigs fed with PafiGro reached 80 kilos faster than the control and the AGP groups.

This means significant savings in the cost of feeds since it takes less feeds for the pigs to attain the desired liveweight without compromising the animal’s health.

The company says that PafiGro is unique. It is the only one in the market that can be used in all stages of pig raising. Its probiotics attach to the intestinal lining of the pig, thus effectively preventing scour-causing bacteria from colonising the gut. As pigs get older, the probiotics continue to protect the immune system and prevent a myriad of diseases.

Fermented product
PafiGro, a first-prize winning product in a recent Scientists’ Congress, contains all-natural organic ingredients produced under the natural process of fermentation.

Fermented extract from soy, molasses, milk and pure water is carefully formulated to enhance animal growth and improve meat quality.

It contains millions of live beneficial bacteria (multi-strain lactobacillus) and also contains vitamins, minerals, amino acids and beneficial yeasts.

PafiGro is a liquid which can be added to the drinking water or on both wet and dry feeds

China: Pork prices decrease

//27 Jul 2011
According to the Ministry of Commerce (MOC), China’s pork prices dropped 0.2 percent.
It is the first weekly price drop since May. The drop occurred the week ending July 24.

Zhou Wanjun, from the National Development and Reform Commission, expects pig prices to stabilise by the Spring Festival next year.

China has recently seen a major increase in food prices, also increased pork prices have been an issue. It was revealed that pork prices in June this year climbed 57.1 year-on-year.

Source: China Daily

Indonesia: Boehringer conducts seminar about coryza

//28 Jul 2011
Infectious coryza not only occurs in developing countries such as Indonesia, Thailand, India and China, but also in developed countries such as the United States. Coryza also could increase the percentage of mortality by 48%. So coryza is a serious problem for poultry farmers. These statements were stated by Dr. Patrick Blackall, an animal disease expert from the University of Queensland, Australia, recently in a seminar in Bogor which was conducted by PT Boehringer Ingelheim Indonesia.

Syahroni Djaidi and Dr Patrick Blackall

Blackall said that coryza can be found both in layer and broilers. “Generally in the world, coryza could decrease the egg production by 10% to 40% and in layers, coryza usually occurs at peak production. Besides decreasing the egg production, coryza also could increase the number of rejected chickens and reduce the quality of carcass,” he explained.

Blackall also compared that the economical impact of coryza in developing countries could be higher than in developed countries. The reason is that in many developing countries, the control of biosecurity program is low and multi-age in one farm still applied. For example, in the case of coryza in layers in China, the morbidity can reach 70% and the reduction of egg production can reach 87% for 1.5 months.

The serovar A, B and C
By using sequencing method, Blackall said, it was found that the cause of coryza is Avibacterium paragallinarum. Obviously this bacterium is the only one bacterium in Avibacterium group which has no catalase enzyme, so that this fact could be the key for diagnosis.

Globally, Avibacterium paragallinarum consists of 3 serovars such as A, B and C. Indonesia has those 3 serovars, while Germany, Japan, Malaysia, Australia and Taiwan only have 2 serovars.

“Initially, the serovar B was not recognised as a real serovar because it is not pathogenic and can be protected by the serovar A and C. But in the development, the serovar B is a real serovar which has different protein and has no cross-protection with other serovars,” said Blackall.

Syahroni Djaidi – Head of Animal Health Business Department of PT Boehringer Ingelheim Indonesia added that the prevalence of the serovar B has been found in Indonesia in 1991. Although the serovar B is pathogenic, many people believe that the serovar B is not important. “The problem in Indonesia, is that the research on coryza is very limited. And also the low availability of antigen B doesn’t encourage the government’s institution to identify the serovar B,” he argued.

Blackall concluded that since diagnosis of coryza is very critical, the diagnosis should be conducted accurately. Another recommendation is vaccination. “The inactivation agent, adjuvant and strain used should be noticed in order to get high protection. And the farmers should know that the effectiveness of the vaccine depends on their management in the farm,” he said.

The serovars of Avibacterium paragallinarum in the world

Country Serovar
Argentina A, B, C
Brazil A, B, C
Mexico A, B, C
United States A, B, C
China A, B, C
Indonesia A, B, C
The Philippines A, B, C
South Africa A, B, C
Taiwan A, C
Australia A, C
Japan A, C
Malaysia A, C
Germany A, B





















Source: Dr. Patrick Blackall, the University of Queensland, Australia

Indonesian government to regulate AI vaccines

//27 Jul 2011
Recently the Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture announced the regulation of Avian Influenza (AI) vaccine’s circulation. Signed by General Director of Livestock and Animal Health, the letter of the regulation was sent to the producers and importers of animal vaccines in Indonesia.
In that regulation, the government determined the master seeds of AI virus (local strain of H5N1) used for vaccine preparation (Table 1). Besides those master seeds of AI virus, the addition of other master seeds of AI virus (local strain of H5N1) could be possible as far as its protectiveness fulfils the specific criteria and proved by challenge tests. The government also has determined the AI virus isolates used for the challenge test (Table 2).

Another regulation is that the distribution of AI vaccines which are not using the master seeds of AI virus determined by the government have to be stopped. The deadline to finish the pulling process of those AI vaccines in the market is December 2011.

Table 1. The master seeds of AI virus (local strain of H5N1) used for vaccine preparation

No. Master seed of AI virus
1. A/Chicken/West Java/PWT-WIJ/2006
2. A/Chicken/Pekalongan/BBVW-208/2007
3. A/Chicken/Garut/BBVW-223/2007
4. A/Chicken/West Java (Nagrak)/30/2007









* could be used as single or polivalen vaccine
Source: General Directorate of Livestock and Animal Health, Indonesia

Table 2. The AI virus isolates used for challenge test

No. AI virus isolate
1. A/Chicken/West Java-Subang/29/2007
2. A/Chicken/West Java/SMI-PAT/2006






Source: General Directorate of Livestock and Animal Health, Indonesia

26 July 2011

The most impressive pig producer in the world

//19 Jul 2011
Author: John Gadd
I am often asked "Which, of all the pig producers you have met - impressed you the most?"
"Easy," I said. "30 years ago, I was speaking in New Zealand when a rather plain, plump lady came up at the end of the talk and asked a quite simple technical question. (Oh Lord, I thought to myself, another 'goat-wife' - this term being given by speakers to well-meaning and enthusiastic members of the audience who button-hole them after the talk, rather than asking questions from the floor - usually when the weary speaker is dying to slake his thirst in the bar! I'm told that ladies who keep goats are particually fond of doing this.)

She then asked another question which was more dififcult, followed by a third which had me properly stumped. "Careful, Gadd," I said to myself. "This lady knows her stuff."

I stopped being patronising as I'm sure I had been up to then...

Intrigued - I started to ask her a few questions about her own unit of about 50 sows. Within five minutes I was amazed at her obvious skill and knowlege about pigs. For example she formulated her own rations (of course) and showed considerable nutritional knowlege, even going so far as to use sensitivity analysis in their design! She knew more than I did about pig rearing.

"But where did you get all this knowlege?", I asked her. "From writing to people like you," she replied. An accolade I certainly didn't deserve.

Good on you, New Zealand. You once had the most knowlegeable pig farmer in the world! With just 50 sows!

Russia reduces quota on pork imports by 30%

//26 Jul 2011
On Friday July 22, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin announced that quota on pork imports in 2012, will be about 350 thousand tonnes, while in 2011 a similar figure is 500 thousand tonnes.
The declared parameters completely satisfied the representatives of the pig industry of the country who plans to almost cover the domestic demand by 2015. The Prime Minister also noted that in 2011 it will import 600-650 tonnes of pork into the country, while the total production of pork in Russian farms will amount to 2.4 million tonnes


"According to our calculations, the production of pork in Russia this year will be at even slightly higher level - about 2,43-2,45 million tonnees,”said the head of the executive committee of the National Meat Association Sergey Yushin.

“We expect to increase pork production by 2015 to 500-600 thousand tonnes compared to 2010. In the most favourable scenario, we can increase production to 1 million tonnes by 2015. We have a huge list of companies that are already building pig complexes with pigs fattening in early 2012," said the expert.


Mr Yushin also added that even with the complete saturation of the domestic market it will not abandon the import supplies. The expected level of saturation of the domestic market should lead to lower prices for pork in the next two to three years.

China, suspended, death, penalty, guilty ,charges , illegal ,pig ,additive ,scandal

//26 Jul 2011
Recently, the illegal pig feed additive clenbuterol was discovered in China and arrests were made. But now, it has been announced that the court in China has handed sentences to those involved. One person received a suspended death penalty.
The Intermediate People's Court of Jiaozuo, in Henan province, found the defendants guilty of "endangering public security by using dangerous means".

The five people who received sentences by the Chinese court are clenbuterol producer, Liu Xiang, who was handed a death sentence with a two-year reprieve. His wife, Liu Honglin, who was found to be an accomplice, was sentenced to nine years for buying raw materials he used in making the pig feed additive. Xi Zhongjie was sentenced to life in prison. Xiao Bing to 15 years and Chen Yuwei to 14 years.

The court stated in the verdict that they produced and sold lean meat powder despite it being harmful. The accused distributed the substance in Henan, Shandong and Jiangsu provinces and five other provincial regions.

In court it was found that Liu Xiang and Xi produced and sold 2,700 kilogrammes of the additive, making profit of 2.5 million yuan ($387,000); Chen Yuwei, Zhengzhou-based, capital of Henan province, sold more than 600 kilogrammes, with a profit of 700,000 yuan; and that Xiao Bing, based in Luoyang, Henan, sold 1,300 kilogrammes,making over 600,000 yuan.

The accused stated that there were no reports in which consumers got ill as a result of eating clenbuterol-tainted meat.

Clenbuterol, harmful to humans, promotes lean meat in pig production and reels in higher pig meat prices in China. The additive also allows meat to get to market sooner.


Source: China Daily

24 July 2011

Merck Animal Health begins vaccine plant expansion

//21 Jul 2011
Merck Animal Health, formerly known as Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health, has embarked on the expansion of a vaccine manufacturing unit at its Biosciences Center Boxmeer campus in the Netherlands.
The $18 million investment will result in a doubling of the capacity of its Tissue Culture Department, one of the departments where antigens for viral and parasitological vaccines are manufactured for international markets.

The new facility, which is scheduled to be fully operational by early 2013, has been designed to operate with optimal efficiency as well as to meet current and future requirements with respect to Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) and Safety, Health and Environment (SHE).

It will also allow for the anticipated globally growing demand for veterinary vaccines. In addition, the increase of the manufacturing capacity that will be realised anticipates for large-scale emergency production of veterinary vaccines when extensive amounts are needed within a short time period such as during outbreaks of emerging diseases.

Source: Merck Animal Health

20 July 2011

New production tower at Perfect Companion, Thailand

//19 Jul 2011
Pet food manufacturer Perfect Companion in Thailand is in the process of building a new production plant to meet growing consumer demand. SCE supplied silos for storage of ingredients.
The concept of producing pet foods nowadays is almost similar to producing human food. Pet owners carefully select the feed for their animals and want to be sure this is safe, clean and healthy.

In Thailand the Perfect companion Group is well aware of this trend and adapted their production facility to the changing quality demands.

Continuous investments keep their product facility in line with international standards and are one of the key success factors in the very competitive pet food industry.

Perfect Companion has selected SCE silo systems for their new production tower in Bangkok.

In cooperation with US engineering company Ibberson Belgium based silo construction and engineering company SCE supplied a silo unit with 41 smooth wall cell and chutes which an integral part of the production tower.
Perfect Companion Group operates as a subsidiary of Charoen Pokphand Group and develops, produces, and sells food products for diverse range of companion animals in Thailand and internationally.

In addition, it provides professional services, such as products concept development, research and testing, packaging development and design, product manufacturing, brand development, promotional marketing, and product distribution services, as well as services for original equipment manufacturers.

The company was founded in 2001 and is based in Bangkok, Thailand with additional offices in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; and Vietnam.

17 July 2011

Pork reserves to be released by Chinese government

//15 Jul 2011
The price of pork in China is currently sky-rocketing, in order to bring down the prices, the Chinese government will release some pork reserves onto the market.
It has been reported that the central pork reserves stands at 200,000 tonnes, and this amount will be gradually boosted, for better impact on future price levels. Yao Jian, Ministry of Commerce spokesman stated that the government will release some stocks held by the central and local governments "in a timely fashion."

The release of pork reserves onto the market, comes at a time when pork prices recently reached record levels last month, increasing 57% from a year earlier.

According to analysts the pork price hike is a result of a falling hog population due to factors such as swine flu culling in 2009 and Foot and Mouth disease last year.

Curb inflation
On Wednesday, the Chinese government also said that there is a new fiscal support policy to boost the country's supply of live pigs. The announcement by the Chinese government of the new fiscal support policy is expected to bring down pork prices and curb soaring inflation. Also, there will be an investment of 2.5 billion yuan ($390 million) in large pig farms.

Also read: China to increase pig supply, curb inflation

14 July 2011

Banned antibiotic is naturally present in prawns

//14 Jul 2011
Research done by Ghent University (Belgium) and the Agri-Food & Biosciences Institute in Belfast (Northern Ireland) on the presence of illegal antibiotic residues in giant freshwater prawns (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) from Bangladesh found that semicarbazide was naturally present in the animals.
Semicarbazide (SEM) - the metabolic marker of the banned veterinary drug nitrofurazone - was found to be primarily present in the shell of all the animals and, further, appears as a natural component of all crustacean species tested, such as crabs, prawns and shrimp.

Ghent University and the Agri-Food & Biosciences Institute both conducted the research separately and independently in response to more than 50 Rapid Alerts issued by the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) in 2009. Consignments of shrimp from Bangladesh were found to have detection levels of SEM higher than the ones permitted (1 ppb).

Dr Christof van Poucke (Ghent) and Dr Glenn Kennedy (Belfast) determined that semicarbazide was present as a natural component in laboratory-grown prawns in the Ghent-based Laboratory of Aquaculture and to wild caught freshwater prawns from Bangladesh.

The metabolic route for SEM production in animals remains unknown; a fundamental role in protein synthesis is a possibility.

Applying legislation
As a result of the finding new legislation has been applied. And while improvements in laboratory analytical capacity continue a traceability scheme from hatchery to export has been set up.

For further ensuring food safety in Bangladesh in the long-term a US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and European Union (EU)-supported aquaculture educational institute called the Aquaculture and Aquatic Food Safety Centre (AAFSC) has been established.,

China: Pork prices continue to rise

//11 Jul 2011
Sen Yu International Holdings, Inc., a commercial hog breeder and supplier in Heilongjiang Province, China, commented today that rising pork prices are expected to help increase breeders' profits and support growth as farmers are encouraged to replenish hog stocks and increase supply.
The average wholesale price of pork reached 24.8 yuan ($3.86) a kilogram last Tuesday, July 5, at the Beijing Xinfadi Farm Product Wholesale Market, a three-year high since the middle of 2008, according to a report from China's Global Times on July 6, 2011. The average price of lean pork between June 21 and June 30 reached 30.58 yuan a kilogram, 5.3% higher than that of June 11 to June 20. The price of pork belly rose by 5.4% during the same period, the largest increase since early February, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics on food prices in 50 Chinese cities as of Monday, July 4, 2011.

Prices keep rising
Observers believe that pork prices will keep rising until the end of the year. Higher prices are being driven by insufficient pork stock and a pig epidemic from late 2010 to early 2011 and are also linked to an increase in the price of corn, which accounts for roughly 60% of pig feed. After the Chinese New Year, supplies of pork diminished as most stored pork was sold during this peak season. June is typically the low season for pork sales and a time to replenish pork stock, which has contributed to tightening pork supply. As the hog breeding industry requires a period of production cycle recovery, it is expected that pork prices will remain stubbornly high in the near term. Pork accounts for roughly 65% of China's meat consumption.

"In the near term, higher pork prices will lead to increased profits for breeders," commented Mr. Zhenyu (Jack) Shang, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Sen Yu International Holdings, Inc.

"Sen Yu has a well-established brand and is the leading commercial hog breeder and supplier in Heilongjiang Province. Under our partnership-based business model, this could increase the number of hog farmers that we work with while the increases in average prices of commercial hogs support higher revenue, gross profit and increases in gross margins that we have experienced. Though we expect pork prices to fluctuate over time as increases in supply come into the market, we believe that China's economic expansion and rising middle class with its taste for high quality pork will continue to spur demand for our superior quality breeding and commercial hogs for the long term."

UK: 13 convicted - Europe’s biggest ever illegal veterinary medicine business

//12 Jul 2011
Thirteen people have been convicted in connection with Europe’s biggest ever illegal veterinary medicine business in which more than £6 million of products were smuggled to the UK, risking the health of people and animals.
The ringleaders, Ronald Meddes, 73, and his wife Regine Lansley, 62, sold unauthorised and prescription-only medicines to more than 4,000 British customers from their properties in France and from warehouses in Belgium and Kent.

Six other key players unlawfully distributed the products on the black market to British farms, stables, kennels and vet surgeries. Three other major customers were convicted, as well as one man responsible for laundering the proceeds.

Steve Dean, Chief Executive of the Government’s Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD), which prosecuted the case, said, “This was a significant commercial enterprise which seriously attacked the principle of safe and effective veterinary medicines.

“Incorrect use of medication of unknown origin and dubious quality compromises animal health and welfare, increases the risk of harmful residues in the food chain and raises the spectre of unnecessary antibiotic resistance.”

The medicines included non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, anabolic steroids, antibiotics, sedatives, and pain control treatments for a variety of species including horses, cows, sheep, pigs and household pets.

To be imported and sold for use in the UK all veterinary medicines must be authorised to ensure they are safe and effective, and many must be prescribed by a veterinary surgeon. Even where medicines are authorised they must be distributed and sold through licensed outlets where trained staff are available to provide the necessary advice on safe use.

Between January 2004 and November 2010 Meddes and Lansley ran a series of businesses under the “Eurovet” banner such as ZAO Eurovet International, Euro Exports CIS Limited, Global Animal Pharmaceuticals and the Animal Pharmacy. Many of the medicines were sold to the UK customers by telephone, fax and online.

Defra Investigation Services began investigating, on behalf of VMD, in 2006 after small seizures of illegal medicines in other investigations were linked back to a single source. Large seizures were made at Ashford and Dover in Kent, Aldershot in Hampshire, and Stanstead Airport.

In May 2007 the French authorities, on behalf of the VMD, seized more than 20 tonnes of medicines – the biggest seizure in Europe – from Lansley and Meddes’ property in Picardy. Computer accounts and customer details for the whole illegal enterprise were found. The turnover between January 2004 and May 2007 was £5.6m.

However, Meddes and Lansley quickly re-established their business in Belgium until the Belgium authorities raided and seized further large quantities of illegal veterinary medicines in October 2008.

At Croydon Crown Court, Meddes, of Picardy and Charing, Kent, and Lansley, of Picardy, and Chelsea, London, admitted illegally importing and supplying unauthorised and prescription-only veterinary medicines. He was sentenced to 28 months imprisonment and she was sentenced to 20 months imprisonment.

Another four defendants admitted illegally supplying unauthorised and prescription-only veterinary medicines: Igor Kantov, 54, a driver and assistant from Normandy and Southend-on-Sea, was sentenced to 2 years conditional discharge; his wife Cherryl Kantov, 64, a bookkeeper, was sentenced to 2 years conditional discharge ; Alexandra John, 50, an agent from Capel, Surrey, was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment suspended for 2 years and 200 hours unpaid work; and Andris Friend, 45, a wholesaler from Spalding, Lincolnshire, was sentenced to 13 months imprisonment.

Two others were found guilty at trial of illegal importation and supply: riding school boss Peter Lock, 53, of Doddinghurst, Essex, was sentenced to 10 months imprisonment suspended 2 years and 250 hours unpaid work; stud boss Richard Jones, 60, of Sedgeberrow, Worcestershire, was sentenced to 6 months imprisonment suspended 2 years and 200 hours unpaid work and [his partner] June Connelly, 68, of Sedgeberrow, Worcestershire, who pleaded guilty was sentenced to 4 months imprisonment suspended 2 years and 140 hours unpaid work.

Having set up a company and a bank account, Mark Harvey, 52, of Sissinghurst, Kent, admitted money laundering and was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment suspended 2 years and 275 hours unpaid work.

Richard James, 44, of Carmarthen, Wales, admitted supply, possession and administration for use in his artificial insemination business and was sentenced to 100 hours unpaid work; confiscation £45551.88 to be paid by 7 October 2011 – 16 months imprisonment in default of payment.
Beef farmer John Andrew Hawley, of Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, admitted possession for use on his own animals and was sentenced to community order 100 hours unpaid work and £2,500 in costs.

Lee Wilson (aka Leonard French), 73, of Langworth, Lincolnshire, admitted charges of possession, importation, supply and will be sentenced on 9 September.

Source: DEFRA

Pfizer considers selling animal-health and nutrition units

//11 Jul 2011
Drug giant Pfizer Inc. said it is exploring strategic options including sales and spinoffs for its animal-health and nutrition units, but will hold onto its generic-drug and consumer health-care businesses.
The decisions are part of Pfizer's efforts to partially unwind the diversified business line-up it had amassed through years of mega-mergers, and to hone its focus on its core business of developing and marketing prescription drugs and vaccines.

The animal-health and nutrition units together generated less than 10% of Pfizer's 2010 revenue of $67.8 billion.

"Both Animal Health and Nutrition are strong businesses with attractive customer bases and solid fundamentals, but distinct enough from our core businesses that their value may be best maximized outside the company," Pfizer Chief Executive Ian Read said in a company press release.

Betagro experiments with animal feed from feathers

//12 Jul 2011
Betagro Science Center Co has teamed up with the Agricultural Research Development Agency and Kasetsart University to develop keratines enzymes that use chicken feather waste to produce animal feed, the Bangkok Post reports.
The development will help the company, a unit of Betagro Group, to utilise its large volume of feather waste effectively and reduce the import of keratines enzymes, a high-protein supplement.

Approximately 6,000 tonnes of feathers are released from chicken slaughterhouses around the country from processing of up to 950 million birds a year.

The group, one of Thailand's largest chicken producers and exporters, produces about 1,200 tonnes of feather waste each year, said Rutjawate Taharnklaew, the general manager of Betagro Science Center Co.

Enzyme imports
The group had been spending about 10 million baht (€233,000) annually to import the enzyme, and demand is growing after the European Union banned the use of antibiotics as a growth promoter in animal feed.

A research team headed by Assoc Prof Sunee Nithisinprasert of Kasetsart will carry out the project at a pilot plant with a capacity to produce 500 litres of enzymes.

Feasibility study
The team including Dr Rutjawate will conduct a feasibility study for commercial production and the possibility of producing the enzymes in liquid or dried form to sustain the quality of the substance.

According to KU research, chicken producers can process feather waste for meal under a heating and steaming method with up to 80% of the protein of soybean and fishmeal feed, two more expensive protein sources.

However, this process uses energy and reduces nutrition while producing indigestible feed. The keratines enzyme helps make the feed more digestible while maintaining a high level of protein.

07 July 2011

Third world pig prices higher than in Britain

//06 Jul 2011
Poor ‘Third World’ countries are prepared to pay more for their pork than British retailers. In Cambodia the farm-gate price paid for pigs is currently equivalent to £2.47 per kg deadweight. This compares with the UK price of just £1.51 per kg.
“This makes a mockery of the claims by major retailers that ordinary British people are not in a position to pay more for their pigmeat,” said Matthew Curtis, ACMC Ltd’s managing director - the Yorkshire-based pig-breeding company is doing business in Cambodia.


“It is extremely cheap, even when compared with other red meats in this country. For example, retailers price fillet of beef at about £35.00 per kg compared with just £7.00 for fillet of pork.” Retailers, he says, are making a fortune out of the pig industry while British pig farmers are losing up to £15 – 20 p per kg – on every pig they produce.

“The price paid for pigs by processors and retailers in a supposedly rich ‘First World’ country hasn’t reflected the increase in feed prices. Pig farmers can’t sustain these losses. If prices don’t increase to a realistic level, they will simply be driven out of business and retailers will have killed the goose that’s laying their golden eggs,” he said.

“If only the major retailers would engage enthusiastically with the whole supply chain and share risk, we could all make a living and continue to provide pork and pigmeat products at an attractive price,” commented BPEX chairman Stewart Houston. “Even the Chinese, who have half the world’s pigs, are prepared to pay more than the British. Their pig farmers are currently receiving around £2.55 per kg,” he added.

Source: ACMC

CP launches first upscale hypermarket in Shanghai

//07 Jul 2011
CP Lotus Corporation, a subsidiary of Thailand's based Charoen Pokphand Group and pioneer of China's hypermarket industry, has partnered with Shanghai-base Shui On group to launch its first upscale food supermarket outlet. Bazaar by Lotus, at Xintiandi Style luxury mall in Shanghai, are offering 7,000 products, 70% of which are imported.
"Bazaar by Lotus is CP's new brainchild that demonstrates the firm's commitment to
create a lasting experience for customers," says Michael Ross, executive vice chairman
of CP Lotus Corp., confident, he says that Bazaar by Lotus will be a great success, given
the growing demand for gourmet foods and the 12.9% growth in China's retail industry
during the first quarter of 2011.

อียูแก้ไขระเบียบนำเข้าอาหารมนุษย์และอาหารสัตว์จากญี่ปุ่น

คณะกรรมาธิการสหภาพยุโรปเพิ่มชื่อจังหวัดซิซูโอกะลงในบัญชีรายชื่อ 13 จังหวัดของญี่ปุ่นที่สหภาพยุโรปนำมาตรการพิเศษด้านการนำเข้าอาหารมนุษย์และสัตว์มาใช้และยกเลิกจังหวัดนิอิกาตะและยามากาตะในบัญชีรายชื่อดังกล่าว คณะกรรมาธิการสหภาพยุโรปเพิ่มชื่อจังหวัดชิซูโอกะในบัญชีรายชื่อจังหวัดของญี่ปุ่นที่สหภาพยุโรปนำมาตรการพิเศษด้านการนำเข้าอาหารมนุษย์และสัตว์มาใช้หลังจากเจ้าหน้าที่ญี่ปุ่นตรวจพบใบชาซึ่งมีถิ่นกำเนิดในจังหวัดชิซูโอกะปนเปื้อนซิเซียมเกินกว่า 500 เบคเคอเรล ต่อกิโลกรัม ซึ่งระดับซิเซียมสูงสุดตามมาตรฐานที่ญี่ปุ่นและสหภาพยุโรปกำหนดไว้อยู่ที่ 500 เบคเคอเรล ต่อกิโลกรัม

&n! bsp; นอกจากนี้เจ้าหน้าที่ฝรั่งเศสสกัดการขนส่งใบชาเขียว ซึ่งมีถิ่นกำเนิดในจังหวัดชิซูโอกะ ณ สนามบิน Roissy เนื่องจากใบชาเขียวดังกล่าวมีระดับซีเซียมเกินกำหนด โดยพบซีเซียมจำนวน 1,000 เบคเคอเรลต่อกิโลกรัม
การนำรายชื่อจังหวัดนิอิกาตะและยามากาตะ ซึ่งอยู่ทางทิศตะวันตก และเหนือ/ตะวันตกเฉียงเหนือของโรงไฟฟ้าฟูกูชิมะ ตามลำดับ ออกจากบัญชีรายชื่อจังหวัดที่ยุโรปนำมาตรการพิเศษมาใช้เกิดขึ้นหลังจากที่ได้ทดสอบตัวอย่างเกือบ 550 ตัวอย่าง ซึ่งมีผลการทดสอบเป็นที่น่าพอใจ

เมื่อวันที่ 4 กรกฎาคม 2554 คณะกรรมาธิการยุโรปด้านห่วงโซ่อาหารและสุขภาพสัตว์ (SCoFCAH) แสดงความเห็นเชิงบวกต่อการแก้ไขระเบียบ 297/2011 โดยคาดว่าจะลดจำนวนจังหวัดในญี่ปุ่นที่สหภาพยุโรปนำมาตรการพิเศษมาใช้เหลือ 12 จังหวัด และคาดว่าคณะกรรมาธิการจะลงมติยอมรับร่างระเบียบดังกล่าวภายในสัปดาห์นี้

อาหารมนุษย์และอาหารสัตว์ที่มาจากทั้ง 12 จังหวั! ดจะต้องถูกตรวจสอบการปนเปื้อนสารไอโอดีน -131 ซีเซียม- 134 ซีเซี! ยม- 137 ก่อนนำออกจากญี่ปุ่น และสหภาพยุโรปอาจจะนำมาตรการตรวจสอบที่เข้มงวดขึ้นมาใช้กับอาหารมนุษย์และอาหารสัตว์เหล่านี้ ( เช่น การตรวจสอบทางกายภาพ ซึ่งรวมถึงการวิเคราะห์ทางห้องปฏิบัติการทางวิทยาศาสตร์ อย่างน้อย 10 % ของอาหารมนุษย์และอาหารสัตว์ที่มาจากจังหวัดเหล่านี้ นอกจากนี้อาหารสัตว์และอาหารใน 35 จังหวัดที่เหลือจะต้องสำแดงจังหวัดต้นกำเนิดและจะถูกสุ่มตรวจเมื่อมาถึงสหภาพยุโรป

ทั้งนี้ มาตรการดังกล่าวจะใช้ถึงวันที่ 30 กันยายน 2554 แต่จะมีการทบทวนมาตรการนี้อีกครั้งในต้นเดือน กันยายน 2554



ที่มา : The Meat Site

06 July 2011

Import of poultry products from Japan resumes, except five prefectures

//05 Jul 2011
The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department in Hong Kong announced that importing poultry meat and eggs from Japan (excluding Fukushima, Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma and Chiba Prefectures) will resume.
Following an outbreak of the highly pathogenic avian influenza H5 in the city of Miyazaki, Miyazaki Prefecture, Kyushu, Japan, the CFS suspended the processing of applications for such imports last January.

"In view of the control measures taken by the country during the outbreak of avian flu in the city of Miyazaki, and the fact that there are no other reported cases of avian influenza, we decide to resume processing applications," a spokesman for the CFS said.

"However, the prohibition, imposed after the Fukushima nuclear plant incident, by the Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene on the import of some specified food including poultry and poultry eggs produced in Fukushima, Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma and Chiba Prefectures, remains effective," the spokesman said.
Poultry and poultry eggs will be excluded from the ban if they are certified by the competent authority of Japan that the radiation levels do not exceed the standards laid down by the Codex Alimentarius Commission.
"Restrictions have not yet been lifted for those five prefectures, and we are monitoring the situation there," he said.

Source: 7th Space

On farm test to early detect Salmonella

//06 Jul 2011
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates, each year, about 9.4 million people get sick from contaminated food. A new test may detect Salmonella infection in an early stage, allowing prompt action.
The USDA reports the leading cause of bacterial-related food illness in the U.S. is salmonella. About one million Americans get sick from salmonella annually, more than 19,000 are hospitalized and more than 370 people die. The annual cost of medical treatment for salmonella-related food illness is $365 million.

The CDC estimates that eggs and poultry account for nearly half (47 percent) of all foods associated with salmonella outbreaks. Salmonella bacteria in the housing environment can contaminate the outer shell of the eggs or get inside through pores in the egg’s shell. More importantly, chickens can carry the bacteria in their digestive tract.

To reduce the risk for widespread infections, the Food and Drug Administration now requires egg producers with 50,000 or more birds to test the eggs and animal environment for salmonella contamination. These regulations took effect on July 10, 2010. Producers of smaller flocks will be required to adhere to the guidelines by July 9, 2012.
Shelley Rankin, microbiologist with the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine in Kennett Square, PA says the traditional test for salmonella bacteria in poultry houses and eggs is very effective, but takes about 10 days to get results. By that time, if the tests have come back positive for salmonella, the eggs have typically reached consumers. Producers must then issue a recall.

A new test, called the TaqMan detection kit, can be used to test both the hen house environment and egg. More importantly, the results are available within 48 hours. The hope is, with the faster turn around time, contaminated eggs can be kept out of the food supply, greatly reducing the risk for illness among consumers.

Rankin explains the environmental part of the test involves dragging a prepared gauze pad through the animal manure (because the bacteria will be excreted in the bird feces). If the manure tests positive for the bacteria, the eggs are also tested. That requires taking a sampling of at least 20 disinfected eggs, cracking the shells, mixing the contents to break the yolks and testing the solution. If salmonella is found in the eggs, they are sent to a pasteurization plant. That process heats the eggs and kills the bacteria, making the eggs safe to eat.


Source: WSOCTV.com

03 July 2011

Merck: New name for animal health division

//30 Jun 2011
Merck’s animal health division, formerly known as Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health, announced that effective immediately it will begin using the new name, Merck Animal Health. It will be known as MSD Animal Health outside the United States and Canada.
“The name change reflects Merck's commitment to animal health and its complementary role to the overall business," said Raul Kohan, President of Merck Animal Health. "We are unwavering in our commitment to veterinarians, producers, pet owners and society as a whole. We aim to generate additional value and sustained growth by continuing to provide integrated solutions with innovative animal health products and services to meet the evolving needs of our customers."

Mr. Kohan continued, "With the scientific and business backing of Merck, Merck Animal Health possesses the necessary mix of resources to enhance our position as an industry leader."

Merck Animal Health is a global leader in the research, development, manufacturing and sale of veterinary medicines and vaccines, with a strong presence in biologics and pharmaceuticals. The division generated global sales of $2.9 billion in 2010.

Merck values the diversification that Merck Animal Health brings to its portfolio, and sees growth opportunities in the business that can be leveraged across both animal and human health. The company intends to capitalize on Merck Animal Health's broad and innovative portfolio going forward, and to develop the unit into a best-in-class global animal health leader.

The name change follows the joint announcement on March 22, 2011 by
Merck and sanofi-aventis that ended plans to form a new animal health joint venture. Both companies mutually decided to discontinue their agreement primarily because of the increasing complexity of implementing the proposed transaction.

Thailand suspends live pig exports

//30 Jun 2011
The Thai Commerce Ministry has suspended exports of live pigs to neighbouring countries in a bid to bring down domestic retail pork prices.
The ban, effective from today, will be temporary and will not cover exports of pork products.
The Ministry imposed the ban after finding that a large number of pigs were being exported to Cambodia and Vietnam, to be sold at higher prices, as compared with Thailand.

The export suspension, says Acting Commerce Minister Portiva Nakasai, will require prior approval for the transport of 10 pigs or more to 24 provinces, close to or sharing borders with neighbouring countries, and is expected to bring the down prices of pigs in two weeks and eventually lower retail pork prices.

Thailand produces about 12 million pigs a year, she says, of which 11 million are consumed locally.

(By Joyce Rainat)

African Swine Fever spreading, European Russia threatened

//01 Jul 2011
All European parts of Russia may soon be affected by African Swine Fever as the virus has made its way to central Russia.
"We are on the verge of a new wave of proliferation of the virus," stated Nikolai Vlasov, deputy head Rosselkhoznadzor (the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance). Vlasov further added that five small farms in the central Russian region of Tver bordering the Moscow region had been registered to have been affected by the disease this year.


Outbreak of African Swine Fever in Tver Oblast
Rosselkhoznadzor reported on 10 June the outbreak of African Swine Fever in Tver Oblast . ASFV genetic material was detected in the samples of pathological material taken from a pig in the backyard in the Danilovskoe village, the Kalininsky Rayon, the Tver Oblast by the FGI “Tver Interoblast Veterinary Laboratory”.

The pathological material samples were sent to the All-Russia Research Institute of Veterinary Virology and Microbiology of the Rosselkhozacademy to confirm the diagnosis.

A report by Reuters stated that Rosselkhoznadzor had previously this year pushed for a programme to eradicate ASF within seven years, costing around $400 million, however, the government has not approved this.

"If things continue to go as they do now in the Tver region, where wild boars are plentiful, the northwest of the country may soon start resembling the south," Vlasov stated.

Related websites:
•Reuters Canada
•Rosselkhoznadzor

Research into the digestion of organic laying hens

//01 Jul 2011
Research by Wageningen UR Livestock Research has shown that the current nutritional data for laying hens in the Feed Table of the CVB in many cases can not be applied to biological materials. It is based on outdated digestibility studies with adult roosters
Therefore, the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture commissioned the research, which was conducted by the product working group Poultry meat and eggs of Bioconnect. The aim was to provide a accurate method of calculating the nutritional value of organically grown raw materials for layers.

Two digestibility studies with organic layer diets were performed.

1.In the first experiment, besides a basal diet, seven different organic diets were included in this experiment to determine the digestibility of wheat, maize, peas, rape seed expeller, sunflower seed expeller, sesame seed expeller, and heat treated soybean meal.
2.In the second experiment, two qualities of corn (moderate and good), barley, triticale, rye, vicia faba and soy bean meal expeller are investigated. In these raw materials, faecal digestibility of organic and inorganic mater, crude protein, crude fat, crude fibre, gross energy and amino acids were determined. Hens were housed in digestibility cages. The hens had ad libitum access to feed and water. In this experiment, the indicator method was used, whereas titanium oxide (experiment 1) or chromium oxide was used as a marker. Manure was collected semi quantitatively over four days (collection of manure 2 times per day) during the main period.
The study confirmed that the values of the Dutch CVB Table often could not be used for organic laying hens. In this Table, however, the values for triticale and vicia faba are lacking. By that, the results of these ingredients in the current study are really unique. Compared to the Dutch CVB Table, only slight differences in digestibility coefficients and MEn values were observed for organic produced barley, sunflower seed expeller, and corn (moderate and good quality). Digestibility coefficients and energy contents were considerably reduced in organic wheat, peas, sesame seed expeller, heat treated soy bean meal en rye, whereas these values were clearly improved in organic rape seed expeller and soy bean meal expeller.

Based on the chemical composition of the organic produced ingredients, and based on the digestibility coefficients as presented in this study, the nutritional value of organic raw materials can be estimated appropriately in practice. This knowledge allows nutritionist to optimize well balanced diets that closely fit the requirements of organic housed laying hens. A correct balance in diet composition is beneficial to maintaining or improving performance, health status and environmental excretions of these hens.