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28 June 2012

Feed additives company on course to hit targeted profits

//28 Jun 2012
Anpario, a feed additives producer, is well on its way to achieving targeted profits for the full year to December 31 2012, according to a statement released prior to the company’s AGM.
The company said it is continuing to achieve organic growth across its International and UK markets, dispite continued uncertainity in the Europe and Middle East regions.

 
Anpario’s balance sheet is strong with cash of £2.5 million (approx €3.1 million) at June 25 2012.

Meriden Animal Health, the natural animal feed additive products supplier with worldwide operations, which was acquired in March, is doing well, with 2011 profits of £740,000 (€925,706) on sales of £5.35 million (almost €6.7 million).
 
The acquisition enhanced Anpario’s earnings and has increased its exposure to the lucrative Chinese market – the country accounts for more than a quarter of Meriden’s sales
 
The company plans to report results for the first half to end-June on Wednesday. September 19.

Antibiotic use declines in Dutch poultry production

//28 Jun 2012
Antibiotic use in the Dutch agriculture sector has declined sharply in recent years, exceeding the objectives set by the government.
The total sales of antibiotics in the Netherlands dropped nearly 32%, from 495 tonnes to 338 tonnes during the period 2009-2011, according to new data relating to the veterinary use of antibiotics published by LEI Wageningen UR. 
This far exceeds the policy objective for 2011 set by the Dutch government, which was set at a 20% reduction in antibiotic use compared with 2009. Survey data on antibiotic use per animal species indicate a decrease in all five livestock sectors examined in 2011.
The average use in broilers is estimated to be 16 daily dosages per year in 2011, administered orally, mainly through the drinking water (95% Confidence Interval: 12-21 dd/ay). This means that an individual broiler is treated with antibiotics during 2 days (= 16 x 42/365) in the 42 days from day one to slaughter.  In 2009 the use was 37 daily dosages per year (CI: 24-49 dd/ay).
Data on the time of prescription reveal that the average weight on which broilers receive treatment equals the average live weight of 1.0 kg.
The full report can be viewed here.

FAO and OIE lay bare global FMD strategy

//28 Jun 2012
FAO and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) are joining forces to combat foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) on a global scale, laying out a detailed strategy to control the notorious livestock disease.
The two organizations underlined, however, that only solid commitments from global partners will make the strategy possible, as they opened an international meeting in Bangkok supported by the Thai Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives.
Chairing the opening session of the FAO/OIE global conference in Bangkok, Thai deputy prime minister Chumpol Silpa-archa, said:  "Thailand is working for the further accomplishment of FMD freedom by 2015 in an eastern region pilot zone of the country as well as at ASEAN regional level by 2020."
FAO is emphasising the need for collective action to better control FMD where it is a high burden to millions of farmers, pastoralists and commercial operators.
"Recent FMD outbreaks around the globe demonstrate that animal diseases have no boundaries, can have a devastating impact and require a global response," said Hiroyuki Konuma, the FAO regional representative for Asia and the Pacific.
Foot-and-mouth disease is not a direct threat to human health. However, lost trade opportunities for affected countries are a global economic burden and a hindrance on human development.
Most importantly, for the poorest farmers who often depend on just a few animals, foot-and-mouth disease means hunger and economic ruin when it strikes and cuts off people's only source of income and protein.
More than 100 countries are attending the FAO/OIE meeting in Bangkok.
Global Strategy
"One main objective of the Global Strategy is to allow FMD control worldwide through the strengthening of veterinary services responsible for animal disease control," explained Bernard Vallat, OIE Director General.
"Positive effects of the strategy will extend far beyond the control of FMD because it represents an opportunity to initiate long-term actions which will enhance veterinary services' capacity to fight other high-impact diseases of livestock. At the regional level the South-East Asia and China FMD campaign (SEACFMD) programme managed by OIE/Bangkok is considered as a very efficient model," he added.
"The successful eradication of rinderpest, a joint effort by scientists, governments, donors, veterinarians and farmers, clearly shows that we can reduce and even eliminate the threat of major diseases," Juan Lubroth, FAO's chief veterinary officer.
"We could apply lessons learned and appropriate approaches when it comes to foot-and-mouth disease: better surveillance, coordination and control to reduce FMD outbreaks and finally eliminate the virus, to safeguard food security, animal health and human health," he said.
The Global Strategy combines two tools developed by FAO and the OIE. The OIE tool, called the Performance of Veterinary Services Pathway (PVS), evaluates national veterinary services with the aim of bringing them into compliance with OIE quality standards. Reliable veterinary services ensure the quality and safety of livestock production. In turn, strong veterinary systems protect the safety of food sources, trade and animal health, and as such, are a global public good.
FAO developed the Progressive Control Pathway for Foot-and-Mouth Disease, the PCP-FMD, which guides countries through a series of incremental steps to better manage FMD risks, beginning with active surveillance to establish what types of FMD virus strains are circulating in the country and neighbouring areas.
The process moves countries continuously towards improved levels of FMD control and thus an eventual opening to trade and international markets. A key pillar of the PCP-FMD involves coordinating efforts with countries in the same region in order to control the disease systematically across porous national boundaries.
The aim of the FMD Global Strategy is to decrease the impact of FMD worldwide by reducing the number of disease outbreaks in infected countries until they ultimately attain FMD-free status, as well as by maintaining the official FMD-free status of countries that are already free.
With many countries in the earliest stages of FMD control, the PCP-FMD benchmarks progress with the aim of eventually applying to the OIE for official recognition of their national control programmes and of their FMD-free status, with or without vaccination.
The FMD Global Strategy has been prepared by FAO and OIE under the umbrella of their Global Framework for the Progressive Control of Transboundary Animal Diseases (GF-TADs), in consultation with selected experts, countries and donors, as well as with regional and international organizations. Particular emphasis is put on regions of the world where the disease is endemic, including most of sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.
The strategy contributes considerably to poverty reduction by increasing trade opportunities and contributing to and protecting the daily incomes of the 1 billion poor farmers worldwide who depend on livestock.
Losses in the billions
While FMD is seldom fatal, the disease can cause high mortality in newborn and young animals, weight loss, reduced milk yields and lower fertility. The global annual cost of FMD in terms of production losses and the need for prevention by vaccination has been estimated to be approximately $5 billion.
In a severe event in 2001 in the United Kingdom, the direct and indirect impacts are estimated to have cost as much as $30 billion.
Earlier outbreaks had similar tolls: in the Chinese province of Taiwan in 1997, a major epidemic cost the economy $15 billion, while Italy in 1993 suffered economic damages of $130 million.

27 June 2012

US poultry facilities recognised for safety performance


//27 Jun 2012
The Joint Industry Safety and Health Council has recognised 68 US chicken and turkey facilities for outstanding safety performance through the implementation of innovative and effective safety and health programs. The annual safety awards were presented during the 2012 National Safety Conference for the Poultry Industry held in Ponte Vedra, Florida.
“I not only commend these plants and their management teams for their tremendous efforts to protect their workers, but for their ongoing dedication to further progress,” said Mike Brown, National Chicken Council president. “The significant and consistent decline in illness and injury rates among our workforce over the past two decades is a direct result of their strong commitment to worker safety.”

John Starkey, president of US Poultry & Egg Association, commented, “The industry recognises that our people are our most valuable asset, and worker safety efforts have never been stronger. Poultry companies continue to devote people, time, and other resources to actively identify and correct workplace hazards. These awards acknowledge excellent safety performance achievement through effective and innovative programs.”

“The poultry industry has been diligent in reducing recordable injuries and illnesses for nearly 30 years,” said NTF president Joel Brandenberger. “These awards acknowledge the excellent safety performance achievements the poultry industry has accomplished. We hope by highlighting these facilities we can all learn additional practices and tools to further protect the people that work hard every day in our plants to provide high-quality, safe and nutritious protein for consumers.”

Award consideration was based on injury statistics over three years and an evaluation of written applications by three judges: Gary Pohlmann of Marsh Risk Consulting, Doug Britton, program manager for Agricultural Technology Research at Georgia Tech Research Institute, and George Nassif of Aon Global Risk Consulting. Twenty-five facilities received the highest level of recognition, “Award of Distinction.” The other categories included “Award of Honor” and “Award of Merit.”

Hong Kong lowers bird flu response level


//27 Jun 2012
Hong Kong health authorities have lowered the region's influenza response level from 'serious' to 'alert', 21 days after a case of human avian influenza was detected.
The response level was raised from alert to serious when a two-year-old boy was found to have influenza A (H5) on June 1. The Centre for Health Protection stepped up surveillance and began probing the source of the infection.

The boy's close contacts were traced and placed under quarantine. No further avian flu case was detected during the three weeks of strengthened surveillance and the case was classified as an imported sporadic infection. The boy is now in serious condition.

The alert response level was activated in view of the ongoing activities of HPAI among poultry outside Hong Kong.

Source: Hong Kong’s Information Services Department

Major HPAI outbreak hits Mexican poultry state


//27 Jun 2012
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) has been found on three commercial poultry farms in the Mexican state of Jalisco, according to a report submitted to the OIE.
In total over one million birds have been found susceptible across the three farms with over 200,000 deaths and 60,000 birds have been destroyed.

According to the report, clinical signs were determined on 13th June. The birds, aged 32, 72, 75, 84 and 94 weeks old showed signs of gasping, depression, lethargy, drooping wings, prostration, fever and death. Epidemiological investigation is on-going to establish the extent of the problem and the source of infection in order to implement additional measures to rapidly resolve the problem. The source of the outbreak or origin of infection is as yet unknown.

Officials have also limited poultry movements near the outbreak area and are testing birds at commercial farms, backyard flocks, and poultry markets. They are also assessing biosecurity practices and overseeing depopulation efforts at the affected farms, according to the OIE report.

Jalisco state, in western Mexico, is the country's top egg producer.

Russia releases report on ongoing ASF outbreaks

//26 Jun 2012
Rosselkhoznadzor reports a new outbreak of ASF has been registered in the Volgograd region of Southern Russia, near the border with Kazakhstan.
"On June 19 a new case of ASF was diagnosed in the village of Dolgi Pokrovsky in the Leninsky district of Volgograd region. Three dead animals were found on two private farms. In the first threatened with ASF zone (20 km) a total of 158 pigs will be culled. The farmers will receive the compensation of 1 mln rubles (US$ 33,000)" the report says.
This is the fourth outbreak of the dangerous disease in the region since the beginning of the year. In three districts of Volgograd Region within the quarantine measures more than 2,000 pigs have been culled due to the previous outbreaks. The total amount of compensation paid to the farmers run up to 11 million rubles (US$ 366,000), reported the department of agriculture for the region.
According to representatives of Rosselkhoznadzor the main reason for the spread of ASF in the Volgograd region us due to the negligence of veterinary services of the region.
"After confirming of the diagnosis ASF [after the previous outbreak] full time security and quarantine police or military posts on all roads leading to the outbreak areas should have been established. However, such activities were not been implemented in the five localities. Even now, anyone could easily transport sick animals out of there." says in the official statement of Rosselkhoznadzor.
Source: Vladislav Vorotnikov
click here for the Rosselkhoznadzor statement
For all ASF articles in Pig Progress click here

24 June 2012

Polled US consumers will pay more for antibiotics-free meat


//22 Jun 2012
The majority of Americans want their meat to be raised without antibiotics, a recent poll by Consumer Reports has revealed.
Of those polled 8% of consumers indicated that meat raised without antibiotics should be available in their local supermarket. More than 60% said they would be willing to pay at least five cents a pound more for meat raised without antibiotics. More than a third (37%) would pay a dollar or more extra per pound.

Overuse of antibiotics
The majority of respondents (72%) were extremely or very concerned about the overuse of antibiotics in animal feed, including the potential to create "superbugs" that are immune or resistant to antibiotics. More than 60% were just as concerned with the overuse of antibiotics in animal feed allowing them to be raised in unsanitary and crowded conditions for livestock, human consumption of antibiotic residue, and environmental effects due to agricultural runoff containing antibiotics.

The poll was part of a report, "Meat On Drugs: The Overuse of Antibiotics in Food Animals and What Supermarkets and Consumers Can Do to Stop It."

Secret shoppers
Consumer Reports sent "secret shoppers" out to 136 supermarkets in 23 states, including at least five stores belonging to each of the 13 largest (by sales) supermarket chains stores in the country to see whether and to what degree those stores offer meat and poultry raised without antibiotics. We also conducted additional label research. The shoppers found wide differences among the stores - from Whole Foods, where all meat and poultry sold is raised without antibiotics, to Sam's Club, Food 4 Less, Food Lion, and Save-A-Lot, where they could not locate such products at the stores visited.

Campaign
Consumers Union, the public policy and advocacy arm of Consumer Reports, has simultaneously launched a new marketplace campaign, urging supermarkets to sell only meat raised without antibiotics - starting with Trader Joe's, one of the leading national chains best poised to make this commitment. It also sent a letter to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) asking it to tighten labelling standards for meat raised without antibiotics.

The report is available online at www.ConsumerReports.org

21 June 2012

US shoppers say no to antibiotics in meat


//21 Jun 2012
A poll has shown that the majority of Americans want the meat sold in their local supermarkets to be raised without antibiotics.
The poll was carried out by Consumer Reports.

Key findings
Of those polled 8% of consumers indicated that meat raised without antibiotics should be available in their local supermarket.

More than 60% said they would be willing to pay at least five cents a pound more for meat raised without antibiotics. More than a third (37%) would pay a dollar or more extra per pound.
The majority of respondents (72%) were extremely or very concerned about the overuse of antibiotics in animal feed, including the potential to create "superbugs" that are immune or resistant to antibiotics. More than 60% were just as concerned with the overuse of antibiotics in animal feed allowing them to be raised in unsanitary and crowded conditions for livestock, human consumption of antibiotic residue, and environmental effects due to agricultural runoff containing antibiotics.

The poll was part of a report, "Meat On Drugs: The Overuse of Antibiotics in Food Animals and What Supermarkets and Consumers Can Do to Stop It."

Secret shoppers
Consumer Reports sent "secret shoppers" out to 136 supermarkets in 23states, including at least five stores belonging to each of the 13 largest (by sales) supermarket chains stores in the country to see whether and to what degree those stores offer meat and poultry raised without antibiotics. We also conducted additional label research. The shoppers found wide differences among the stores--from Whole Foods, where all meat and poultry sold is raised without antibiotics, to Sam's Club, Food 4 Less, Food Lion, and Save-A-Lot, where they could not locate such products at the stores visited.

Campaign
Consumers Union, the public policy and advocacy arm of Consumer Reports, has simultaneously launched a new marketplace campaign, urging supermarkets to sell only meat raised without antibiotics - starting with Trader Joe's, one of the leading national chains best poised to make this commitment. It also sent a letter to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) asking it to tighten labelling standards for meat raised without antibiotics.

The report is available online at www.ConsumerReports.org

20 June 2012

NPPC: Pork producers should prepare for loss of all antibiotic growth promoters


//20 Jun 2012
According to Dr Liz Wagstrom, chief veterinarian at the US National Pork Producers Council (NPPC), all antibiotic growth promoters that are also used in human medicine will disappear.
“We are expecting that in the next 3-5 years the pork industry will lose growth promotion labels for most of the antibiotics used in swine medicine,” Dr Wagstrom said in a recent interview at the World Pork Expo in Iowa.

Dr Wagstrom was commenting on Guidance 209, issued by the FDA last April.

Under the new FDA guidelines, antibiotics should be used ‘judiciously’, or in other words, when necessary to keep animals healthy. The agency also wants to require a vet to prescribe the antibiotics – nowadays they can still be purchased over the counter by animal farmers.

The draft recommendations by the FDA are not binding, and that is why the agency is asking pharmaceutical companies now to voluntarily put the proposed limits in place. They would need to adjust the labelling of their antibiotics to remove so-called production uses of the antibiotics.

“Voluntary is relative,” commented Wagstrom. “If these companies do not voluntarily act, then the FDA will take additional action. Companies know that, that’s why they will comply. I have no doubt that we will lose all antibiotic growth promoters that are also used in human medicine.”

Novartis
Four antibiotics are not used in human medicine and will therefore continue to be available, among which carbadox and tiamulin. Nevertheless, Novartis, producer of tiamulin, Novartis, has already voluntarily withdrawn its claim for growth promoting effects, last May.

Wagstrom said she acknowledges that the use of antibiotics will imply ‘a selection for resistance’. “In theory this might lead to a problem in pathology for humans. But peer-reviewed papers state that the risk is so small. And wouldn’t there be more risk if the food would now contain Campylobacter or Salmonella? It is a complex topic.”

18 June 2012

Chicken strong in Brazilian meat production forecast

//18 Jun 2012
Brazilian meat production, buoyed by chicken meat growth will increase by 10.9 million tonnes over the next 10 years according to a study conducted by the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture and Embrapa.
Chicken, with an annual growth projected to be 4.2%, is expected to have the highest rate of growth in production between 2011/2012 to 2021/2022, followed by beef, with growth estimated at 2.1% per year. Pork is expected to have a growth rate of 2% per year.
The projections also show a growing preference among Brazilian consumers for chicken meat. The increase projected for the next 10 years is 2.7% per year, equating to a domestic consumption of 12.8 million tonnes of chicken meat and 9.4 million tonnes for beef.
The study also forecasts a favourable environment for Brazilian exports, especially for meat, poultry and pigs. The most dynamic products in agribusiness should be cotton, soybeans, chicken, sugar, corn and cellulose, which show the greatest potential for export growth over the next 10 years.
The forecasts for increases in production, consumption and trade are contained in the "Agribusiness Projections 2011/2012 to 2020/2021" report conducted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (MAPA), conducted in partnership with the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa).

Insects as animal feed commodity appears feasible

//18 Jun 2012
Because insects can turn low-grade biomass, such as all kinds of rest and by-products, into high-quality protein, they can be an interesting link in the feed chain and partly answer to the rising global demand for protein.
Wageningen University in The Netherlands early June conducted a workshop on the use of insects as feed ingredient. Main purpose of this meeting was to identify opportunities and obstacles to the widespread use of insects as a sustainable feed ingredient.
 
Approximately 50 participants, including insect breeders, feed companies, waste processors, risk assessors, researchers and others discussed the subject in Impulse, a new multipurpose facility on the campus of Wageningen University.
 
Gert van Duinkerken, chairman and head of the Animal Nutrition of Wageningen UR Livestock Research department, conducted a "final measurement" at the end of the meeting.
 
This showed that the participants almost unanimously believe that it is feasible to use insects on a large scale as a feed ingredient. Opinions varied about the time that this may become reality: already within 5 years or longer.
 
General expectation is that the use of insects as feedstock in the fish feed is closest to reality, and also in pet food.
 
However, there are real opportunities for the use of insects in poultry and swine.
 
Legal obstacles
The main obstacles that have to be removed are found in the field of legislation and regulations and in the speed of scaling up insect production and how cost reductions can be achieved.
 
The workshop is part of a feasibility study funded by the Dutch Ministry of Economics, Agriculture & Innovation and carried out by Wageningen UR Livestock Research and research groups "Product Design and Quality Management", "Animal Nutrition" and "Entomology" at Wageningen University. The final report of this is expected in late summer.
 
Insects can be applied not only in the fields of "feed", but also in the "food" and "pharmaceutical" area.
 
Early May in a workshop of the Insect Centre was thought about such uses of insects. Also in that meeting opportunities for developing new channels in which insects could be used as innovative links, were discussed.
 
The Insect Centre is a network connecting parties who wish to contribute to the successful introduction of insects in feed, food and pharmaceuticals. The aim is to gain a collaborative momentum that is greater than the single efforts of the contributing parties.

17 June 2012

Antibiotics regulation needs scientific input, urges ag coalition


//15 Jun 2012
A coalition of agricultural organisations have written to a US congresswoman who is seeking to restrict severely antibiotic use in livestock and poultry production, pointing out the stringent federal approval process and regulation of antibiotics, the lack of human health risks from their judicious use in livestock production and the benefits they offer in food animal production.
Members of the coalition include the American Farm Bureau Federation, American Feed Industry Association, American Meat Institute, Animal Health Institute, American Veterinary Medical Association, National Cattleman’s Beef Association, National Chicken Council, National Milk Producers Federation, National Pork Producers Council, National Meat Association and National Turkey Federation.

Rep. Louise Slaughter, D-N.Y, who is the primary author of the “Preservation of Antibiotics for Medical Treatment Act” (H.R. 965), which seeks to ban the use in livestock and poultry production of several classes of antibiotics employed for preventing and controlling diseases and for promoting nutritional efficiency, asked food companies to submit to her by June 15 their purchasing policies related to antibiotic use in food animals.

“Antibiotic used in veterinary medicine are reviewed and approved by the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA),” the coalition stated in its letter. For animal antibiotics, the safety assessment is more stringent than that for human antibiotics in three ways: 1) If there are risks to humans, FDA will not approve the antibiotic for animals; 2) FDA requires a food safety assessment to ensure meat is safe; and 3) FDA studies the pharmaceutical thoroughly to guarantee it does not increase the risk of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in food. The coalition further explained that FDA recently issued new regulations that effectively prohibit the use in food animals of “medically important” antibiotics for improving nutritional efficiency. The rules also ensure veterinarians will be involved in overseeing all uses of these products.

The coalition cited several published, peer-reviewed risk assessments showing any threat to human health from antibiotic use in livestock and poultry production is negligible, and pointed out many of the bacterial illnesses becoming resistant to antibiotics in human medicine have little or no link to antibiotic use in food animals.

Finally, the coalition cited some of the benefits of judicious antibiotic use in livestock and poultry. “The careful use of antibiotics to keep animals in top health is an important first step in providing the safest possible meat supply,” the letter said.

“All public health professionals, including veterinarians, are serious about reducing the risks of antibiotic resistance and are working to minimize those risks,” they wrote. “It is vital that public policy decisions about the use of these products be made on the basis of science and risk assessment.”

When it comes to their use in livestock and poultry production, concluded the coalition, “The research is clear that the contribution of using antibiotics in food-animal production to the human burden of antibiotic resistance is quite small, if it exists at all.”

Egypt produces new bird flu vaccine


//15 Jun 2012
Egypt, which has the highest number of deaths due to bird flu globally, is to produce its first vaccine to combat the virus, the National Research Centre (NRC) in Cairo has announced.
Since H5N1 first hit Egypt in February 2006, 60 million birds have been officially culled and the costs of poultry production have continuously risen.

The Government has been importing vaccines at high prices to fight this national problem but a locally produced vaccine will be available in the local market at LE305 (about $60) for 100 doses.

The scientists stressed that the vaccine produced by the NRC research team has proved its effectiveness, reaching 95%. Due to the type of virus hitting poultry in Egypt and the vaccine being produced outside the local environment, the imported vaccine achieved an efficacy rate ranging from 20-25%.

Dr Ashraf Shaalan, stressed that the vaccine produced by the Egyptian research team is appropriate for the type of virus hitting local poultry and could be updated to meet the modification of the virus, according to its genetic properties.

He remarked that the new vaccine was produced by a technology based on genetic engineering to improve the immunity of local birds against the virus, if carried by migrating birds. Dr Shaalan noted that the vaccine has been patented and recorded at the world genetic bank.

Two contractors have been signed to manufacture the vaccine on an industrial scale: Vaccine Veterinary Institute affiliated to the Ministry of Agriculture and the private company Me Vac.

The State has also agreed to pay more attention to scientific research following a long period of neglect of the demands of the sector.

12 June 2012

IPVS 2012: Pig Management Award for Sureemas Nitikanchana


//13 Jun 2012
The winner of the fifth Pig Management Award is Sureemas Nitikanchana, Kansas State University, USA, for her meta-analysis comparing dry and wet-dry feeders.
The prize was awarded during an event organised by Elanco Animal Health, taking place during the International Pig Veterinary Society (IPVS) Congress, at Jeju Island, South Korea.

An international and unbiased jury picked the presentation from a shortlist of 13 non-commercial management papers, presented at the Congress. A group photo of some contenders is published below. The winning paper was co-authored by S.S. Dritz, M.D. Tokach, R.D. Goodband, J.M. Derouchy and J.L. Nielsen.

Meta-analysis
The study aimed to perform a meta-analysis of available studies to evaluate the influence of wet-dry feeders on growth performance, carcass traits and water usage. Nitikanchana concluded that the use of wet-dry feeders in growing-finishing pigs can be beneficial in growth performance and water usage.

Pig Management Award
The Pig Management Award, as defined by Elanco Animal Health, is 'meant to recognise excellent science in pig management. The papers have to meet certain evaluation criteria, like that it has to apply globally; all farm sizes can implement practices outlined; there is a significant impact at farm level; information presented is clearly understood; and the paper addresses an industry need.

The long list consisted of 122 submitted abstracts.

Surprise
Nitikanchana, who received a sculpture created in the Netherlands, said she was very surprised to have won the prize as commonly not a lot of people dive into this subject. "My colleagues at K-State however always told me I was going to bring home the prize," she said.

Related websites:
• IPVS 2012
• Elanco Animal Health

CPF to invest 101.3 million on green conversion

//12 Jun 2012 Charoen Pokphand Foods Plc (CPF), has announced that it will be spending a total of 4 billion baht (€101.3 million) to turn all of its 323 operations green within the next 3-5 years. The move is partly addressed to rising demand by consumers for better food safety and the alleviation of environmental concerns and it is also to comply with global requirements especially in the EU, which is expected to enforce carbon labelling and footprint requirements in the coming years. Adirek Sripratak, CPF president and CEO, says 122 units of 37.8% now use green energy, such as cogeneration orbiomass or make products that have a low carbon footprint. CPF has spent 3 billion baht in the first phase begun a few years ago and will need another billion to make the other 201 subsidiaries compliant for which he says, CPF's 282 farms, 17 feedmills and 24 food production units will follow CP's green practices in the next 3-5 years. To date, more than 100 individual CPF products have received the carbon footprint label.

Japan's piggeries expanding to Vietnam?

//12 Jun 2012 Japanese firms are eyeing mergers & acquisitions across Vietnam. Deals with Vietnamese firms rose 80%, placing the country fifth in Asia, above Malaysia (17th) and Thailand (12th), Vetnamnet reports. "Japan's decreasing domestic demand based on population decline is not a short-term phenomenon, as so many companies are eager to expand to areas where population and economic growth can be expected," says Onji Yoshimitsu, CEO of Japan's RECOF Corporation. And this is why Japanese companies have been highly interested in doing Mergers & Aquisition deals in Asia, particularly Vietnam, looking at the country as both a growth market and production base. Of the 12 countries considered possible investment destinations through M&A - Brasil, Russia, India, China, Vietnam, Indonesia, South Africa, Argentina, Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore - Vietnam ranking third with more than 30%, behind only China over 60% and India over 40%. The top deals in terms of value were the investments of US $544 million by Mizuho Corporate Bank in Vietcombank, $338 million by Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp in the Vietnam Export Bank, and $125 million in Interflour Vietnam, a food company

11 June 2012

Excess DDGS not cause of mulberry heart disease in pigs

//11 Jun 2012 Since DDGS is a relatively new feed ingredient being added to swine diets in large quantities (30 -40%), it’s become an easy target to blame for a variety of evolving pig health and performance problems. DDGS use has dramatically increased over the past 10 years, predominantly because of rapid increases in supply and availability, as well as an opportunity to substantially reduce diet cost by replacing some of the corn, soybean meal and inorganic phosphate in swine diets. During the past few years, swine veterinarians have reported observations of what some perceive as an increasing trend of mulberry heart disease (MHD) in nursery pigs. MHD is a classic nutrient-deficiency disease caused by inadequate vitamin E and/or selenium in swine diets. It most commonly causes sudden death of fast-growing nursery pigs within a few weeks after weaning. However, there are no published data indicating that MHD is increasing in US swine herds, nor are there any clear trends from University of Minnesota and Iowa State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory reports over the past five years. But that does not mean it is or is not a concern and why is DDGS being targeted? Lipid peroxidation and sulphur Recent University of Minnesota research evaluated the level of lipid peroxidation and sulphur in DDGS sources from 31 ethanol plants across the Midwest. The sulphur concentration and lipid peroxidation levels varied widely among sources, but on average, DDGS had much greater levels of both oxidized lipids and sulphur compared to a corn reference sample. It’s well known that DDGS contains high levels of linoleic acid, a long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid that’s easily oxidized. Several published research studies have shown that feeding oxidized fats or oils to pigs reduces growth performance. Therefore, when the pig’s antioxidant capacity is diminished by feeding diets high in oxidized lipids or polyunsaturated fats, there may be an increased need to supplement antioxidants, such as vitamin E. Finally, sulphur has been shown to interfere with selenium utilization, which could further reduce the pigs’ metabolic oxidation status. Vitamin E effect DDGS is not a factor, but supplemental Vitamin E is. Feeding DDGS to pigs did not change the serum vitamin E concentration of pigs in the nursery, but adding 5x the vitamin E requirement did improve antioxidant status (vitamin E) in the late-nursery period. Regardless, high DDGS levels can be fed to pigs and sows without the risk of developing MHD or reducing pigs’ antioxidant status post-weaning. Feeding DDGS appears to improve the pig’s metabolic oxidation status, because sulphur is an integral component of glutathione, and the increased levels of these sulphur-containing antioxidants likely counteracted or masked any effect of oxidized lipids in the DDGS diets, leading to a sparing effect on vitamin E.

10 June 2012

H5N1 reported in North West China


//08 Jun 2012
An outbreak of H5N1 in poultry has been reported in China's northwestern Gansu province, the country’s Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) has announced.
More than 6,200 chickens at a farm in Jingtai county showed symptoms of suspected avian flu and 260 of them have died, according to the MOA.

The National Avian Influenza Reference Laboratory confirmed the epidemic was H5N1 bird flu after testing samples collected at the farm, the MOA said.

A report submitted to the OIE confirms that local authorities have sealed off and sterilized the infected area, where a total of 18,460 chickens have been culled and safely disposed of in order to prevent the disease from spreading.

A team has been dispatched by the ministry to the quarantined area to guide epidemic prevention and monitoring.

Source: Xinhua / OIE

08 June 2012

Some antibiotic growth promoters will disappear, says NPPC vet


//07 Jun 2012
The latest guidances on antimicrobial use by the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) will most likely lead to a disappearance of certain antibiotic growth promoters from the US market.
Dr Liz Wagstrom, chief veterinarian at the US National Pork Producers Council (NPPC), commented at the World Pork Expo on Guidance 209, issued by the FDA last April.

Under the new FDA guidelines, antibiotics should be used ‘judiciously’, or in other words, when necessary to keep animals healthy. The agency also wants to require a vet to prescribe the antibiotics – nowadays they can still be purchased over the counter by animal farmers.

The draft recommendations by the FDA are not binding, and that is why the agency is asking pharmaceutical companies now to voluntarily put the proposed limits in place. They would need to adjust the labelling of their antibiotics to remove so-called production uses of the antibiotics.

“Voluntary is relative,” commented Wagstrom. “If these companies do not voluntarily act, then the FDA will take additional action. Companies know that, that’s why they will comply. I have no doubt that we will lose all antibiotic growth promoters that are also used in human medicine.”

Novartis
Four antibiotics are not used in human medicine and will therefore continue to be available, among which carbadox and tiamulin. Nevertheless, Novartis, producer of tiamulin, Novartis, has already voluntarily withdrawn its claim for growth promoting effects, last May.

Wagstrom said she acknowledges that the use of antibiotics will imply ‘a selection for resistance’. “In theory this might lead to a problem in pathology for humans. But peer-reviewed papers state that the risk is so small. And wouldn’t there be more risk if the food would now contain Campylobacter or Salmonella? It is a complex topic.”

Related websites:
• Food & Drug Administation
• Novartis
• World Pork Expo
• National Pork Producers Council (NPPC)

New York judge orders FDA to act on animal antibiotics


//07 Jun 2012
A federal judge in the US has ordered the Food and Drug Administration to evaluate the safety risks to human health associated with the widespread use of antibiotics in food-producing animals, saying the agency has done "shockingly little" since proposing in the 1970s to order a substantial reduction in the use of antibiotics in animal feed.
US Magistrate Judge Theodore Katz in Manhattan issued the order in a ruling filed earlier this week.

The decision largely agreed with the arguments of several health and consumer organizations that sued last year, saying the FDA violated federal law by failing to withdraw approval of using penicillin and tetracyclines in animal feed when animal health is not at stake.

Katz said the agency must evaluate the safety risks of the drugs and make a finding that they are unsafe or explain why it is refusing to do so.

He rejected the agency's argument that it had addressed the threat from antibiotics by initiating a voluntary program that encourages the industry to use the drugs "judiciously" because public hearings would consume extensive periods of time and agency resources.

The magistrate judge criticized the agency's complaint that the process mandated by Congress to address when a drug is found to be unsafe was not effective because it takes too long, saying it was it was ironic for the agency to make that complaint since hearings would have long been completed had they commenced in a timely fashion.

Government lawyers already are appealing a March ruling by Katz in which he required the FDA to withdraw approval for uses of the antibiotics that the industry cannot prove are safe.

They have asked Katz and the 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals to suspend the effect of his rulings, saying "the unnecessary expenditure of public funds and resources is not in the public interest," especially since the agency is trying through its voluntary program to limit the use of 161 antibiotic drugs rather than the several at stake in the litigation.

They added that staging hearings would force the FDA to divert resources from other agency programs that are important to its public health mission and could take years.

The FDA declined to comment, citing the ongoing litigation.

Some antibiotic growth promoters will disappear, says NPPC vet


//07 Jun 2012
The latest guidances on antimicrobial use by the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) will most likely lead to a disappearance of certain antibiotic growth promoters from the US market.
Dr Liz Wagstrom, chief veterinarian at the US National Pork Producers Council (NPPC), commented at the World Pork Expo on Guidance 209, issued by the FDA last April.

Under the new FDA guidelines, antibiotics should be used ‘judiciously’, or in other words, when necessary to keep animals healthy. The agency also wants to require a vet to prescribe the antibiotics – nowadays they can still be purchased over the counter by animal farmers.

The draft recommendations by the FDA are not binding, and that is why the agency is asking pharmaceutical companies now to voluntarily put the proposed limits in place. They would need to adjust the labelling of their antibiotics to remove so-called production uses of the antibiotics.

“Voluntary is relative,” commented Wagstrom. “If these companies do not voluntarily act, then the FDA will take additional action. Companies know that, that’s why they will comply. I have no doubt that we will lose all antibiotic growth promoters that are also used in human medicine.”

Novartis
Four antibiotics are not used in human medicine and will therefore continue to be available, among which carbadox and tiamulin. Nevertheless, Novartis, producer of tiamulin, Novartis, has already voluntarily withdrawn its claim for growth promoting effects, last May.

Wagstrom said she acknowledges that the use of antibiotics will imply ‘a selection for resistance’. “In theory this might lead to a problem in pathology for humans. But peer-reviewed papers state that the risk is so small. And wouldn’t there be more risk if the food would now contain Campylobacter or Salmonella? It is a complex topic.”

Related websites:
• Food & Drug Administation
• Novartis
• World Pork Expo
• National Pork Producers Council (NPPC)

06 June 2012

Avian Influenza found at large poultry facility in Russia


//06 Jun 2012
Avian influenza has recently been identified during the study of pathological material, selected from major Russian poultry producer company, Amur broiler, the Russian Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance, Rosselkhoznadzor, has stated.
The virus was identified as low pathogenic avian influenza type A subtype H9. According to preliminary expert estimations the virus came from China.

"There is reason to suppose that among poultry stock in the facility [of Amur Broiler] an infectious process caused by the specified agent of bird flu is taking place. When low pathogenic virus is circulating among non-immune poultry stock, its pathogenicity could increase” stated Rosselkhoznadzor in an official statement.

Rosselkhoznadzor has said it considers it necessary to warn of a possible outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza and actions in accordance with the current regulations for the prevention and elimination of avian influenza must be enforced.

In April, an Amur broiler facility suffered mass scale mortality of poultry. About seven thousand heads of poultry died, reportedly due to mycotoxins that were found in the forage, but the Veterinary Service specialists have subsequently refuted this claim.

Source: Vladislav Vorotnikov

Bird flu boy in China is isolated case


//06 Jun 2012
The chances of a major bird flu outbreak in China is slim as all of the contacts of a 2-year-old boy who tested positive for the H5N1 strain of avian influenza recently were either asymptomatic or tested negative for bird flu, authorities of the special administrative region and Guangdong province have said.
The boy, who is being kept isolated in the pediatric intensive care unit, is still in serious condition after a week of treatment in Hong Kong. It is the city's first human case of bird flu in 18 months. The boy is thought to have been infected with the deadly virus during his visit to a wet market in Guangzhou last month.

Hong Kong kept the bird flu alert level at "serious" after raising it on Friday, and stricter visiting restrictions were imposed in the city's public hospitals.

Imports and sales of poultry have continued as usual – unlike in December, when an infected live chicken was found. Samples collected from 30 local chicken farms on Sunday all tested negative for bird flu, a spokesperson from the city's agriculture, fisheries and conservation department said.

York Chow Yat-ngok, secretary for food and health, assured the public that it was an "isolated" case and the city is well guarded against all types of infectious diseases.

The boy, who lives with his parents and maternal grandmother in the Haizhu district of Guangzhou, had visited a wet market on Nanyuan Street in mid May where his mother had bought a live duck. However, the source of the infection can not be determined because the duck had been eaten and too much time has passed since the boy was infected.

Source: The Jakarta Post/China Daily

Treating poultry diseases without antibiotics


//05 Jun 2012
Identifying antimicrobial proteins in chickens that kill pathogens is one method being used by US Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientists to find alternatives to the use of antibiotics to control infectious poultry diseases.
Each year, poultry diseases such as coccidiosis cause losses of more than $600 million in the United States and $3.2 billion worldwide.

Molecular biologist Hyun Lillehoj, at the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Henry A. Wallace Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC) in Beltsville, Maryland, has dedicated her career to discovering how to produce poultry without using drugs.

Her research includes enhancing innate immunity through genetics, and examining molecules produced by birds in response to enteric or intestinal pathogens.

Immune molecules
Some molecules are host antimicrobial proteins that can kill pathogens, improve immune responses and promote the growth of beneficial gut bacterial populations in poultry, according to Lillehoj, who works in the ARS Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory at BARC.

She and her colleagues have identified one such immune molecule, called NK lysin.

Lillehoj and her colleagues demonstrated for the first time that NK lysin kills chicken coccidia.

They also showed that this antimicrobial protein or host defence molecule is effective against other parasites such as Neospora and Cryptosporidia, which infect livestock and humans, respectively.

One commercial company is looking at the possibility of developing NK lysin into a product that can be used to kill intestinal parasites in chicken.

Necrotic enteritis
Lillehoj also is studying enteric bacterial infections caused by Clostridium, a pathogen associated with necrotic enteritis in poultry. She is using a similar molecular technology to develop alternatives to treat this disease.

Working with industry, international partners and other scientists, Lillehoj has discovered other options to antibiotic use in poultry.

Phytochemicals derived from peppers, plums, safflower, green tea and other plants have been shown to be effective in enhancing the immune system of chickens.

Also, the beneficial effects of probiotics, which are live, nonpathogenic bacteria that promote health and balance of the intestinal tract microbiota, have been demonstrated in past research.

Source: ARS Sandra Avant

05 June 2012

H5N1 death in Cambodia leads to HPAI discovery

//04 Jun 2012 Following the death of a 13-year old girl in the village of Pring from H5N1 on 26 May 2012, an investigative team from the Department of Animal Health was sent to village to sample the local chickens and ducks. Tests confirmed some samples were positive for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1. The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) received a report from Dr Sen Sovann of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in Phnom Penh that real-time PCR showed positive for the H5N1 virus, and that standard control measures are being applied. To date, 740 local chickens and ducks have been destroyed from a susceptible population of 1,304. The village Pring, is in the southern province (khaet)of Kampong Speu, Cambodia. The epidemic is on-going, and the source of the infection is unknown. The OIE will issue weekly follow-up reports.

Pressure mounts in US/Mexico poultry dumping case

//04 Jun 2012 A bipartisan group of 49 congressmen have written to US Trade Representative Ron Kirk expressing their strong concern about the antidumping duties Mexico has preliminarily assigned to US chicken leg quarters, ranging from 64% to 129%. Although these duties have not yet been applied in final form, under Mexican law, a final decision will have to be reached by mid-August. “The Mexican antidumping action, when finalised, will severely damage the US poultry industry and the market access provided under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA),” the letter said. Early in 2011, Mexican poultry companies petitioned the Mexican government to begin an anti-dumping investigation of imports of chicken leg quarters from the United States, claiming that US companies were exporting chicken leg quarters to Mexico at below-market prices. This week’s letter to Ambassador Kirk pointed out that Mexico has used a calculation that is unacceptable to the World Trade Organization (WTO) to determine if US chicken leg quarters are “dumped” onto the Mexican market. Using the “average cost of production” assumes that every part of the chicken should be priced at least at this cost. “This assumption is flawed, discriminates against US producers, and concerns us as members from poultry producing districts,” the letter said. “US companies submitted their costs of production information using a value-based cost accounting method–a method well established and recognised by the poultry industry worldwide as a reasonable basis to calculate costs.” Value-based cost accounting is used by US, Mexican and other chicken producers; is consistent with Mexican financial reporting standards; is consistent with the generally accepted accounting principles in both the United States and Mexico; and reasonably reflects the costs of production of US poultry, the letter said. “Given those facts, under the WTO Antidumping Agreement, Mexico may not disregard the costs of production reported in this case and use average costs instead.” Mexico is the United States most important poultry market, with over 250,000 metric tonnes imported in 2011, valued at over $275 million. “As the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations continue, we urge you to resolve this situation as promptly as possible and ensure that Mexico honors its commitments under NAFTA and the WTO,” the letter concluded. On April 2, a bipartisan group of 16 senators sent a similar letter to Ambassador Kirk urging the termination of Mexico’s anti-dumping duties. Source: National Chicken Council

04 June 2012

Pork prices in China stabilising


//04 Jun 2012
After months of continuous decline, Chinese pork prices appear to be stabilising, according to statistical analysis carried out by the Xinhua News Agency.
China’s pork prices started to fall with the start of the Spring Festival (23January 2012), when farmers, who had increased their stocks last year when prices were high, now brought abundant supply to the market, driving prices down.

The government announced that it would buy frozen pork in order to stop the price plunge, and to increase national reserves.

Statistics showed that prices have been steadying since mid-May and even registered an increase of 0.1% on Sunday.

US develops robot to automate poultry deboning process



//01 Jun 2012
Researchers at the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) have developed a prototype system that uses advanced imaging technology and a robotic cutting arm to automatically debone chicken and other poultry products.
The Intelligent Cutting and Deboning System employs a 3-D vision system that determines where to cut a particular bird. The device automatically performs precision cuts that optimise yield, while also greatly reducing the risk of bone fragments in the finished product.

“Each bird is unique in its size and shape," said Gary McMurray, chief of GTRI's Food Processing Technology Division. "So we have developed the sensing and actuation needed to allow an automated deboning system to adapt to the individual bird, as opposed to forcing the bird to conform to the machine.”

Poultry is Georgia's top agricultural product, with an estimated annual economic impact of nearly $20 billion statewide. Helping the poultry industry maximise its return on every flock can translate to important dividends. The research is funded by the state of Georgia through the Agricultural Technology Research Program at GTRI.


Gary McMurray, chief of GTRI's food processing technology division, with the Intelligent Cutting and Deboning System

3-D measurements
Under the Intelligent Cutting and Deboning System, a bird is positioned in front of the vision system prior to making a cut, explained GTRI research engineer Michael Matthews. The vision system works by making 3-D measurements of various location points on the outside of the bird. Then, using these points as inputs, custom algorithms define a proper cut by estimating the positions of internal structures such as bones and ligaments.
"Our statistics research shows that our external measurements correlate very well to the internal structure of the birds, and therefore will transition to ideal cutting paths," Matthews said. "In our prototype device, everything is registered to calibrated reference frames, allowing us to handle all cut geometries and to precisely align the bird and the cutting robot. Being able to test all possible cut geometries should enable us to design a smaller and more simplified final system."

Simple planar cuts
The prototype uses a fixed two-degree-of-freedom cutting robot for making simple planar cuts. The bird is mounted on a six-degree-of-freedom robot arm that allows alignment of the bird and cutting robot to any desired position. The robot arm places the bird under the vision system, and then it moves the bird with respect to the cutting robot.

McMurray said he expects the Intelligent Deboning System to match or exceed the efficiency of the manual process. Testing of the deboning prototype system, including cutting experiments, has confirmed the system’s ability to recognise bone during a cut and to avoid bone chips – thus demonstrating the validity of GTRI’s approach.

“There are some very major factors in play in this project,” McMurray said. “Our automated deboning technology can promote food safety, since bone chips are a hazard in boneless breast fillets. But it can also increase yield, which is significant because every 1% loss of breast meat represents about $2.5 million to each of Georgia’s 20 poultry processing plants.”

Source: Georgia Tech