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29 March 2012

Pfizer invests in 331 veterinarian students


//29 Mar 2012
For the third consecutive year, Pfizer Animal Health and the American Veterinary Medical Foundation (AVMF) have announced the recipients of this year’s student scholarship programme in the United States and the Caribbean.
The animal health company awarded $2,500 each to 331 second- and third-year veterinary students at accredited universities throughout the United States and the Caribbean, for a total of $827,500.

A total of 1,582 students applied for the scholarship. Students were chosen based on several criteria, including academic excellence, professional interests (small animal, large, mixed, research, academia, etc.), financial need, diversity, leadership and potential for contribution to the veterinary profession.

Of the total group of 2012 scholars, 31% are students from diverse backgrounds, 47% are studying to practice food and mixed animal veterinary medicine, 28% will go into small animal practice, 8% will enter academia (research and clinical) and the remainder will go into other areas, such as public health, lab animal medicine and poultry.

Related websites:
• Pfizer Animal Health
• American Veterinary Medical Foundation

Five large poultry complexes planned in Kazakhstan


//29 Mar 2012
Israeli company, MAD Corporation, plans to build five large poultry farms worth 16 billion tenge (US $ 108 mln) in North Kazakhstan, under a new innovation project.
The new project, which will focus on the construction of broiler breeders’ lines and plants for the production of premixes, will allow the country to significantly reduce the volume of poultry imports. "For example, the annual demand for chicken meat in Kazakhstan is estimated at more than 200 thousands tonnes, 100 thousands tonnes of which we import,” said the representatives of the regional authorities.

“There is no breeding material in the country, and imports are of a poor quality. Taking into account the fact we don’t have any high-quality vaccines for dangerous diseases there’s a lot of concerns about the security of the poultry production industry. Thus, we have a real need for such projects.”

It is assumed that the project will be implemented in three stages, over a course of four years. To construct the modern poultry houses, feed mills and pedigree, fives sites were selected in the Akkayynskom and Kyzylzharskom areas of the Northern Kazakhstan district.

The amount of poultry meat that will be produced in the new complexes has not yet been revealed, but according to preliminary expert estimates, this figure can vary from 50,000-70,000 tonnes, which would largely cover the needs of the whole of Kazakhstan in poultry meat.

Betagro to target pork markets in North Eastern Thailand


//29 Mar 2012
Thailand’s second-largest agribusiness company Betagro officially opened a new pork-processing facility in Khon Kaen last week – and this is only the beginning of a larger plan to target North Eastern Thailand.
Investment costs totalled 140 million baht (€3.4 million) and the facility has a capacity of 480 pigs per day.

The Khon Kaen plant was the fourth such facility after the plants in Lop Buri, Chiang Mai and Phatthalung. Although the plant has the capacity to process 480 pigs per day, it is initially handling 300 animals per day.

Most of the meat from the newly-opened plant is supplied to food processors, who turn it into white pork sausages and Chinese snacks, such as dried and crispy pork and dried shredded pork.

New regional offices
The group also plans to open three new regional offices in the North Eastern provinces of Bung Kan, Nakhon Ratchasima and Si Sa Ket, as well as unveiling six new Betagro shops in the region this year. This will give it 30 stores around the country.

Betagro has also set itself a goal of becoming Thailand’s leading pork exporter through its five-year business plan to achieve an integrated breeding cycle, including 140,000 great-grandparent pigs. This high-quality stock will enable the group to breed high-quality swine through grandparent and parent stock, he said.

The group also sees an opportunity to set up chicken-processing plants as well as a fishery business in Thailand’s North East.

Senior vice president Narongchai Srisantisaeng said the group is also looking for a suitable location in Yasothon, Amnat Charoen, Surin, Ubon Ratchathani or Si Sa Ket to set up another pork processing plant.

GGP pig supplies
The decision is mainly dependent on the GGP pig supply and labour factor in the region. The group expects that overall pig-processing capacity in Khon Kaen alone will reach 5,000-6,000 animals per day within the next six months.

Betagro’s business in North Eastern Thailand has grown rapidly from sales of 450 million baht (€11 million baht) ten years ago to 5.5 billion baht (€134 million) last year, which reflected the expanding economy and purchasing power of consumers.

Expansion
The company’s chief operating officer Vasit Taepaisitphongse said that said this year's expansion would increase the group's share of the country's pork business from the current 52% to 68%.

Related website:
Betagro www.betagro.com

26 March 2012

Singapore tests avian flu culler prophylactics


//23 Mar 2012
Singapore has successfully tested two new procedures in a mock cull designed to help protect chicken cullers from contracting bird flu.
Singapore’s Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) tested a foam decontamination procedure and their farm surveillance.
Codenamed Gallus VI, the exercise involved 200 AVA staff in a risk and procedural assessment in the event of an avian flu outbreak.
Foam detergent was sprayed on the cullers, then liquid detergent was added, which is more effective at removing detritus, germs and faeces from the cullers’ protective suits.
The surveillance exercise consisted of taking swaps from the cloacae and throats of chickens, while examining their combs for any blueness.
The exercise was successful, and the Singapore is considering buying additional foam detergent machines. This was the sixth in a series of avian flu risk assessment exercises that Singapore has conducted since 2008.

Newcastle disease found in turtle doves in Italy


//26 Mar 2012
In the Arezzo countryside, Newcastle disease has laid low hundreds of turtledoves, and there are fears that it could be spreading.
On the recommendations of animal veterinarians, markets have been closed and vets are urging vaccination of poultry farms to prevent the disease spreading to domestic fowls.

The local health authorities recommend vaccination for poultry farms and poultry and are surveying the countryside to see if there is any sign of further cases. They also recommend that farmers keep caged birds caged and separate from wild fowl.

The mayor of the town of Lucignano has, on the advice of the Arezzo veterinary service, banned the sale of poultry at the weekly market to prevent the unnecessary movement of birds. This ban applies to chickens as well as guineafowl, and a container has been put in place so that residents may dispose of their dead birds.

The OIE has not yet received an offical notice of the event.

United States to appeal WTO ruling on labelling


//26 Mar 2012
The United States have announced plans to appeal a World Trade Organization ruling against a law that requires country-of-origin labels (COOL) on all meat sold in US grocery stores.
The labels became mandatory in 2009 and requires grocers to put labels on cuts of beef, pork, lamb, chicken and ground meat or post signs that list the origin of the meat.

COOL provision
In November, a WTO panel ruled against the COOL provision of the law saying it violated technical barriers to trade. Canada and Mexico, which brought the case to the WTO, applauded the decision, arguing that shipments of cattle and hogs from those countries declined sharply after COOL went into effect.

Andrea Mead, a spokeswoman for the US Trade Representative's office, said the ruling last November confirmed the United States has the right to adopt mandatory COOL requirements to help consumers make informed purchasing decisions.

She said, "We were disappointed that the panel disagreed with the way that the United States designed its COOL requirements. Accordingly, we are challenging the panel's report before the WTO Appellate Body.”

Meat-packing plants
Many US meat-packing plants, especially those near the US-Canada border, either stopped accepting Canadian livestock or bought less due to the increased costs of segregating animals by domestic and foreign origin.

Both Canada and Mexico were are disappointed by the US move. Canadian agriculture minister Gerry Ritz responded to the US appeal: "The WTO panel decision recognised the integrated nature of the North American supply chain and marked a clear win for our industry. We are confident that the decision will be upheld so trade can move more freely, benefiting producers and processors on both sides of the border.”

Mexico's economy ministry said Friday that it would defend its interest in the appeal process.

Related website:
World Trade Organization (WTO)

25 March 2012

USA: Retail pork prices may rise due to group housing


//23 Mar 2012
Retail pork prices in the United States may be going up strongly as a result of the implementation of group housing for sows, experts say.
In a feature, provided by the Associated Press, experts explain their worries about the prices that will have to be paid for the move away from gestation crates.

The move to group pens requires building new barns and renovating old ones, more labour and more training for workers. Veterinary costs can go up because sows tend to fight and sometimes injure each other. Experts say at least some of those expenses are likely to be passed on in the price of ham, bacon, chops and sausage.

Major pork producers
Under pressure from animal rights activists and sensing a shift in consumer sentiment, several major pork producers have agreed to phase out gestation crates and switch to more open pens. Major pork buyer McDonald's recently announced its suppliers will have to stop using them as well.

Are consumers willing to pay for these changes? Blake Hurst, president of the Missouri Farm Bureau and former hog farmer was quoted to say: "We may as a society be in the process of deciding we're more than willing to pay those costs, but people ought to know what's involved in their decisions."

Smithfield
Smithfield had converted 30% of its company-owned farms by the end of December and is on track to meet its goal of switching all of them by 2017, said Dennis Treacy, executive vice president and chief sustainability officer for Smithfield Foods.

Treacy said it's too early to tell how much of the expected $300 million conversion costs would be passed along to consumers or absorbed by the company.

NPPC
Dave Warner, spokesman for the US National Pork Producers Council (NPPC), said that putting open pens into existing barns cuts production because the buildings can't hold as many sows. He added that building bigger barns to accommodate group pens, however, is expensive, and smaller producers who can't afford to retrofit existing barns could be forced out of business, reducing supplies.

In the European Union, as from January 1, 2013, the use of sow stalls will be banned for the majority of the gestation period. Many countries, especially in southern Europe, are struggling to meet this deadline and are not expected to be compliant by this date.

Related websites:
• AP
• Missouri Farm Bureau
• McDonald’s
• Smithfield

Lively atmosphere at Ildex Vietnam tradeshow


//23 Mar 2012
The Ildex Vietnam tradeshow began last Thursday in the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. A regional event with a touch of international flavour.
Ildex Vietnam is organised by VNU Exhibitions Asia Pacific, a newly formed, sister company of VNU Exhibitions in the Netherlands which currently also organises the well-known VIV tradeshows. As such, Ildex Vietnam is supported by VIV. The aim of regional Ildex shows is to assist on the development of the livestock industries in specified regions such as Southeast Asia.

According to the deputy minister of agriculture in his opening address to the show, currently the share of livestock production in Vietnam within the agricultural sector, is about 27%. The objective is to achieve a 40% share in 2020 through a comprehensive set of government supported measures, the deputy minister said.

“This meets with the objectives of Ildex shows to support such growth strategies”, added Gerard Leeuwenburgh, director of VNU Exhibitions Asia Pacific. “Ildex Vietnam 2012 is the fourth edition of this show which attracted 180 exhibiting companies. This is about 25% bigger, both in terms of size as well as exhibitor numbers, representing 28 countries. We trust that the audience numbers will show a similar increase”, he said.

“Bringing international expertise to satisfy local needs”, is the theme of this years show. “By doing so, we have confidence that we will fulfil our promise”, Leeuwenburgh concluded.

Concurrently with Ildex Vietnam, a seminar programme is taking place on recent developments and on new technology in the livestock business. The show runs from March 22-25.

Related website:
Ildex

USA: Retail pork prices may rise due to group housing


//23 Mar 2012
Retail pork prices in the United States may be going up strongly as a result of the implementation of group housing for sows, experts say.
In a feature, provided by the Associated Press, experts explain their worries about the prices that will have to be paid for the move away from gestation crates.

The move to group pens requires building new barns and renovating old ones, more labour and more training for workers. Veterinary costs can go up because sows tend to fight and sometimes injure each other. Experts say at least some of those expenses are likely to be passed on in the price of ham, bacon, chops and sausage.

Major pork producers
Under pressure from animal rights activists and sensing a shift in consumer sentiment, several major pork producers have agreed to phase out gestation crates and switch to more open pens. Major pork buyer McDonald's recently announced its suppliers will have to stop using them as well.

Are consumers willing to pay for these changes? Blake Hurst, president of the Missouri Farm Bureau and former hog farmer was quoted to say: "We may as a society be in the process of deciding we're more than willing to pay those costs, but people ought to know what's involved in their decisions."

Smithfield
Smithfield had converted 30% of its company-owned farms by the end of December and is on track to meet its goal of switching all of them by 2017, said Dennis Treacy, executive vice president and chief sustainability officer for Smithfield Foods.

Treacy said it's too early to tell how much of the expected $300 million conversion costs would be passed along to consumers or absorbed by the company.

NPPC
Dave Warner, spokesman for the US National Pork Producers Council (NPPC), said that putting open pens into existing barns cuts production because the buildings can't hold as many sows. He added that building bigger barns to accommodate group pens, however, is expensive, and smaller producers who can't afford to retrofit existing barns could be forced out of business, reducing supplies.

In the European Union, as from January 1, 2013, the use of sow stalls will be banned for the majority of the gestation period. Many countries, especially in southern Europe, are struggling to meet this deadline and are not expected to be compliant by this date.

Related websites:
• AP
• Missouri Farm Bureau
• McDonald’s
• Smithfield

22 March 2012

Alltech launches Mycotoxin Management Project globally


//22 Mar 2012
Alltech developed a new global project to help control mycotoxins through a combination of mycotoxin management programmes and technologies.
As part of this practical and solutions-oriented approach to effectively manage mycotoxins, the global Mycotoxin Management Team from Alltech will not only assist in managing mycotoxins throughout the feed chain, but also in detecting and addressing the risks caused by more than 37 types of mycotoxins.

Increased demand on animal performance and productivity inevitably brings new challenges and risks to modern animal production. Toxic contaminants produced by moulds, known as mycotoxins, are a challenge for producers and a risk to their livestock.

Based on the increasing amounts of research, it is becoming clear that mycotoxins represent an unavoidable risk.

“It is now more important than ever to have a documented mycotoxin control programme in place as the price of feed rises, the use of alternative raw ingredients increases and the need for improved feed efficiency is paramount,” said Dr. Swamy Haladi, global technical manager, Mycotoxin Management Team.

“We know mycotoxins are going to be more prevalent in certain processed raw materials and also that mycotoxins can negatively affect health and feed efficiency, ultimately impacting profitability. The potential threat of mycotoxin residues to human health should also be factored in.”

Alltech’s 37+ Program.
“The successful addition of the LC-MS2 analytical technique to Alltech’s core competencies allowed the development of analytical methods for investigating more than 30 different mycotoxins quantitatively, and more than 50 others qualitatively in less than 15 minutes per sample analysed, with limits of detection in the parts per trillion range.

Patterns of contamination are now investigated in feed matrices to better capture mycotoxin profiles and the associated risks for the animal consuming contaminated feed material.” Dr. Alexandros Yiannikouris, global analytical research director, Mycotoxin Management Team.

To assist feed mills and producers, Alltech recently launched its Mycotoxin Hazard Analysis programme, MIKO.

Based on the principles of Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP), the MIKO programme is designed to identify the mycotoxin risks within a given farm or feed mill and create a plan to minimise the risks for the animal, and consequently, for consumers.

MSD Animal Health Symposium draws over 400 veterinarians


//22 Mar 2012
More than 400 veterinarians from Eastern Europe learned about the latest innovations and products from MSD Animal Health at the company’s recent scientific symposium in Budapest, Hungary.
For MSD Animal Health (formerly Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health), this marked the fifth time in as many years the company has hosted what organisers call a “three-in-one” symposium, which brings together veterinarians from the livestock, poultry and companion animal sectors.

“The combination of our science and technical expertise with leading practitioners and opinion leaders from different segments of the industry creates a fascinating and lively forum that is educational for everyone involved,” says István Gróf, general manager for MSD Animal Health in Hungary.

MSD Animal Health also used the forum to showcase several new products and ideas, including Protectotype a field-proven concept or management strategy for using existing vaccines to protect poultry against ever-changing variants of infectious bronchitis (IB). Research and diagnostic work sponsored by MSD Animal Health has shown that some IB virus serotypes cross-protect against other IB serotypes. Strategically using live and inactivated IB vaccines from more than one serotype can provide a spectrum of control that is “larger than the sum of the vaccines’ parts,” scientists explained.

Source: MSD Animal Health

Russian poultry production on the rise


//22 Mar 2012
The volume of poultry meat production in Russia exceeded 500 thousand tonnes in carcass weight in February, the Russian Federal Statistic Service (Rosstat) has said.
This is an increase of 16.9%, or 73 tonnes more than during the first two months of 2011. The increased of production volume is observed in all federal districts of the country.

Previously experts estimated that the rate of growth of the industry in the first quarter of 2012 would not exceed 10-12%, but the new data suggests that in three months the rate of production will amount to 835 thousands tonnes, resulting in a 21% increase on 2011’s figures.

A main factor contributing to the increase in production is the poultry crisis in Ukraine, where poultry meat imports are to rise by 30-40% in the first quarter of 2012. Almost the entire amount will be imported from Russia.

Experts also note that, in February more than ten new investment projects were announced in the Russian poultry industry. Total production volume of poultry meat under these projects will be about 120 thousand tonnes in carcass weight, including 67 thousands tonnes of turkey meat, and 20 thousands tonnes of duck meat.

Russian poultry production on the rise


//22 Mar 2012
The volume of poultry meat production in Russia exceeded 500 thousand tonnes in carcass weight in February, the Russian Federal Statistic Service (Rosstat) has said.
This is an increase of 16.9%, or 73 tonnes more than during the first two months of 2011. The increased of production volume is observed in all federal districts of the country.

Previously experts estimated that the rate of growth of the industry in the first quarter of 2012 would not exceed 10-12%, but the new data suggests that in three months the rate of production will amount to 835 thousands tonnes, resulting in a 21% increase on 2011’s figures.

A main factor contributing to the increase in production is the poultry crisis in Ukraine, where poultry meat imports are to rise by 30-40% in the first quarter of 2012. Almost the entire amount will be imported from Russia.

Experts also note that, in February more than ten new investment projects were announced in the Russian poultry industry. Total production volume of poultry meat under these projects will be about 120 thousand tonnes in carcass weight, including 67 thousands tonnes of turkey meat, and 20 thousands tonnes of duck meat.

21 March 2012

ADM and China Agricultural University research alternative cattle feed


//21 Mar 2012
Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM) and China Agricultural University have launched a research program to confirm that a portion of the corn in cattle rations may be effectively replaced with a mix of corn processing co-products and corn stover -- the stalks, cobs and leaves left on farmers' fields after the harvest.
ADM will fund the two-year research program, and ADM researchers will work with Dr Shengli Li, a world-renowned professor of dairy science at CAU, to conduct a series of feeding trials at CAU as well as cooperative trials with large dairy farms in China.

"We at China Agricultural University are pleased to join with ADM to help investigate the potential to reduce dairy farmers' cost-per-head, and to preserve valuable grain for higher-value uses," said Li.

"A growing and increasingly prosperous Chinese population is eating diets higher in animal protein, and driving higher demand for grain in the country. ADM is keenly interested in […] making better use of the grain the world already grows today, and by finding high-value applications for biomass such as corn stover," said Ismael Roig, ADM vice president and president, Asia-Pacific.

China's livestock currently consume about 112 million tonnes of corn per year. Cattle producers may be able to reduce their animals' consumption by more than half by using a mix of corn processing co-products and corn stover.

US examples
In more than 20 cattle-feeding trials, which ADM has conducted in partnership with three leading US agricultural research universities, researchers have been able to replace more than 60% of the grain in ruminants' diets with a mixture of stover treated with hydrated lime - a common food ingredient - and high-protein distillers' grains without negatively impacting the animals' growth and development.

Because China is the world's second-largest corn consumer, the implications could be significant both for China's dairy farmers - who may be able to sharply reduce the cost of feed in their operations - and for the country's food security.

Feeding cattle a mix of crop residues and co-products can free up a substantial amount of grain for other uses.

Ukraine market crisis forces increased poultry imports


//21 Mar 2012
A market crisis could see Ukraine increasing its volume of poultry imports by 30-40% in the first quarter of 2012, according to data revealed by Deputy Director of Ukrainian Agrarian Confederation, Alexander Yaroslavsky. Imports of pork and beef could double.
In the first quarter prices for pork could rise by 8%, beef by 19% and poultry by 22%, while the price for eggs already increased almost by 40%. It is clear that this is only the beginning. The number of poultry in all categories of farms could reduce by 6% by the end of the first quarter of 2012, the volume of production could reduce by 3%, while the volume of sales of domestic production is forecast to reduce by 1.2%.

Experts state that the sudden crisis in the market mostly affects pork production, with poultry meat production being affectd on a lesser scale.

Alexander Yaroslavsky said that within two months of this year, the pace of development of Ukrainian livestock industry has been rapidly falling. Producers say that the significant rise in prices and the acute shortage of internal production could be explained by the increase of cost of soy meal, maize, compound feed and vitamins. Experts predict that if the crisis will continue in the second half of 2012 then the rate of poultry production will decrease by 8%-10%.

Research uncovers genetic marker identifying PRRS in pigs


//16 Mar 2012
A collaborative discovery involving Kansas State University researchers may improve animal health and save the US pork industry millions of dollars each year.
Raymond ‘Bob’ Rowland, a virologist and professor of diagnostic medicine and pathobiology, was part of the collaborative effort that discovered a genetic marker that identifies pigs with reduced susceptibility to Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS). This virus costs the US pork industry alone more than $600 million each year.

"This discovery is what you call a first-first," Rowland said. "This discovery is the first of its kind for PRRS but also for any large food animal infectious disease. I have worked in the field for 20 years and this is one of the biggest advances I have seen."

Rowland and researchers Jack Dekkers from Iowa State University and Joan Lunney from the Agricultural Research Service discovered a genetic marker called a quantitative trait locus, or QTL, which is associated with porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus susceptibility. This discovery is a first step in controlling and eliminating the virus.

The research recently appeared in the Journal of Animal Science. The project's beginning and future center around Kansas State University, Rowland said.

PRRS consortium
It begins at the university because Rowland is involved with an organisation called the PRRS Host Genetics Consortium, or PHGC, which initiated and provided more than $5 million for the research. Rowland is co-director of the consortium, which is a collaboration among the United States Department of Agriculture, the National Pork Board and Genome Canada as well as universities and industry members. Rowland is also director of the USDA-funded PRRS Coordinated Agriculture Project, known as PRRS CAP.

"The PRRS Host Genetics Consortium takes fundamental science and turns it into utility," Rowland said.

Kansas State University's new Large Animal Research Center is the site of much of the project's experimental work. The researchers obtain multiple measurements – including growth, weight gain, performance and virus measurements – over time. They have collected samples from more than 2,000 pigs since they began the study in 2007, for a total of more than 100,000 samples that are stored or distributed to the consortium's collaborators.

Samples
The university shipped samples to the Agricultural Research Service for genomic DNA preparations to identify differences among more than 60,000 genes. The data was transferred to Iowa State University for genetic analysis that led to the discovery of the QTL.

The collaborators at Iowa State University created a common database so that all the data collected during the project can be accessed at multiple locations by researchers and the breeding industry for the next several decades.

"A unique aspect of this project is that we have been looking at genes that may provide long-term resistance to a lot of infections," Rowland said. "This is very important for animal health because there are a lot of diseases for which there are no cures and no vaccines. Now we have a tool to study these diseases."

These findings open new possibilities with Kansas State University's Biosecurity Research Institute and the future National Bio and Agro-defense Facility. Scientists can take this new genetic tool and study different infectious diseases in these world-class research facilities.

The discovery plays a role in nearly every aspect of animal health and is a large economic driver, Rowland said. Industry members are especially interested in how it opens new possibilities with vaccines. The next step is to find which genes contribute to the best vaccine response.

"We're not only making healthier animals, but we're also understanding the fundamental biological relationship between a host and a pathogen," Rowland said. "This has direct applications to human medicine because the same type of science and relationships applies to humans."

Spin-offs
In addition to providing a better model for the PRRS virus, the research has led to several spin-offs:

• The Kansas State University researchers are able to collect thousands of samples that companies need to validate and develop the next generation of diagnostic tests. One such test is the use of oral fluids - a noninvasive diagnostic test in which pigs chew on a rope and scientists analyze the saliva left on the rope.

• The research led to the discovery of pigs with severe combined immunodeficiency, or SCID. This research should enable researchers to better study the syndrome and apply its use to the study of human cancer and anti-cancer drugs.

The project has also proved to be very valuable for education because it has involved more than 20 veterinary medicine, pre-veterinary medicine and graduate students at Kansas State University.

"This is an incredible opportunity for students to come in, learn how to work with animals, learn basic biosecurity and have the opportunity to do research," Rowland said. "It provides them with a lot of practical hands-on knowledge."

Other Kansas State University collaborators involved include the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory and Carol Wyatt, associate professor of diagnostic medicine and pathobiology.

Related website:
• Kansas State University

Taiwan's HPAI epidemic ongoing


//21 Mar 2012
Dr Kwo-Ching Huang, of the Bureau of Animal Health Inspection and Quarantine Council of agriculture Taipei reports that 8221 layers have been destroyed in an on-going bird flu epidemic in the Chu-Tang Township, Chung-Hua, Taiwan, the OIE reports.
The H5N2 subtype of the HPAI was confirmed when veterinaries noticed an unusually high mortality rate (426) among the layer chickens on a farm near the Chu-tang Township, on Taiwan's western seaboard.
Standard control measures are being carried out, and follow-up reports on the epidemic and the on-going laboratory tests will be submitted weekly.

20 March 2012

Ceva acquires license for ProBioGen viral vaccine production

//20 Mar 2012 Global veterinary and health company Ceva Santé Animale, headquartered in Libourne, France, has taken commercial license for ProBioGen’s AGE1.CR avian cell line for viral vaccine production. The technology can be used for making vaccines for all species including swine. In a preceding pilot study Ceva evaluated the technology, which allows cells to grow rapidly and in high cell densities in ProBioGen’s proprietary chemically defined medium. ProBioGen is headquartered in Berlin, Germany. Development projects Master cell banking for one viral vaccine strain has been completed and further development projects are underway. Volker Sandig, chief scientific officer of ProBioGen, is convinced that, “this agreement is the result of an excellent collaboration and is based on a mutual focus on technologically optimised biopharmaceutical manufacturing. We are pleased that Ceva as an expert vaccine producer decided to work with us on our AGE1.CR cell line. We are looking very much forward to further broaden the cooperation between our scientists in accomplishing additional goals.” Marc Prikazsky, Ceva’s chairman and CEO said “This type of scientific and industrial partnership with ProBioGen is an excellent example of how we hope to develop collaboration with genuinely innovative partners in our mission to go ‘Together, beyond animal health’.” An undisclosed number of animal vaccines are to be evaluated on the AGE1.CR cell line. The commercial license includes milestone and royalty payments. Financial details were not disclosed. Immortalised cell line AGE1.CR is an immortalised cell line derived from primary cells of a Muscovy duck. The cell line was created as a platform for replacing primary chicken cells for production of vaccines and hyper-attenuated viruses in chemically defined media and suspension cultures. In addition, AGE1.CR cells are also suitable for the generation of trans-complementing helper or packaging cell lines to support efficient production of replication-restricted viral vectors. Parnell Ceva also announced to have acquired a number of Parnell products in move to further strengthen its Australian business. The products AquaFOL, Pamlin, Ketamine, Methone, KEY and Imidox fit well with the company’s current range and will be manufactured at its APVMA approved Glenorie Plant in Sydney, following regulatory approval. Related websites: • ProBioGen • Ceva Santé Animale • Parnell

Betagro and Marudai open new pork sausage plant

//20 Mar 2012 Betagro, one of Thailand’s agribusiness leaders, has opened a new pork manufacturing plant. The project is a joint venture between Betagro MF Deli and the Japanese food processor Marudai Food. The new plant, located in Lop Buri, cost 650 million baht (€15.8 million). It will be able to produce 600 tonnes of sausages and 200 tonnes of frozen cooked food a month for export, mainly to Japan. Products will include pork sausages on a stick, Japanese seasoned minced pork, and arabiki sausages. The products are made from hygienic pork and chicken from local Thai suppliers. They will be exported to Japan, with Japanese convenience stores the main customers. In Japan there is a growing demand for premium food products. Vasit Taepaisitphongse, COO, Betagro Group, said: "We project sales of 2 billion baht (€48.6 million) per year from the new company." Marudai Food, a Japanese processed food and meat products distribution firm, holds a 20% stake in the venture. The company will use its years of experience in the production of premium-quality ham, bacon and sausage to support the new company. Fourth plant The new sausage production line is the fourth for Betagro. In 2009, the group partnered with Japan's Itoham Foods and Ajinomoto and set up Itoham Betagro Foods to produce 5,000 tonnes of premium grade sausages a year for domestic sales and export. Betagro MF Deli has registered capital of 250 million baht (€6 million) and received incentives from the Board of Investment. Besides investment in new food production facilities, Betagro also plans to spend 3-4 billion baht (€73-€97 million) a year to strengthen the operations of its core businesses. The group says the new investments could raise revenue from food ventures to 5% of the company's total revenue. Domestic sales represent 80% of total revenue. Betagro Group also said that total revenue growth could rise by 13% to reach 68 billion baht (€1.65 billion) this year. Related website: • Betagro Group

19 March 2012

Thailand resumes salted chicken exports to the EU


//19 Mar 2012
As from mid-2012, Thailand is allowed once more to export salted poultry meat into Europe.
These exports had been forbidden over the last couple of years, as Thailand did not meet the European regulations with regard to animal health status and checks.

On the basis of several missions, the European Commission concluded that Thailand has made strong progress in this field, resulting in the approval of exporting poultry meat.

The annual import quota in the EU for Thai poultry meat is established at 92,610 tonnes.

Ceva agrees license for viral vaccine production


//19 Mar 2012
Ceva Santé Animale (Ceva) and ProBioGen have announced the signature of a multi-product license agreement for the use of ProBioGen’s AGE1.CR avian cell line in the industrial production of viral animal vaccines.
In a preceding pilot study Ceva evaluated the technology, which allows cells to grow rapidly and in high cell densities in ProBioGen’s proprietary chemically defined medium. Master cell banking for one viral vaccine strain has been completed and further development projects are underway.

Volker Sandig, Chief Scientific Officer of ProBioGen, is convinced that, “this agreement is the result of an excellent collaboration and is based on a mutual focus on technologically optimised biopharmaceutical manufacturing. We are pleased that Ceva as an expert vaccine producer decided to work with us on our AGE1.CR cell line.”

Marc Prikazsky, Ceva’s Chairman and CEO said “This type of scientific and industrial partnership with ProBioGen is an excellent example of how we hope to develop collaboration with genuinely innovative partners.”

An undisclosed number of animal vaccines are to be evaluated on the AGE1.CR cell line. The commercial license includes milestone and royalty payments. Financial details were not disclosed.

Related websites:
ProBioGen
Ceva Santé Animale

Dutch report avian influenza on a turkey farm


//19 Mar 2012
Avian influenza has been confirmed at a commercial turkey farm near the town of Kelpen-Oler, in the South of the Netherlands. All 42,700 turkeys were culled.
The birds were culled on Sunday by the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA). As of midnight Saturday, there was a transport ban for poultry, eggs, poultry manure and used bedding in a 3 km radius around the farm. Ruminants and other livestock, including pigs, from mixed farms are not allowed to be transported either.

The outbreak was discovered by the Dutch Animal Health Service that conducted regular research on avian influenza (AI). The findings were confirmed by the Dutch Central Veterinary Institute (CVI), where blood samples tested positive for avian influenza (AI), type H5 – probably a low pathogenic variety. The origin of the outbreak is not known yet.

On the farm located 10km from the Belgian border, the turkeys had shown a reduced feed intake for several days a couple of weeks ago, and also there had been a small increase in mortality, although this was lower than 0.1%. In other turkey farms in the area, similar clinical signs had been observed. It is not clear, however, that this is AI-related in any way at all.

Within the 3 km radius, there are approximately 25 other poultry farms, altogether having about 1 million head of poultry. These include 14 layer farms, three breeding farms, three broiler farms, three turkey farms and a multiplication unit.

All these farms are being scrutinised as well from this Monday – results are expected towards the end of March. Until that time, all poultry are obliged to stay indoors.

This measure only applies to commercial poultry producers. Whomever keeps poultry for a hobby, however, are advised to keep their birds indoors as well.

So far it is not known if there will be any consequences for the export of breeding eggs, broilers and poultry meat to third countries.

In February, AI was confirmed in 160 swans in the Drenthe province, in the north of the Netherlands. The swans have not been culled as it was a low pathogenic variety.

Related websites:
Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority
Dutch Animal Health Service

18 March 2012

All German chloramphenicol pig farms re-opened

//16 Mar 2012 The pig holdings in Swabia, Germany, that were temporarily closed after the discovery of the antibiotic chloramphenicol in animal feed, have since been opened. The investigation of the prosecuter against the perpetrators of Memmingen Allgäu dairy is still ongoing. At the firm a human error is supposed to have led to the contaminated feed. As a spokesman for the prosecutor said this week, it will examine whether intentional misconduct has taken place. At the end of January, the authorities had found residues of the banned antibiotic chloramphenicol in urine of pigs for slaughter and by way of precaution 26 pig farms in Bavaria and in the Ulm region were locked. As a result 11,900 pigs from nine farms could then not be slaughtered normally, since products from these animals are not allowed to enter the food chain. The cause of the feed contamination was improperly disposed laboratory waste. The antibiotic ended up in the so-called white water. This liquid that accumulates in the production of dairy and still contains milk ingredients is collected mainly by pig farms free of charge and added to the animal feed. The dairy is not using chloramphenicol anymore since the incident.

Research uncovers virus genetic marker identifying PRRS in Suids

//16 Mar 2012 A collaborative discovery involving Kansas State University researchers may improve animal health and save the US pork industry millions of dollars each year. Raymond ‘Bob’ Rowland, a virologist and professor of diagnostic medicine and pathobiology, was part of the collaborative effort that discovered a genetic marker that identifies pigs with reduced susceptibility to Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS). This virus costs the US pork industry alone more than $600 million each year. "This discovery is what you call a first-first," Rowland said. "This discovery is the first of its kind for PRRS but also for any large food animal infectious disease. I have worked in the field for 20 years and this is one of the biggest advances I have seen." Rowland and researchers Jack Dekkers from Iowa State University and Joan Lunney from the Agricultural Research Service discovered a genetic marker called a quantitative trait locus, or QTL, which is associated with porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus susceptibility. This discovery is a first step in controlling and eliminating the virus. The research recently appeared in the Journal of Animal Science. The project's beginning and future center around Kansas State University, Rowland said. PRRS consortium It begins at the university because Rowland is involved with an organisation called the PRRS Host Genetics Consortium, or PHGC, which initiated and provided more than $5 million for the research. Rowland is co-director of the consortium, which is a collaboration among the United States Department of Agriculture, the National Pork Board and Genome Canada as well as universities and industry members. Rowland is also director of the USDA-funded PRRS Coordinated Agriculture Project, known as PRRS CAP. "The PRRS Host Genetics Consortium takes fundamental science and turns it into utility," Rowland said. Kansas State University's new Large Animal Research Center is the site of much of the project's experimental work. The researchers obtain multiple measurements – including growth, weight gain, performance and virus measurements – over time. They have collected samples from more than 2,000 pigs since they began the study in 2007, for a total of more than 100,000 samples that are stored or distributed to the consortium's collaborators. Samples The university shipped samples to the Agricultural Research Service for genomic DNA preparations to identify differences among more than 60,000 genes. The data was transferred to Iowa State University for genetic analysis that led to the discovery of the QTL. The collaborators at Iowa State University created a common database so that all the data collected during the project can be accessed at multiple locations by researchers and the breeding industry for the next several decades. "A unique aspect of this project is that we have been looking at genes that may provide long-term resistance to a lot of infections," Rowland said. "This is very important for animal health because there are a lot of diseases for which there are no cures and no vaccines. Now we have a tool to study these diseases." These findings open new possibilities with Kansas State University's Biosecurity Research Institute and the future National Bio and Agro-defense Facility. Scientists can take this new genetic tool and study different infectious diseases in these world-class research facilities. The discovery plays a role in nearly every aspect of animal health and is a large economic driver, Rowland said. Industry members are especially interested in how it opens new possibilities with vaccines. The next step is to find which genes contribute to the best vaccine response. "We're not only making healthier animals, but we're also understanding the fundamental biological relationship between a host and a pathogen," Rowland said. "This has direct applications to human medicine because the same type of science and relationships applies to humans." Spin-offs In addition to providing a better model for the PRRS virus, the research has led to several spin-offs: • The Kansas State University researchers are able to collect thousands of samples that companies need to validate and develop the next generation of diagnostic tests. One such test is the use of oral fluids -- a noninvasive diagnostic test in which pigs chew on a rope and scientists analyze the saliva left on the rope. • The research led to the discovery of pigs with severe combined immunodeficiency, or SCID. This research should enable researchers to better study the syndrome and apply its use to the study of human cancer and anti-cancer drugs. The project has also proved to be very valuable for education because it has involved more than 20 veterinary medicine, pre-veterinary medicine and graduate students at Kansas State University. "This is an incredible opportunity for students to come in, learn how to work with animals, learn basic biosecurity and have the opportunity to do research," Rowland said. "It provides them with a lot of practical hands-on knowledge." Other Kansas State University collaborators involved include the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory and Carol Wyatt, associate professor of diagnostic medicine and pathobiology. Related website: • Kansas State University

Study: IBV hatchery vaccination for broilers


//16 Mar 2012
The US Poultry & Egg Association and the USPOULTRY Foundation have completed a funded research project at the University of Georgia studying infectious bronchitis (IBV) hatchery vaccination methods for broilers.
The project, Studying IBV hatchery Vaccination and its Effects on Field Boost in Broilers, is part of the Association’s comprehensive research program encompassing all phases of poultry and egg production and processing.

Infectious bronchitis (IBV) is a contagious upper-respiratory tract disease that is difficult to control because several viruses are responsible, and vaccination for one virus type does not protect against all types. Following vaccination, birds have peaks and valleys in expression of the virus at approximately two-week intervals, which may be due to inadequate stimulation of the immune system from hatchery vaccination.

The Arkansas vaccine type is the main virus found in the field indicating that birds are not completely protected against this virus. Combining other IBV vaccines at the hatchery with the Arkansas vaccine did not interfere with the effectiveness of the Arkansas vaccine. The combination of other vaccines with the Arkansas virus actually improved protection.

The Arkansas vaccine did not produce an effect in one-day old broilers when given in a hatchery spray cabinet. However, vaccine given by the eye drop method provided good immunity. This research indicates that hatchery spray may not be the most effective method for giving the Arkansas vaccine, and IBV protection can be improved by giving the Arkansas vaccine in conjunction with other IBV vaccines.

A more detailed summary can be found on the USPOULTRY website.

BASF increases prices for chemical intermediates, propionic acid


//15 Mar 2012
With immediate effect, or as existing contracts permit, BASF SE will increase its European sales prices for methylamines and methylamine derivatives and propionic acid as follows:
Product
Increase per metric tonne
Methylamine (Mono-, Di-, Tri-)
€ 50
Dimethylaminopropylamine (DMAPA)
€ 80
Dimethylethanolamine (DMEOA)
€ 90
Methylethanolamine (MMEOA)
€ 90
Methyldiethanolamine (MDEOA)
€120

Methylamines and methylamine derivatives are versatile chemical intermediates with a wide range of applications, such as agrochemicals, water treatment and personal care.

They also prove valuable in the production of feed additives.

Propionic acid
With immediate effect, or as existing contracts permit, BASF will also increase its European selling prices for propionic acid by 120 €/mt.

The major application of the organic acid is feed grain preservation. It is also widely used in the production of pharmaceuticals, crop protection agents, solvents, food preservatives and plastics.



Concern over medication in French livestock


//16 Mar 2012
French livestock breeders are being criticised for the excessive use of non-prescribed medicines and antibiotics to treat their animals.
A memo sent to prefects in early February from the Directorate General of Food (DGAL) reports "major non-conformities" were found during the delivery of medicated feed by breeders.

Mixed with cattle feed antibiotics are used to prevent common diseases, however the memo identifies incorrect practices such as the "provision of medicated feeds without prescription at the request of the animal's owners."

"It shows that it is very easy for a farmer to obtain medication for his cattle without a prescription and that is worrying when you know that animal exposure to antibiotics has increased by 12% between 1999 and 2009", says Arsac Sebastian, of the association of animal protection L214.

The Ministry of Agriculture is aiming to reduce the use of antibiotics for livestock by 25% in five years.

Wake up call
The National Farmers Union (FNSEA) sees the memo as a "wake-up call for all links in the chain." FNSEA vice president, Pascal Ferrey, says "Sometimes some vets or pharmacists deliver massive amounts of drugs without making a prior visit or farmers simply buy drugs directly over the Internet from abroad."

Jacky Mallet, president of the National Association of Veterinary Pharmacists believes it is time to remember the rules and restore some order:

"It is not for the breeder to make their own diagnosis, nor for the manufacturer of medicated feeds to apply to a vet for a prescription retrospectively after selling prescription antibiotics," Mallet said.

The DGAL has announced that it will bring prosecutions against those prescribers of antibiotics who contravene the rules.

15 March 2012

Russia: ASF outbreaks continue


//14 Mar 2012
There has been a new outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF) at a private farm in Kalachevsky district, Volgograd region, according to a representative of the regional department of veterinary medicine.
"On farms in the Golubinskaya village deaths of four pigs occurred on 11 March. The selected material from the dead animals has been sent for study. Specialists from the Volgograd region veterinary laboratory diagnosed it as African Swine Fever , a spokesman said of regional department of Rosselhoznadzor.

At a private farm, where dead animals have been found, there were kept 12 pigs. Laboratory materials for a diagnosis have been sent to the All-Russian Research Institute of Veterinary Virology and Microbiology in the city of Pokrov in the Vladimir region.

He said the last time African Swine Fever was detected in domestic pigs in the region was in 2010. Throughout 2011 and early 2012 in the region ASF was diagnosed only in wild boars.
According to local farmers ASF is spreading in the wild – even though the hunters have permission to kill the boars, they often do not do it, due to the lack of ASF awareness. The hunters think of ASF as a dangerous human disease. As a result, hunters do not shoot wild boar, for fear of contracting the disease.

Currently in the Kalachevskyi district veterinary services are taking steps to prevent the possible spread of the disease. 680 heads of pigs are in quarantine currently.

(By Vladislav Vorotnikov)

Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica awards PRRS research


//15 Mar 2012
At the American Association of Swine Veterinarians Annual Meeting in Denver, Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica awarded three PRRS research proposals with US$ 25,000 each.
The proposals were submitted in an annual competition open to graduate students, academic researchers, company or private researchers and practicing veterinarians.
PRRS (Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome) has an enormous impact on swine health, costing the industry an estimated US$ 664 million annually.
The objective of the awards are to xxamine practical methods of controlling, managing, and possibly eradicating the PRRS virus.
This year’s winners are:
Michael Murtaugh of the University of Minnesota, with a proposal to study diagnostics to differentiate vaccine and field virus in PRRS elimination projects,
Brad Leuwerke of the Swine Vet Centre, St Peter Minnesota, on the outcome of PRRS vaccination on growing pigs,
Jeff Zimmerman of Iowa State University, to conduct a study assessing the probabilities of detecting PRRS in pen-based oral fluid samples from low-prevalence populations.
The winning proposals were selected by an independent PRRS research review board.
Once the three winning year-long research projects are completed and submitted for peer review, PRRB will conduct a second evaluation. Upon acceptance for publication of his or her findings, the first place award recipient will receive an additional U.S. $5,000; second place, $3,000; and third place, $1,000.
Information on the awards can be found here: Boehringer Ingelheim's Advancement in PRRS Research Award

Highly toxic feed additives found in Taiwanese pork products


//15 Mar 2012
Traces of two highly toxic feed additives were allegedly discovered in sausage products from T-Ham and Hsin Tung Yang. Salbutamol as well as cimaterol, feed additives promote lean meat, are much more toxic to humans than ractopamine.
The tests on the products were carried out I-Mei Foods Co’s food safety lab. According to the tests 9.16 parts per billion (ppb) of salbutamol and 4.98ppb of cimaterol were found in T-Ham’s sausage, while 0.68ppb of salbutamol and 2.98ppb of cimaterol in Hsin Tung Yang’s sausage. Pork meats which were purchased at supermarkets also tested positive for salbutamol residues.

Salbutamol 2,000 times more toxic
Lai Shiow-suey, a professor emeritus at National Taiwan University’s School of Veterinary Medicine, has said that “salbutamol is 2,000 times more toxic than the more commonly known ractopamine.”
According to Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Alex Tsai, pig farmers prefer the use of salbutamol over ractopamine as a leanness promoting feed additive for pigs because ractopamine is more costly.

“Health authorities should conduct residue tests not only for ractopamine, but also other types of meat-enhancing feed additives,” he said.

Wu Rong-tsan, an associate general manager at I-Mei Foods, was asked to confirm the test results, however said its food safety lab did not provide Tsai with the results because the lab was not commissioned by Tsai to conduct the tests. Tsai did not mention how he obtained the test results.

“Since the issue has drawn a lot of attention, there has been an increase in the number of cases sent to the lab for testing. In accordance with business ethics, we cannot comment on test results or give the results to people who are not our clients,” Wu said.

As of now, the Department of Health and the Council of Agriculture is requiring pig farmers to show certificates that state that their pigs were not fed meat-enhancing additives to ensure meat safety.

The allegations come just five days after staging a protest against a government plan to lift a ban on imports of US beef containing residues of the feed additive ractopamine. T-Ham and Hsin Tung Yang rejected the lab’s findings.

EU feed production in decline


//15 Mar 2012
According to the preliminary statistical data provided by FEFAC members, the compound feed production in the EU-27 in 2011 may have reached a level of 150 million tonnes, which is 1% below the figure for 2010 (151.4 million t). Data do not included Greece, Malta and Luxembourg.
All types of production, whether cattle, pig or poultry have seen their production fall, with cattle feed seeing the sharpest decline at -3%. For the second year, poultry feed is the leading segment of compound feed slightly above pig feed.

The most important factors which have weighed in on the EU feed demand in 2011 were the still fragile economic situation of the pig sector and the high feed material costs.

As regards ruminants, the severe drought on the first months led to a lower forage harvest during the spring cut but this was offset by the good autumnal weather conditions that favoured grass growth.

Most EU Member countries saw their production fall, sometimes dramatic as e.g. Ireland (-9%) or The Netherlands with -5%, while a few countries such as Italy or Germany managed to buck the general market trend with positive growth around 3%.

This growth was a result of a surprisingly quick recovery of pig farming activity mainly due to increasing exports.

Alternative feeding
The high cereal prices over the last two years contributed to improve the competitive market position of industrial compound feed production vs. home mixing.

However, this gain was offset to a certain extent by the development of alternative pig feeding strategies based on roughly grinded feed and liquid feeding.

As a result Germany’s position as leading EU country in terms of total compound feed production before France was strengthened, with Spain scoring third.

The final estimate and detailed breakdown of the 2011 results will be presented on the occasion of the next FEFAC Annual General Meeting on 15 June 2012 in Brussels.

Outlook for 2012
FEFAC experts foresee a stabilisation in cattle feed production, a further reduction in pig feed production (-0.5%) and a slight increase in poultry feed demand (+1%).

Poultry feed however could also decline as a result of fewer layers in certain countries due to the ban on layer cages and conversion to alternative housing systems as of 1 January 2012.

Further market uncertainties are linked to the development of the Schmallenberg virus in ruminant populations and the new group-housing requirements for sows which may lead to a significant reduction in young sow replacement in certain producer regions.

Overall, compound feed production is expected to remain unchanged vs. 2011.

Raw materials
Feed material markets are characterised by the upward trend on soybean meal quotations due to high Chinese demand and seasonal drought in South America.

Price quotations for cereals are at high levels and may remain so while experts are still evaluating the impact of February frost in a large part of the EU countries and while fear of a potentially severe drought in Western Europe is growing.

Access to raw materials may be further curtailed by the persisting problems linked to asynchronous approval of not yet authorised GM events

Research: Restricting enzymes in broiler diets


//15 Mar 2012
Portuguese research studied the effects of restricting enzyme supplementation in wheat-based diets to broilers.
The performance of broilers fed on xylanase supplemented diets for part or all of the production cycle was evaluated in two experiments.

In a preliminary experiment, 1-day-old chicks were fed a wheat-based diet supplemented with a commercial xylanase for the entire duration of the experiment of 28 days, or during the last 21, 14, or 7 days of the trial.

In experiment 2, the growth period was extended to 36 days, and birds were fed xylanase supplemented diets for the entire duration of the experiment, or during the last 27, 18, or 9 days of the trial.

In both experiments, an additional group was fed a non-supplemented control diet.

Results
Xylanase-supplemented broilers outperformed non-supplemented birds.

Significant differences in body weight emerged at 21-28 days of age, suggesting that the response to xylanase supplementation occurs primarily during the latter stages of broiler growth.

Broilers fed xylanase-supplemented diets for the entire experiment presented similar growth performance, intestinal viscosity, gastrointestinal enzyme activity and organ sizes when compared with birds supplemented with the exogenous xylanase for the last 14 (experiment 1) or the last 18 days (experiment 2) of the trials.

Birds exposed to exogenous xylanase for the entire duration of the experiment showed, however, a non-significant trend towards an improved final body weight and feed conversion ratio.

Conclusion
Nevertheless, it appears that an early exposure to the exogenous xylanase is of marginal importance in obtaining a significant response to xylanase supplementation by broilers fed wheat-based diets.

Taiwan - Party officials line up against ractopamine


//15 Mar 2012
The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in Taiwan has reaffirmed its zero-tolerance policy on the controversial animal feed additive ractopamine with a statement and an amendment proposing that local governments be given more power to regulate food safety.
Mayors and county commissioners of six DPP-governed cities and counties met in Greater Kaohsiung and afterwards issued a joint statement calling for “three actions and four demands,” and asked President Ma Ying-jeou to reconsider lifting the ban on ractopamine residue in beef.

Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chu has promised the party would tackle the controversy on two fronts: the local governments it controls and at the legislature.

The statement said the party condemns Ma’s pending decision to conditionally allow US beef imports that contain ractopamine, because it ignores the opinions of experts and the public, and jeopardizes public health.

The six officials called for a non-partisan coalition to safeguard public health and asked the legislature to maintain the zero-tolerance policy on ractopamine and pass amendments to the Act Governing Food Sanitation as soon as possible.

They said the central government should also maintain strict inspections at the border and in local markets and consider the expansion of compensation for local industries that suffer from the relaxation of the regulation.

The DPP will also strive for the implementation of strict examinations for the drug, the promotion of self-regulation by local governments and the promotion of product certification.

Anti-ractopamine alliance
In the legislature, DPP Legislator Chen Ou-po told a press conference that he was proposing an amendment to the Local Government Act that would give local governments more power to regulate food safety.

Chen will also establish an “anti-ractopamine alliance” with local councillors and DPP officials in Taipei, New Taipei City, Keelung and Yilan County.

In a related development, a total of 7,490kg of US beef was destroyed at an incinerator in suburban Taipei, marking the first time US beef was incinerated in Taiwan because of ractopamine.

The beef was imported by the Taipei-based Shuh Sen Co and was seized from the company’s warehouses in Keelung and Greater Kaohsiung.

“All the beef destroyed was seized in February and March and one batch had the highest content of ractopamine at 2.9 parts per billion,” said Chen Li-chi, director of Taipei’s Department of Health food and drug division, who witnessed the incineration.

Also read article in Taipei Times.

14 March 2012

Bayer and Novartis interested in Pfizer Animal Health


//14 Mar 2012
Bayer, the largest German drugmaker, is considering a bid for Pfizer's animal-health unit and discussing how to raise money with banks, said sources with knowledge of the plans. Novartis also is showing signs of interest.
Bayer is in the early stages of considering a bid, but may ultimately decide against making one, souces said, who declined to be identified because the process is confidential.

The Pfizer veterinary business is likely to fetch $14 billion to $18 billion in a sale, according to research firm Leerink Swann.

Novartis, Europe's second-biggest pharmaceutical company, may also be interested in the business, people in familiar with the company said.

Bidding for the Pfizer unit would be Bayer's second major attempt in three years to bulk up its veterinary-products operation.

The Leverkusen, Germany-based company offered €6 to 7 billion ($9.2 billion) in 2009 for Schering-Plough's Intervet unit, sources said at the time. Bayer lost that deal after the sale was scrapped by the owner.

Novartis recently approached Pfizer about buying the unit, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing anonymous sources familiar with the matter. The preliminary offer, which valued the unit at as much as $16 billion, was rebuffed, and it's unclear whether Novartis will make a new bid, the newspaper said.

Pfizer is shedding its animal health and nutrition businesses as part of CEO Ian Read's plan to focus on developing new prescription drugs after losing patent protection for Lipitor, a cholesterol pill and the world's best- selling medicine.

13 March 2012

Boehringer Ingelheim: First Asian Veterinary R&D Centre in Shanghai


//13 Mar 2012
Boehringer Ingelheim announced the expansion of its Animal Health business in China. One of the major moves is the opening of the Asian Veterinary Research & Development (R&D) Centre in Zhangjiang, Shanghai. The firm is investing 12 million euros in the center which is the largest of its kind established by a multinational pharmaceutical company in China.
With the investment, the company creates 70 new scientific workplaces. “Its long term focus is to further strengthen its very strong global position in the Animal Health business, particularly in the vaccine segment. In line with our corporate vision ‘Value through Innovation’ we research, develop and manufacture innovative products addressing our customer’s needs, be it in the companion animal as well as the food animal segment”, said Hubertus von Baumbach, responsible for the Corporate Board Divisions Finance and Animal Health. “We strongly believe that with our research driven product development we can add value to the Chinese market and to the businesses of our local customers. Investing in one of our core competencies here in China underlines our commitment”.

With the emergence of new pathogens, it is important to establish a local research presence to shorten development times and to provide solutions to customers in China faster. The Asian Veterinary R&D Centre will develop innovative vaccines against swine and poultry diseases that may threaten China’s farming husbandry in the future.

“As a part of Boehringer Ingelheim’s international R&D organisation, the Asian Veterinary R&D Centre is positioned to identify and develop innovative vaccines against livestock diseases focusing on China and Asian markets”, stated Marcus Conradt, Head of the Asian Veterinary R&D Centre. “The centre will be supported by our research facilities around the world, and be a supporting member itself in our global R&D network.”

The centre, covering 1,900 square meters, is located within the Shanghai Zhangjiang High-Tech Park. Scientists of this state-of-the-art facility will carry out all aspects of modern vaccine development. Furthermore, the research centre will also provide new jobs for local scientists and bring new bio-research technologies to the country.

Russia: Pork prices increasing due to ASF



Pork prices over the past six months rose from 3% to 15% in Russia, depending on the region.
According to the statistics of various analytical agencies, prices are rising significantly since the beginning of the year, even in regions not affected by the virus. A sharp increase could be seen in the number of outbreaks of the virus, forcing manufacturers to take unprecedented security measures and spending considerable sums of money on it, resulting in rising of production costs.

The Russian average price of pork in the past six months rose by 4%, while according to some unofficial forecasts, 2012 can bring a price increase of 9% -11%.



According to a recent report by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the epidemic spread of ASF in Russia caused world prices for pork to increase by 3.4% last month.



Experts estimates that the probability of the spread of the virus into Ukraine this year will be 60%, Kazakhstan 30%, while the probability for the EU from Russia is 15%.



According to official statistics, the growth pace of the pig industry for the last three years is consistently slowing due to ASF. The growth was estimated to 26% in 2009, 14% in 2010 and 4% in 2011. The main factor reducing the performance industry is not the outbreaks of ASF - it is the actions of the authorities that are closing the farm, non-compliance with veterinary requirements.

12 March 2012

People: CPF boss Dhanin richest man in Thailand


//12 Mar 2012
Dhanin Chearavanont, chairman of the Charoen Pokphand Group, is Thailand's richest person and 133rd richest person in the world, according to Forbes magazine's annual list of the world's richest billionaires.
The CP chief and his family had a net worth of US$7 billion. Dhanin, head of the country's biggest agribusiness conglomerate, was ranked 153rd last year.

Mexican telecommunications tycoon Carlos Slim Helu is the world's richest man for the third year in a row. His net worth is estimated at $69 billion by Forbes magazine.

Former Microsoft CEO Bill Gates is runner-up, with $61 billion, followed by billionaire investor Warren Buffet, with $44 billion.

11 March 2012

Indonesia: Avian influenza cases in early March


//08 Mar 2012
Seven cases of avian influenza in poultry in seven villages, five regencies and five provinces in Indonesia, were reported from 1 to 4 March 2012, according to data released by the Avian Influenza Disease Controlling Unit (UPPAI) of the Indonesian ministry of agriculture.
The five provinces are Nusa Tenggara Barat (in Bima), West Java (in Bandung), Banten (in Lebak), Central Java (in Semarang) and West Sumatera (in Tebing Tinggi). Of the five provinces, the highest mortality was in Bima, Nusa Tenggara Barat.

The total mortality of poultry in Bima was composed of 5,837 kampung chickens and 1,200 commercial broilers. The head of animal husbandry agency of Nusa Tenggara Barat, Syamsul Hidayat Dilaga said that if the mortality was calculated from the end of February 2012, the total mortality was as much as 8,500 chicken.

While in West Java, the head of animal husbandry agency there, Koesmayadi Tatang Padmadinata said that from 1 to 3 March 2012, as many as 314 kampung chickens died. Rapid tests showed that all the kampung chickens were positive of avian influenza, but PCR test showed only four kampung chickens were positive of avian influenza. “Another kampung chicken death may be caused by another poultry disease virus,” he suspected.

UPPAI informed that isolation, surveillance, disinfection, counseling and control on the distribution of poultry have been and continue to be made to control avian influenza in the area of the cases.

Poultry vaccines support Ceva growth in 2011


//09 Mar 2012
Ceva Santé Animale achieved 13.3% growth through €530 in net annual sales during 2011, the first time the company reached the half billion euro mark.
The company also invested record levels in research and development to fund future growth investing over €50m close to 10% of sales. All of Ceva’s geographic zones achieved an increase in operating profit.

Concentration on key brands has continued to drive internal growth where these products now represent more than 60% of sales. Of note was the performance of the Vectra range of external parasiticides distributed exclusively through veterinarians in the US. Ceva’s decision to stay with a “vet only” approach resulted in a 23.2% increase of sales.

Transmune IBD the immune complex vaccine against Gumboro Disease was used to protect more than 16 billion broilers globally against Gumboro disease. Vectormune HVT-NDV the latest in an expanding range of vector vaccines was also launched in several countries, making it possible for the first time to protect against three major diseases in the hatchery.

Ceva re-enforced its position in the strategically important Chinese market following the signature, in July, of a joint venture agreement between Ceva and Huadu creating Beijing Ceva Huadu Biological Co. Ltd, which started operations in January 2012. The Huadu Group has a leading position in China’s poultry vaccine market.

2011 saw a strong contribution from the two newly integrated businesses, Summit VetPharm in the United States and Nature Vet in Australia, both acquired during 2010. Vetech Laboratories, Inc., a Canadian company producing live poultry coccidiosis vaccines was acquired in October giving Ceva access to the vital gut health market in over 40 countries.

Ceva continues to invest massively in its production sites, more than 24m€ in 2011, with notably the June opening of a new poultry vaccine production facility at its Ceva Biomune Campus in Lenexa, Kansas, US.

Commenting on the past year, Dr. Marc Prikazsky, president and CEO of Ceva Santé Animale said, "2011 was a year in which we really began to see the maturation of the Ceva business model. Many major markets presented challenging conditions, highlighting the importance of our earlier decision to invest in the emerging economies where we are now strongly placed."

Source: Ceva

EU Salmonella cases fall as Campylobacter rises


//09 Mar 2012
Salmonella cases in humans fell by almost 9% in 2010, marking a decrease for the sixth consecutive year. Salmonella prevalence in poultry is also clearly declining at the EU level, a recent report states.
Campylobacteriosis remains the most reported zoonotic infection in humans since 2005 and the number of cases has been increasing over the last five years, according to the annual report on zoonoses and food-borne outbreaks in the European Union for 2010 published by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).

This report supports the European Commission and EU Member States in their consideration of possible measures to protect consumers from risks related to zoonoses.

Reduction of Salmonella
“The positive progress in the reduction of Salmonella cases in humans and poultry is continuing and the majority of Member States met the targets set for the reduction of Salmonella in different poultry flocks in 2010,” said Claudia Heppner, EFSA’s Acting Director of Risk Assessment and Scientific Assistance.

According to the report, the likely main reasons for the decrease in human salmonellosis cases are the successful EU Salmonella control programmes for reducing the prevalence of the bacteria in poultry populations, particularly in laying hens. Salmonella, which usually causes fever, diarrhoea and abdominal cramps, accounted for 99,020 reported human cases in 2010 compared to 108,618 in 2009. Salmonella was found most often in chicken and turkey meat.

Johan Giesecke, Chief Scientist at ECDC, explained: “The increasing trends in human cases of Campylobacter highlight the need of further joint efforts. For this, EFSA and ECDC will continue to strengthen their links with all important partners and foster collaboration in order to decrease the occurrence of these diseases in the EU.”

Raw poultry meat
In 2010, a total of 212,064 Campylobacter cases in humans were reported, an increase for the fifth consecutive year with 7% more cases compared to 2009. In foodstuffs, Campylobacter, which can cause diarrhoea and fever, was mostly found in raw poultry meat. In order to combat Campylobacter, the European Commission is currently carrying out a cost-benefit analysis of the control measures for the bacteria at different stages of the food chain. EFSA has supported this work by among others analysing an EU-wide baseline survey on the prevalence of Campylobacter in chicken and providing scientific advice on possible reduction measures.

The full version of the report with data by country and annexes is available on EFSA and ECDC websites.

China aims for higher pork production by 2015


//09 Mar 2012
The Chinese government has put together a five year plan to increase meat production and also to modernise the meat industry.
The country is aiming to produce 85 millions tonnes of meat by 2015, which is 7% up from 2010. It also plans to restructure the industry and invest more in food safety, quality and meat processing plants.

Pork meat
As part of the 5 year plan, the government wants pork production to also rise by 2015 to 53,6 million tonnes, which is 6% more than in 2010.

Poultry production should increase to 17,8 million tonnes, beef production to 6,53 million tonnes and sheep meat production to 5 million tonnes.

In addition to the production increase in meats, the country wants to modernise the meat industry, so that that meat traceability in the chain is improved and that all companies comply with increasingly stricter sustainability and energy saving requirements.

China is also planning to invest in food safety and quality, by introducing a test system, also in meat processing plants that produce for the Western market.

Source: Vlaams infocentrum land-en tuinbouw

Research: DDGS in nursery pigs



//09 Mar 2012
US scientists studied the impact of Dried Distillers Grains with Solubles (DDGS) and diet formulation method on dry matter, calcium, and phosphorus retention and excretion in nursery pigs.
Phosphorus (P) is an expensive component in swine diets, and dietary P levels above the pig's requirement can result in excess P excreted in manure and potential environmental concerns.

Consequently, utilization of dietary P by pigs must be optimized in order to minimize diet cost and P excretion in manure.

Trial setup
Phosphorus and calcium (Ca) balance was evaluated in nursery pigs fed a control maize-soybean meal (M-SBM) diet formulated on a total P (TP) basis, and four experimental diets containing maize dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS; 100 or 200 g/kg) formulated on either a TP or available P (AP) basis.

Barrow pigs (n = 39, initial body weight = 10.37 ± 0.37 kg) were randomly assigned to one of five diets for a 7 d adaptation period followed by a 5 d period of total, separate collection of both urine and faeces.

Results
Compared to the M-SBM diet, dry matter (DM) digestibility coefficients were reduced in pigs fed diets containing 100 or 200 g/kg DDGS by approximately 0.02 and 0.04 units, respectively.

Feed and total P intake were similar among pigs fed control and DDGS diets, but P intake was lower for pigs fed diets formulated on an AP compared to TP basis.

Faecal P concentration was reduced when diets contained DDGS compared to the M-SBM diet, and when DDGS diets were formulated on an AP basis compared to a TP basis.

Total P excretion, retention, and apparent total tract digestibility coefficients were not affected by diet formulation method (FM) or level of DDGS inclusion.

Calcium intake tended to be higher, and faecal Ca concentration and retention were higher for pigs fed the M-SBM diet compared with those fed the DDGS diets.

Feeding the 200 g/kg DDGS diets tended to increase faecal Ca excretion, and reduced Ca retention, retention coefficient, and apparent total tract digestibility compared to feeding the 100 g/kg DDGS diets.

There were no significant effects of FM or DDGS x FM for Ca intake, retention, excretion, or apparent total tract digestibility.

Conclusion
These results indicate that increasing dietary DDGS inclusion levels for nursery pigs decreases DM digestibility and faecal P concentration, but does not affect P excretion, retention, or digestibility.

Formulating DDGS diets (100 or 200 g/kg) on a TP or AP basis had no effect on P digestibility or total excretion, but total dietary P content is reduced when diets are formulated on an AP basis.

07 March 2012

Bursa of Fabricius is a visual indicator

Part 1:
//19 Dec 2011
The bursa of Fabricius is a lymphoid organ which plays an important role in developing immunity against mainly Gumboro in chickens. But does its size say anything? And can we easily correlate its changes to biological conditions? In this first of a series of two articles, the question is answered if differentiation in vaccination can be based on its appearance.
By Dr Christophe Cazaban and Dr Yannick Gardin, CEVA Sante Animale, France

Place and appearance of the bursa of Fabricius when opening a chicken at necropsy.
The cloacal bursa was given its name to pay tribute to Dr Hieronymus Fabricius, an Italian anatomist who used to work in Padua in the late 16th, early 17th century. He was the first to notice this small organ on the top of the cloaca in birds, but he did not know its actual role. The importance of the bursa of Fabricius (BF) as primary lymphoid organ has meanwhile been well described. Specifically in young birds it plays an important role in developing immunity.


Development of the BF
Basically, the BF is going through three consecutive development stages (see Figure 1):
• A growth phase during the first three weeks of age;
• A “plateau” phase between the 4th and the 8th weeks of age;
• A slow, but steady regression phase from the 9th week of age onwards, until nearly disappearing when the sexual maturity is in place.
Following colonisation of the BF by an infectious bursal disease virus or IBDV (Gumboro virus) changes will be observed in a sequential way. In the acute phase within four days post-infection (PI), the BF size is multiplied by 2 to 3 times: swelling of the plicae, sometimes with some gelatinous material inside. On the 5th day PI, the BF is usually already back to its initial size.
Between the 8th and the 10th day PI, the BF gets atrophied by 3 to 6 times. The recovery phase can last up to 35 days PI. The actual duration of the recovery process mainly depends upon the virulence of the virus strain, on the quantity of virus invading the BF, and on the age at colonisation. In other words, an attenuated strain of IBDV (e.g. a vaccine strain) will colonise the bursa as well. However, the recovery process will be much faster (approx. seven days).
BF size
Before discussing enlargement (or atrophy), and to compare figures, one should know what is the physiological size of the BF. Another point to clarify is the influence of external parameters, like age, breed, sex, rearing conditions on the BF size. Published documents describing the normal size of the BF using actual figures, are hardly available. At least, Glick in 1956 extensively studied the BF in several chicken breeds over time. By keeping meat-type and laying-type pedigree birds under field conditions, the author recorded the BB ratio (bursa weight to body weight, expressed in %).
As expected, the BB ratio is increasing in the first weeks in meat-type breeds, due to a strong bursa development, and a relatively slow body development. From the 6th week of age onwards, the BB ratio goes down, due to a stabilisation of the BF development, while the body growth is strong. A few differences in the average BB ratio can be noticed between males and females: most of the time, the BB ratio in males is lower than in females: this is probably linked to the heavier body weight in males. Later samplings showed a high individual variability in bursa weight for a given age.
In laying-type birds, Glick was able to identify an influence of the breed on the BB ratio. For instance, in a 6-week long study, the BB ratio was constantly greater in White Leghorn than in Rhode Island Red female chickens.
In addition, when keeping the same breed in cages instead of litter, the BB ratio figures did vary. The average BB ratio kept steady between 4 and 6 weeks of age when reared on litter, whereas it dropped quickly when reared in cages.
Major genetic changes

Common field practice to collect and weigh a few bursas at a given age. Note the individual variation.
Today, this is a 50-year old database, and the genetic improvements have dramatically modified the shape and the growth potential of the body in chickens. For instance, the weight target in meat type birds was 467 g in the Glick study, and it is more than twice this figure nowadays. In heavy broilers, one rearing day was saved yearly in the last 30 years. These parameters do certainly impact on the BB ratio figures recorded today, compared to previously.
In an experiment by Heckert, the impact of the rearing density of broiler chickens over the BB ratio was recorded at 42 days. Avian x Avian day-old chicks, kept under experimental conditions as close to field conditions as possible, were allocated to pens with varying birds density: 10, 15, and 20 birds per m². Feeding and drinking spaces were designed accordingly. They tested three replica of three groups to get a better statistical relevance of the experiment. They demonstrated that because of stress, the higher the density, the lighter the BF. The size of the BF is also reduced by a too cold, or a too hot environment.
Monitoring health status
According to researcher Bennett, bursometry is a poorly accurate technique compared to BB ratio measurement. In addition, Moraes stated that there is no direct link between the bursa diameter and any disease or any vaccination. The bursa diameter does not correlate with histopathology lesion scores either. These authors even considered that the bursometry was inadequate to properly assess any vaccine pathogenicity.
The aim therefore would be to get a standard of a “good”, or “acceptable”, or “physiological” BB ratio in order to be able to assess the health status of a chicken flock in field conditions (see Table 1).
It is obvious from these figures that it is quite difficult to define a procedure for monitoring the health status of a flock in field conditions based on BB ratio recording. There is neither a consensus on the figure of a healthy BB ratio itself, nor on the method for recording it. Some authors even considered that the BB ratio is more valid in experimental conditions than in the field. When comparing a treated (or vaccinated) group to controls: bursa in a treated group would be considered atrophied if the mean BF weight is two standard deviations below the mean of the controls. Even in experimental conditions, there is no consensus on the proper timing to assess the BB ratio after contact with IBDV. Various researchers advice differently in a range from 7 to 20 days.
No standardised protocol
To conclude, there are many roadblocks to set up universal BF size standards. There is a lot of studies assessing the bursa atrophy (eg, through a drop in BB ratio figures) following a vaccination using a live attenuated IBD vaccine. However, to actually draw conclusions, there is neither a standard for BB ratio per breed, per week. Its use under field conditions is therefore questionable. Also there’s not a standardised protocol (timing post exposure) in laboratory conditions.
Any figures recorded in experimental conditions can hardly be compared with other studies. As a consequence, it can be concluded that it is not possible to clearly classify the virulence of the IBD vaccines using the BB ratio. BF weight, BB ratio, body weight and antibody titer evaluated before or after challenge with IBDV, are not enough to consistently and conclusively differentiate or estimate the protection given by vaccination.
* References are available upon request to the authors
The second part of this article can be found here
Source: World Poultry, Vol. 27, No. 10, 2011

06 March 2012

Healthy Taiwan pigs test positive for routine FMD checks


//06 Mar 2012
Taiwanese officials have reported a number of healthy pigs to have tested positive to Foot-and-Mouth Disease to the Animal Health Organization (OIE).
The discoveries were reported on March 3 – dealing with two pig farms in Tainan Special Municipality (south west Taiwan) and one in Nantou Province (central Taiwan).

During routine checks, on a total of 3,653 clinically healthy swine on the three farms altogether, 34 pigs appeared to be positive in ELISA tests – non-structural proteins and antibodies were found. When serum and throat swab samples were tested using virus isolation and a real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), however, results were negative.

No evidence of infection
Monitoring continues – but no clinical or epidemiological evidence of infection was found.
The two farms in Tainan Special Municipality were both located in its Yanshuei District. The biggest farm has 2,319 pigs; the other 770 pigs. Numbers of suspect pigs were nine and 16 respectively.

The outbreak in Nantou Province was found in Jhushan Township. This farm counted a total of 564 pigs; nine of them tested positively.

It is unknown how the results could originate. Measures applied include the restriction of the movement of animals and quarantine. No animals were culled. The animals were not treated or vaccinated.

Related website:
World Organization for Animal Health (OIE)

Russia reports FMD on mixed farm with pigs near Chinese border


//05 Mar 2012
A Foot-and-Mouth Disease outbreak has been found on a private farm in the village of Usachevka, in the Primorye region, known as Primorsky Territory, in the far South East of the country.
The Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak affected six cows and one sheep, of the 240 cattle, 35 sheep, 12 goats and ten pigs, a spokesman for the territorial veterinary administration told Russian press agency Itar-Tass.

The source of the outbreak is currently unknown. Usachevka is approximately 45 km from the border between Russia and China.

Primorsky Krai is part of the buffer zone where cattle and small livestock are annually vaccinated against FMD.

Inoculation
Currently, measures are taken to stop the spread of the disease, including inoculation of the cattle. A disinfecting station has been installed at a road leading to the settlement. Specialists are trying to find the sources of the disease.

The last FMD epidemic in the Primorsky Territory was registered in the fall of 2005. FMD cases were then reported in nine settlements.

Related websites:
• Itar-Tass

Russia to ban all EU livestock imports, including pigs


//05 Mar 2012
The Russian Federation has decided to ban livestock import from the European Union starting on March 20, the agricultural watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor said last Friday.
According to Rosselkhoznadzor, the temporary ban is imposed on cattle and pig imports from the EU due to the outbreak of the Schmallenberg virus and the bluetongue in the European farms.

Another reason for the ban is that Russia has not received any safety guarantees from the EU until now.

The ban could be called remarkable since neither the Schmallenberg virus nor bluetongue is associated with pig production.

The watchdog added it has invited representatives of the European Commission to discuss the livestock and cattle feeding safety.

In February, Russia sent 634 pigs back to EU suppliers due to absence of safety certificates.

Related website:
• Rosselkhoznadzor

PRRS breakthrough - reduced susceptibility in pigs


//06 Mar 2012
Building on work originally funded by the Pork Checkoff, a consortium of scientists from around the country has discovered a genetic marker in pigs that identifies whether or not a pig has a reduced susceptibility to porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) - a disease that costs the US pork industry an estimated $664 million per year.
The researchers found agenetic marker, called a quantitative trait locus, on swine chromosome 4 that is associated with resistance to PRRS virus infection. According to Joan Lunney, a research scientist at the USDA's Agricultural Research Service (ARS) in Beltsville, Md., this is especially important as this location also is associated with improved growth of pigs that are infected with the PRRS virus. She says results indicate a positive effect for PRRS resistance and higher weight gain.

"PRRS is one of the industry's top ongoing issues, so this research discovery is a major step in the right direction," said Lisa Becton, Checkoff's director of swine health and information. "Pork producers realize that supporting science-based research is not an overnight proposition. It's especially gratifying to achieve results like this and to envision how they can be implemented at the farm level."
According to Chris Hostetler, Checkoff's director of animal science, the identification of the marker gene responsible for increasing resistance to PRRS will allow genetics companies to more easily place selection pressure on PRRS resistance, which in turn, could allow producers to introduce new "PRRS-resistant" lines into their herds.

"This could be one of the tools used to help eliminate PRRS, but more importantly, this work may provide the platform for finding similar marker genes responsible for conveying resistance to other economically devastating diseases," Hostetler said.

The research team that led to this marker discovery includes scientists at USDA's ARS, Kansas State University and Iowa State University. The researchers continue to be funded by the PRRS Host Genetics Consortium, a nationwide effort originally funded by the National Pork Board; the Coordinated Agricultural Project program; the National Institute of Food and Agriculture and the U.S. Swine Genome Coordinator for the National Animal Genome Research Program.

To obtain the data necessary for the marker research, researchers collected blood and tissue samples, along with weight-gain data, from 2,000 pigs at biosecure facilities at Kansas State University. From there, ARS researchers performed genomic work at the facilities in Beltsville. Finally, Iowa State University researchers used the resulting genomic data to search the entire genome of all pigs from earlier trials done by the PRRS Host Genetics Consortium. They worked to identify chromosomal segments common to pigs that had lower levels of PRRS virus circulating in their blood and that grew faster after PRRS infection.

Now that scientists have found a chromosomal segment that can signify resistance to PRRS, the next step is to pinpoint the gene and determine whether it shows the same effects for other strains of the PRRS virus.

Checkoff-funded PRRS research results are available at pork.org.

05 March 2012

Myanmar reports outbreak of H5N1 among layers


//02 Mar 2012
The highly pathogenic avian influenza virus H5N1 has broken out at two farms in the Chaung U Township, Sagaing, Myanmar.
Prof Dr Myint Thein, director general of the livestock breeding and veterinary department of the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, based in Yangoon, reported the outbreak to the World Organization of Animal Health (OIE).

Standard laboratory diagnostics tests conducted at a regional lab in Mandalay and at the national lab gave a positive determination of the virus.

A total of 1060 layer chickens are susceptible, with 61 dead (which lead to the discovery of the disease), and 999 destroyed. The Chaung U Township numbers some 139 chicken farms of mixed broiler and layer chickens, with an estimated 40,000 chickens.

Standard quarantine measures are being applied, with no treatment of the affected animals.
The immediate notifiuciation can be found here: OIE

04 March 2012

Ukrainian poultry farmers switch to innovation technologies

//02 Mar 2012 Ukrainian poultry houses, which specialise in growing broilers have started introducing cage housing into their production process. Until recently, Ukrainian poultry farmers had been growing poultry on the floor. Dneprovsky poultry farm started the new positive tendency of switching to the cage growing of broilers. Dneprovsky is an enterprise of a large agricultural holding, which produces popular products for the domestic market including ‘Dneprovskie Kurchata’. In 2011 Dneprovsky poultry farm together with TEXHA Production Association did the reconstruction of the first poultry house. During the reconstruction they replaced floor type growing with cages. They installed seven three-tiers cage batteries for broilers growing with automatic poultry move-out produced by the TEXHA company. The equipment enables placing almost 2.5 times more poultry and correspondently – get more meat*. The cage equipment has a polypropylene manure removing belt installed. The belt contributes into good microclimate in the poultry house. With cage housing the poultry growing expenses (heating system in the poultry house, labor expenses, no necessity of expensive litter material, feeding processes automation, microclimate maintenance, poultry move out, etc.) significantly reduce. Installation of the cage equipment for broilers growing at Dneprovsky poultry farm is the first step in Ukrainian poultry farmers switching from floor type of broilers growing to cages. It will contribute into production volume enlarging without investing in the capital building construction, and also into improving of economical characteristics in the field generally. *The cage equipment of TEXHA PA may house up to 60 225 daily broilers with 40.5 birds per square meter of the poultry house density. By using of the floor type of broilers raising only 25 thousand birds with the 17.5 broilers per square meter of the poultry house density may be placed in the same poultry house. Considering the full poultry house utilisation you may get up to 100 kg of poultry meat from 1 square meter in the 3 tiers cage equipment per one growing circle. By using the 4 tiers equipment the number increases for 25%. Source: Texha