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31 July 2012

Vietnam: Feed, sows and diseases make pig farming like gambling

//31 Jul 2012
Experts say there are three deeper causes which make Vietnam’s pig industry particularly vulnerable during the current-day feed crisis: breeder pigs, feed and veterinary issues.
The Vietnamese animal husbandry industry lacks an adequate guideline for development, and these are the three main culprits for its gloomy status.

Breeder pigsAssociate professor Dr Le Van Kinh from the Vietnam Agricultural Technologies Institute, says Vietnamese breeder pigs are of poor quality, which increases cost price for raising pigs. “And consequently, farmers will suffer losses when pork prices slump,” adds Kinh.

FeedMeanwhile, figures from the Vietnam Husbandry Association show that the country has to import as much as 80% of raw materials for animal feed manufacturing, which costs a massive US$3 billion a year.

Again, the heavy reliance on imported materials results in higher expenses for pig raisers.

“In other countries, feeds only account for 50 to 55% of the cost price, while the figure is 75% in Vietnam,” says Chung Kim, a pig raising tycoon in the southern Binh Duong Province.

Veterinary issuesRegarding disease management, Nguyen Dien Tuong, director of the Dong Nai Agricultural Livestock Product JSC (Dolico), says the government has been deploying a wrong approach to controlling epidemics.

“Several diseases break out in Dong Nai every year, but the government only begins to fight back the epidemics after they have already broken out,” says Tuong.

“While prevention is better than cure, the government just follows a reverse procedure.”

Imported meatsLocal pig farmers are also under other threats: being invaded by imported meats, and international companies.

Players like Charoen Pokphand (Thailand), Japfa (Indonesia), and Emivest (Malaysia) have almost taken control of the domestic chicken and egg markets, and are now eyeing the pig raising sector. The sows raised by these companies now account for 10% of the country’s herd.

GamblingAll industry insiders, from individual pig farmers to tycoons, say raising pig is similar to gambling: Lots of money are being invested – but it’s unclear whether the money can be earned again.

Le Van Me, director of Phu Son Co in the southern province of Dong Nai, says pig raisers are all alone in the struggle to maintain the business. “Prices just go up and down, while epidemics constantly lurk around – it’s like farmers will have to gamble forever,” says Me.

Belarus bans pork imports from districts with African Swine Fever

//31 Jul 2012
Belarus has banned imports of pork from Tver and Volgograd regions of Russia due to the unprecedented spread of African Swine Fever (ASF).

Yury Pyvovarchyk, Belarus chief state veterinary inspector stated last week: "The department of veterinary and food supervisory decided to prohibit pig, pork and pork product imports from the Tver and Volgograd regions into Belarus."
The press sevice of the Belarus ministry of agriculture and food added: "The ban also applies to leather, horns, hoofs and intestinal material, hog wool, wild boar, hunting trophies, animal feed and feed additives for animals, as well as to used equipment for maintenance, slaughter and butchering of pigs."
Contaminated feed and food waste is currently being considered as the second-most cause of the spread of African Swine Fever within Russia. Most importantly, the uncontrolled migration of wild boars is named.
New regions affected
Meanwhile, the Russian Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (Rosselhoznadzor) reported other outbreaks, in Krasnodar and Novgorod regions of the country.
In Novgorod, the outbreak was revealed by the specialists of the Ministry of Emergency.
The service stated: “On July 26th, 2012 we received information that in the forest near the village Vorobyovo of Krestetskogo municipal district, Novgorod region, a dead wild boar has been found dead. Samples from the corpse showed positive results for African Swine Fever virus." (by Vladislav Vorotnikov)

30 July 2012

Russian vet service reports largest culling ever due to ASF


//27 Jul 2012
A record number of 100,000 pigs will have to be culled in the Russian Tver region (north west of Moscow). Rosselkhoznadzor, the Russian Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance, reports to have found African Swine Fever (ASF) in a large swine operation.
On July 24, the veterinary service an reported that an outbreak was registered in the Tver region, in the Rameshskim district – in the pig farm Zavolzhsky. In the complex five animals were said to have been found dead due to ASF. Total stock in the county amounted to 100,000 head of pigs. The statement reads that currently, a team of experts is in the farm to clarify the extent of the threat and to organise all necessary measures to prevent the spread of the disease.

Experts are certain all the livestock in the enterprise will have to be culled. In this case, the reportd outbreak would mean the largest ASF-related culling in Russia since the spread of this disease.

Experts of analytical agency Agrorucom stated: "Outbreaks of ASF on such a large enterprise undermine the investment attractiveness of the pig industry in Russia. When the disease enters the farm, where significant investment has been spent just to comply with safety and veterinary standards, investors begin to panic and they want as quickly as possible to withdraw their money from the industry. And the assurances of officials in this situation do not save it - we saw it in the south of Russia, now it is happening in the central regions."

Earlier outbreak
One day earlier, the service had reported the detection of outbreak of African Swine Fever in the same district of the Tver region, north west of Moscow. According to preliminary data, a maximum of 1,500 head would have to be culled.

The report of Rosselkhoznadzor stated: "During the study of the All-Russian Scientific Research Institute of Veterinary Virology and Microbiology of the samples of pathological material, selected from a pig, fallen in one of the private farms in the village Dulovskoe of Rameshkovskogo District, Tver Region, ASF virus genetic material was detected."

The statement says that at the place of the outbreak of the disease steps have been taken to contain and prevent further spread of infection.

Related website:
• Rosselkhoznadzor

Mexico begins mass poultry vaccination


//30 Jul 2012
Mexico has begun vaccinating 10 million chickens and hens against the bird flu virus in the central west state of Jalisco.
Some five million birds have been slaughtered so far as authorities race to contain the outbreak of the highly-contagious H7N3 virus, which has cost the Mexican poultry industry some $50 million since it was first detected on June 20.

Mexican President Felipe Calderon announced the initiation of the mass vaccination progamme to put an end to the bird flu epidemic. Calderon said Mexico aims to produce 80 million vaccinations so that “in the coming weeks, (we) can end this economic impact on poultry producers.”

The Mexican government declared a national animal emergency earlier this month and several laboratories have been tasked with making the vaccines.

Such outbreaks are monitored closely in Mexico since H1N1 began there in 2009 before spreading around the world and killing 17,000 people.

In addition to the vaccination program quarantined areas have been established and epidemiological surveillance activities are on-going.

29 July 2012

Outbreak of influenza A virus among humans and swine at county fair

//27 Jul 2012
Both visitors as well as swine appear to have contracted influenza A (H3N2) at a recent county fair, held in Indiana, 8-14 July.
The Centers for Disease Control reported that during 12-16 July, the Indiana State Department of Health and the Indiana Board of Animal Health identified respiratory illness among swine and persons at a county fair. On 16 July, specimens were collected from four persons with respiratory illness; two had become ill on 12 July and sought care at an emergency department, and two were identified as part of the subsequent public health investigation. All four persons were swine exhibitors or family members of swine exhibitors and had close contact with swine.

On 18 July, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing at the Indiana State Department of Health laboratory identified suspected influenza A (H3N2) variant (H3N2v) virus in all four specimens.

On 21 July, partial genome sequencing at CDC confirmed H3N2v virus with the influenza A (H1N1)pdm09 virus M gene; the viruses detected in the four specimens are similar to 12 viruses detected in 2011 and one detected earlier this year. None of the four persons were hospitalised, and all have fully recovered.

Additionally, all respiratory specimens collected from a sample of 12 swine at the fair were positive for influenza A (H3N2) virus. The specimens were forwarded to the National Veterinary Services Laboratories of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) for additional testing. Preliminary genetic analysis has shown a very high level of similarity between the gene sequences of H3N2v viruses from humans and the H3N2 viruses from swine.

TransmissionAlthough human-to-human transmission of H3N2v has been limited in previous outbreaks, these viruses could change to transmit efficiently among humans. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommend to persons who raise swine or come into close contact with swine at fairs or other venues should be aware of the potential risk for influenza transmission between swine and humans. To reduce this risk, preventive measures such as practicing frequent hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette are recommended. Persons also should avoid close contact with animals that look or act ill, when possible, and if experiencing influenza-like illness themselves, should avoid contact with swine.

Additional guidelines on prevention of influenza transmission between humans and swine are available.

Related websites:
Centers for Disease Control
Indiana State Department

US pork council complains about trade barriers

//27 Jul 2012
The US National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) yesterday complained about trade barriers that makes pork producers and the US economy lose billions of dollars in exports. The NPPC spoke of 'non-science-based food-safety and health barriers erected by foreign countries'.
Testifying on behalf of NPPC, Jim Boyer, a hog farmer from Ringsted, IA, told the Small Business Committee’s agriculture, energy and trade panel that so-called sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures are restricting market access for US pork and are adversely affecting US pork producers, particularly small ones like him.

Those trade-restricting barriers must fall, said Boyer in discussing SPS issues NPPC wants addressed in any trade agreements the United States negotiates, including:

Trans-Pacific Partnership: While the US pork industry supports the TPP – an 11-nation regional trade pact – countries that are part of the agreement must eliminate their SPS barriers. The deal also should include an SPS chapter with a meaningful dispute-settlement provision.

Russia: The country, which soon will join the World Trade Organization, has a number of SPS measures that restrict US pork imports, including a zero-tolerance standard for pathogens on meat, a standard no country can meet. Russia should abide by the WTO’s Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures.

European Union: Although it should be one of the largest export markets for US pork, the EU is one of the smallest because of its SPS barriers. Any US-EU trade agreement must address such non-science-based trade restrictions.

Taiwan: The Asian nation unfairly restricts US pork exports from hogs fed ractopamine, a feed additive approved by the US Food and Drug Administration, 25 other countries and the UN’s food-safety standards-setting body. Taiwan’s entry into the TPP negotiations should hinge on it eliminating that SPS barrier.

“We are convinced that if we sit by passively while SPS measures are erected and maintained, we will see our exports rapidly erode,” Boyer testified. “Pork producers understand that the future of our industry depends on adopting new and safe technologies and in expanding exports. We must protect our current market access from unfair barriers or such expansion will be impossible.”
Related website:
National Pork Producers Council (NPPC)
 

26 July 2012

Smithfield Foods to import Brazilian corn for its pigs


//26 Jul 2012
With the US corn prices increasing due to the drought, Smithfield Foods, the world's largest pork producer, has announced that it will import corn from Brazil.
The move shows that growing costs for US feeds affect the livestock and meat industry. The worst drought for years has hit the US corn belt deeply, leading to tight supplies and higher prices.

A Smithfield spokeswoman confirmed the company's decision to use Brazilian corn in its pig-raising operations, after the Financial Times reported earlier this week that meat companies including Smithfield had arranged to ship Brazilian corn to the East Coast. It's unclear how much has been bought or when it will arrive in the US. Smithfield, headquartered in Virginia, has hog-production operations on the US East Coast and elsewhere.

Paulo Molinari, a consultant at Brazil's Safras & Mercado, told the Wall Streed Journal that corn at Brazilian ports is currently going for around $290 per metric ton, compared with $345 in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. Shipping corn to the United States from Brazil adds anywhere from $30 to $40 per ton to that cost.

"There's never been this big of a difference in price," Molinari said. "Brazilian corn is almost always at the same level as in the Gulf of Mexico, if not higher."

Analysts say it is unusual for an American livestock producer to import supplies from Latin America, as the US is the world's biggest producer and exporter of corn. Tyson Foods declined to comment on whether it has purchased Brazilian corn.

Related website:
• Smithfield Foods

High feed costs could lead to crisis in Russia’s pig production


//26 Jul 2012
The cost of pork production could increase by at least 25% by the end of the year due to rising feed prices according to Russia’s analytical centre ‘Sovekon’.
Last week, Russian feed grain prices continued to rise, although the growth rates were lower than in the previous week, the executive director of ‘Sovekon’ Andrei Sizov, Jr said. If the growth trend continues in August with the same speed it could spell disaster for the Russian pork market.

During the summer the average cost of feed grain in Russia increased by 450 rubles per tonne (US$ 15) per week - a record growth rate for the Russian market. As a result, since May of this year, according to various estimates, the cost of feed for pigs has increased by 15.7%, resulting in a significant reduction in profitability of producers nationwide.

The current situation in the feed grain market in Russia is considered critical - over the last week in the southern regions of the country there was rain, this slowed down the rise in feed prices, but experts say that it will be only temporary repreve.

Stabilization of prices in the southern regions is temporary, said Sizov. "The continuing worsening of the US’s corn harvest prospects plus record stock prices for wheat and corn in Chicago can be considered an indication that the upward trend for global and Russian prices will continue," - he said. The ceiling value of domestic prices has not yet been reached, and this is obvious.

A further increase of 15% for pig feed by the end of the year could lead to disaster for the pig industry in Russia, resulting in a third of businesses finding themselves below the threshold of profitability which will led to bankruptcy, experts added.

25 July 2012

Heineken and pig farmers benefit from wheat export ban


//24 Jul 2012
According to Bloomberg Argentina’s policy of capping wheat exports to contain food inflation is having the “perverse effect” of benefiting brewers such as Heineken and cheapening feed for pig farmers in China.
Argentine farmers will boost barley planting by 17% this year at the expense of wheat, which will shrink to the second lowest in a century, the Buenos Aires Cereals Exchange said. Barley escapes President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner’s export restrictions.

Breweries such as Heineken and Anheuser-Busch InBev, the maker of Budweiser, stand to gain as Argentina cheapens one of their main input costs, Raul Maestre, the treasurer of Argentina’s wheat growers association told Bloomberg.

Growers are also attracted to barley as rising corn prices are forcing pig and chicken farmers in China to switch to barley as feed, he said.

“Farmers are running away from wheat because of this government intervention,” Daniel Miro, president of agro- industrial consultancy Novitas SA told Bloomberg in a telephone interview. “Barley is an emerging cereal.”

Farmers traditionally opted to grow wheat instead of barley because of its higher value in export markets, Miro said.

Price surge
The value of domestic wheat in Argentina has slumped below $200 a metric tonne, compared with $210 a tonne for feed barley, Maestre said.

Wheat futures in the Chicago Mercantile Exchange have surged 49% since mid-June and reached $9.38 a bushel ($345 a metric ton) last week, the highest for a most-active contract since Aug. 21, 2008.

Barley, which doesn’t trade on the CME, fetches between $340 and $350 for high-quality cereal bought by brewers overseas and between $300 and $320 for animal feed, Miro said.

China’s animal feed importers are lowering their barley quality standards to make up a global grain shortage, Miro said.

Saudi Arabia is the biggest importer of Argentine barley because the cereal is preferred as an animal feed to corn, according to Novitas.

Canada invests in food safety for chicken industry


//25 Jul 2012
The Government of Canada is supporting chicken farmers by strengthening food safety systems on chicken farms across the country.
Member of Parliament James Bezan (Selkirk—Interlake), on behalf of Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz, announced an investment of up to $72,500 to the Chicken Farmers of Canada (CFC) as the organisation met for its annual summer meeting in Winnipeg.

"Helping Canadian farmers continue to produce safe, high-quality food for the marketplace is critical, as our government's top priority remains the economy," said MP Bezan. "This project will help chicken farmers proactively manage food safety risks so they can continue to meet growing market demands."

The CFC will use this investment to undergo an audit of its on-farm food safety system, helping to ensure that the chicken industry follows top-notch safety procedures and practices. The CFC will then proceed to the final stage of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency's On-Farm Food Safety Recognition Program. This national program follows the Hazard Analysis of Critical Control Points (HACCP) principles to make sure that potential food safety problems are caught before products leave the farm gate.

The CFC is working toward becoming the first organisation to achieve full recognition by this program, and other organisations will be able to learn from the experiences of this pilot project. A strong, government-recognised food safety system will give Canadians more assurance that food products are handled safely, helping to boost farmers' bottom line.

This federal Growing Forward investment is being made through the Canadian Integrated Food Safety Initiative (CIFSI).

23 July 2012

US poultry exports set records again

  
//23 Jul 2012
US poultry meat exports for the first five months of 2012 increased by 13% from the same span last year, reaching 1.66 million metric tons, while export value for the period climbed 24% to $2.22 billion, according to trade data released recently by the Foreign Agricultural Service.
For the second consecutive month, quantity and value of poultry meat exports set year-on-year records.
Poultry exports for May reached 336,387 tons valued at $460 million, up 5% and 13%, respectively, from the May 2011. Export value for the month was the highest ever.
Broiler meatMay exports of broiler meat (excluding chicken paws) totaled 271,883 tons, up 6% from May 2011. Export value reached $353.8 million, up 17% year over year.
For January through May, cumulative exports of broiler meat (excluding paws) rose by 13% to 1.33 million tons, while value reached $1.68 billion, up 28% from the same period in 2011, both setting year-on-year records.
Broiler meat shipments to Mexico for the period grew by 18% over last year to 217,062 tons, while exports to Russia increased by 138% to 111,333 tons. Exports to Cuba hit 64,367 tons, up 267% year on year, while shipments to Canada were 63,712 tons, up 19%.
Important marketsExports to other important markets included Angola, 62,445 tons, up 30%; Taiwan, 60,581 tons, up 17%; Hong Kong, 59,279 tons, down 34%; Iraq, 53,558 tons, down 11%; Kazakhstan, 43,504 tons, up almost eight-fold year on year; and China, 34,108 tons, up 64%.
Chicken pawsExports of US chicken paws in May were 32,319 tons valued at $44.2 million, up 9 and 2% compared to May 2011. Cumulative paw exports for the first five months reached 163,518 tons, up 20% year on year. Export value set a year-year-year record at $219.8 million, up 9%.
Of total paw shipments, 81% were shipped to Hong Kong, and 17% were shipped to mainland China.
Total January-May broiler exports (including paws) this year set year-on-year records in both volume and value, with an export quantity of 1.5 million tons valued at $1.9 billion, up 14% and 26%, respectively.
Of the total, 43% was shipped to the top five markets – Mexico, Hong Kong, Russia, Cuba, and Canada.
Turkey exportsMay exports of US turkey meat declined to 27,989 tons, down 5% from the same month in 2011. Even so, export value set a record for the month of May at $52.3 million, up 4% from May 2011.
Cumulative January-May turkey exports reached 139,183 tons, up 11%, with a value of $267.6 million, an increase of 23% from the same period in 2011. Both quantity and export value set year-on-year records.
Exports to Mexico, the top market for US turkey, were 75,956 tons valued at $156.7 million, up 6% and 14%, respectively. Shipments to China, the second most important market for U.S. turkey, dropped by 20% to 14,931 tons, while export value reached $24.4 million, up 21%.
Five markets accounted for 79% of total US turkey meat exports – Mexico, China, Hong Kong, the Philippines, and Canada, with Mexico alone accounting for 55%.
Table egg exportsFor table eggs, export quantity for May 2012 was 10.2 million dozen valued at $8.6 million, up 21.7 and 5.6%, respectively, thanks largely to increased shipments to Hong Kong and the UAE.
January-May table egg exports reached 39.7 million dozen valued at $35.6 million, up 28% and 26% year on year, respectively. The top five markets of Hong Kong, Canada, the UAE, the Bahamas, and Netherlands Antilles accounted for 81% of total exports.
Processed eggsFor processed egg products, May exports were $12.6 million, up 4% from May 2011. While export value to Japan, which is normally the top market for U.S. processed eggs, decreased by 43% to $3.9 million, exports to the European Union increased by 116% to $4.6 million, largely a factor of the shortage of breaking stock in the EU.
The cumulative value of egg products exports for January through May were $59.1 million, up 19%. Exports to the EU increased by141% to $23 million, accounting for 39% of US total exports, while shipments to Japan decreased by 27% to $18.1 million, accounting for 31% of the total.
Total egg exports (table eggs plus egg products in shell egg equivalents) for the first five months of this year were 99.3 million dozen, up 6% from the same period of last year, while export value hit $94.7 million, up 22% year over year. Both export quantity and export value set year-on-year records.

Custom Union bans poultry imports from Mexico

//23 Jul 2012
The Customs Union of Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus has imposed temporary restrictions on imports of poultry from Mexico due to the recent outbreak of avian influenza in this country. The initiator of the ban was the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Supervision (Rosselhoznadzor).
The three countries currently have a trading agreement that if one member of the Custom Union bans livestock production from the third party the same restrictions should be implemented in other two members of the Union.
“This measurement is regulated at the level of the Customs Union and the ban comes into force in the territories of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan simultaneously, according to existing trade agreements between our countries,” reported the representative of the service.
The restrictions apply to imports of live poultry, incubating eggs, feathers, poultry meat and all other kinds of poultry not subjected to thermal processing below 70 degrees Celsius, poultry fodder and equipment used for poultry slaughter and processing. The restrictions were imposed after mass incidents of bird flu were caused by a highly toxic virus H7N3 registered in Mexico.
Mexico accounts for 16. 5 million poultry species, with 3.4 million poultry species being infected. A total of 2.5 million poultry species have already been culled.
Source: Vladislav Vorotnikov

Research: Chicken NK-lysin gene a cancer fighter

//19 Jul 2012
Researchers have discovered variations in the gene responsible for NK-lysin production in chickens that could benefit cancer treatments.
An article published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, reports on the effects of a slight change in the chicken NK-lysin gene.
NK-lysin is a substance that chickens produce that works as anti-microbial agent. The variations of this gene, caused by single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), create slightly different versions of NK-lysin to be expressed, and one of these genetic variations has been found to bee highly anti-microbial and had properties that could aid cancer treatments.
The research was carried out at the Seoul National University in South Korea and examined 62 White Leghorn and 53 Cornish chickens for NK-lysin diversity.
James Womack, one of the co-authors of the paper based at Texas A&M, commenting on the paper, said:
"One of the genetic variations shows it has the ability to fight against cancer cells much more aggressively than the other variation. We certainly were not looking at the cancer side of this, but there it was."
Womack says the team selected the two breeds because Cornish and White Leghorn chickens, found throughout most of the world, have relatively diverse genetic origins.
After conducting a DNA sequence of the chickens, the team found two variations of the genes that offered clues as to their protective ability to ward off infections.
"One form appears to be more potent in killing off cancer cells than the other, and that's the one that naturally caught our eye," Womack adds.
"This could lead to other steps to fight cancer or in developing ways to prevent certain infections or even diseases. It's another door that has been opened up. We are looking at similar studies right now to see if this is possible with cattle.
"The next step is to work with other animals and see if similar variants exist. We need to look for any genetic similarities to the chicken variants and then determine if these variants affect the health of the animal, but this is an exciting first step in this direction."
Sources: PNAS, Texas A&M

IFE study: Eggs today healthier and safer

//20 Jul 2012
The UK’s Institute of Food Research have released a study that concludes that eggs today are healthier, safer and more nutritious than they were 30 years ago. The reason? Better feed.
Institute of Food Research scientists believe eggs are healthier now because the new feed also helps the hens to absorb more vitamin D and other nutrients.
Since the 1980s, hens have been fed a mixture of wheat, corn, vegetable oil and high-protein formulated feed, rather than meat and bone-meal. A study funded by the UK Department of Health found that the average mid-sized egg now has nearly 25% less saturated fat - which is linked to heart disease - than one sold in the 1980s.
Better technology also means scientists can now analyse the nutritional content of eggs
more accurately.
Not only are eggs found to be lower in fat, cholesterol and calories, but they also contain more vitamin D than before, nearly twice the amount that was noted in the 1980s.
The study also found now the eggs contain 177 micrograms of cholesterol, which clogs arteries, just over 10% less than the 202 micrograms previously recorded. They have fewer calories than experts originally thought, too - there are 66 in a medium egg, not 78.
Sources: Deccan Herald, IFR

CEJA: A future for pig farmers?

//19 Jul 2012
CEJA, the European Council of Young Farmers, was present at a recent EU Commission conference reviewing CAP’s future. CEJA’s delegate gave a presentation on young farmers and food security. More farmers in Ireland are over the age of 80 than under the age of 35; a major problem for the survival of Europe’s future food sector.
Eric Driver, delegate from CEJA’s Irish member organisation Macra na Feirme, had the
opportunity to make a presentation on young farmers and food security in a
European Commission conference entitled “The CAP Towards 2020 – Taking Stock with
Civil Society” in Brussels, Belgium.
The high-level, invitation-only conference featured a number of important speakers, including Commissioner Dacian Cioloş, and Cypriot Minister for Agriculture and current President of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council Sofoclis Aletraris, who opened the conference with a plenary session. This was followed by a choice to attend one of three workshops featuring a variety of speakers, from Director Generals to agricultural professors and heads of unit. CEJA was represented in Workshop A on the topic of Food Security, by a young Irish farmer, Eric Driver.
Young farmers need support from policiesMr Driver focused his presentation on the need for young farmers to be equipped with the right policy measures and tools in order for them to help secure European and global food security, particularly calling for positive regulation for young farmers in the CAP’s key areas. Statistics have recently been published demonstrating that there are more farmers over the age of 80 in Ireland than under the age of 35 – a shocking indicator of the gravity of the current situation.
In this context, Driver outlined CEJA’s position on young farmers requiring access to national reserves, crisis management tools, and the continuation of the sugar quota regime with the possibility for Member states out of the system to be able to re-enter it.
Driver echoed the longstanding CEJA position on young farmers’ measures in the CAP while calling for a comprehensive start-up package for young people attempting to enter the sector. Concluding his presentation, Eric Driver stated that “we as active farmers alongside the European authorities […] must ensure that this important [CAP] budget is being sent directly to the farmer in the field, producing the food for tomorrow.”
Source: CEJA

China’s pork prices fall 0.7%

//20 Jul 2012
Figures released by China’s Ministry of Commerce show that the prices of farm-yard produce fell, with pork falling by 0.7% from last week’s prices, Xinhua reports.
The wholesale prices of 18 types of vegetables fell 1.4% last week, returning to a downward trajectory after posting a 1.4% rebound the week before, according to figures from the Ministry of Commerce.
High temperatures and rainy weather had affected vegetable growth and transportation and boosted prices the week before.
Last week, the price of pork, a staple meat in China, dropped 0.7% from a week earlier and 23.5 percent year on year, the ministry said in a statement on its website.
The retreat came after the year-on-year growth of China's consumer price index (CPI), a main gauge of inflation, eased to 2.2% in June, its lowest level since January 2010.
Falling farm produce prices may help further ease domestic inflationary pressure, as food prices account for a nearly one-third of the prices used to calculate the CPI.
Sources: Xinhua, China Daily

South Korea: imported pork prices jump 10.6%

//23 Jul 2012
South Korea's imported pork prices increased by 10.6% despite the general negative growth of imported farm goods for four straight months in June, customs data showed.
The import price index for agricultural, livestock and fishery products reached 122.2 points in June, down 3.1% from a year earlier, according to the Korea Customs Service (KCS). From a month before, the index gained 4.3 percent.
The index logged the on-year decline for four months in a row after posting its first on-year drop in 17 months in March.
Prices for imported agricultural products retreated 3.5% in June from a year before. Prices for seasoning vegetable such as red pepper, garlic and onions showed an overall downward trend last month, while prices for cereals and nuts mostly showed upward trend.
Imported livestock product prices dipped 0.4% on-year in June, down from a 3.5% rise tallied in May. Prices for chicken meat and pork jumped 45.6% and 10.6% each, but beef prices were down 2.7 percent last month.
Fisheries
Meanwhile, prices for fishery products advanced 0.3% on- year in June, down from a 2.5 % advance in the previous month. Prices of scallop, pollack and webfoot octopus jumped 37.7%, 32% and 20% each, but those of hairtail and small octopus declined 5.1% and 16.6% each.
Source: Xinhua 

18 July 2012

PRRS spreads quickest on humid, cool days


//18 Jul 2012
The ideal weather condition for the airborne spread of PRRS is a humid, cool day with rising pressure and low sunlight levels.
This knowledge Dr Satoshi Otake, University of Minnesota, shared with his audience at the latest International Pig Veterinary Society (IPVS) Congress, at Jeju Island, South Korea. He spoke at the Boehringer Ingelheim satellite symposium.

Dr Otake discussed the outcomes of the extensive research at the university to (airborne) transmission of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) and what strategies may work best to avoid contamination.

He showed both pictures below to illustrate conditions of a high risk (top) and a low risk (bottom) situation.















A high risk weather situation for PRRS aerosol transmission.


















A low risk weather situation for PRRS aerosol transmission.

Conditions
Meteorological conditions associated with airborne PRRSV would be:
• Cool temperatures: -2.6 degrees C to 4.8 degrees C
• High relative humidity: 77-82%
• Rising pressure: 979-984 hPa
• Low sunlight levels

The research also focused on air filtration, as the university’s research team stated a hypothesis that sustainable freedom from PRRSV in a swine-dense region is dependent upon air filtration. The research covered 1,438 days (from June 2006 until November 2010), utilised 4,744 pigs, tested on Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae next to PRRS virus, tested three types of filters (mechanical, antimicrobial and electrostatic) and collected 38,519 samples from different sources.

With regard to filter efficacy, Dr Otake referred to his results, published in Virus Direct: “While all types tested successfully prevented airborne transmission of PRRSV and M hyo, differences were observed in their ability to prevent airborne transport.”

Risk factors, he said, associated with airborne PRRSV were:
• Neighbouring source population actively shedding virus via aerosols
• Directional winds moving from a shedding source to an at-risk population
• Winds of low velocity (1.4 to 1.9 m/s) with intermittentgusts (2.8 to 3.7 m/s)

Controlling PRRS
The take-home message of his speech, was a positive one. Dr Otake summarised: “For the first time since its emergence, 'sustainable freedom from PRRSV' in a swine-dense region is now possible to achieve and maintain for significant periods of time. The importance of all the basic biosecurity practices for people, fomites, transport, etc. should not be forgotten.”

The satellite symposium by Boehringer Ingelheim was titled A Comprehensive Approach to Swine Respiratory Disease. It featured practical ideas on controlling important respiratory diseases in pigs. The company produces and markets vaccines against PRRS (Ingelvac PRRS) and M hyo (Ingelvac MycoFlex).

Related websites:
• IPVS 2012
• University of Minnesota
• Boehringer Ingelheim

Hong Kong approves new bird flu vaccine


//18 Jul 2012
The Hong Kong Government (HKG) has announced that it will recommend the Re-5 H5N1 Avian Influenza (AI) vaccine for use as an alternative for the already in use Intervet Nobilis H5N1 AI vaccine. Hong Kong maintains a mandatory vaccination policy for its local poultry farms. The recommendation came after a 12-month field trial.
Hong Kong installed its vaccination policy in 2003, but continuing re-occurrences of bird flu on some farms prompted the government is evaluate the vaccines efficacy.

Background
The first avian influenza outbreak in Hong Kong occurred in 1997 and the H5N1 virus killed six people. Over the years, the HKG introduced a series of measures to combat AI risks. Since then there was no local human infection other than two human imported cases in 2003, one in 2010, and one so far in 2012. There was no AI outbreak in local chicken farms since 2008. However, there was one chicken carcass found infected with H5N1 in a wholesale market in 2011. The Hong Kong government concluded that the AI risk in Hong Kong remains low and stable but it is not scientifically justifiable to expect complete elimination of AI risk.

The Hong Kong government developed and adopted a series of precautionary measures in the past decade which have been proved effective in lowering AI risks in Hong Kong. These measures include:

Surveillance of birds at all levels such as poultry imports and local supplies;
Mandatory vaccination for both local and imported live chickens;
Enforcing biosecurity measures in local farms;
Restricting chicken imports from China to registered farms;
Prohibiting overnight stocking of live chickens in retail outlets;
Prohibiting backyard poultry;
Reducing the number of chicken farms through a “license surrender” program. The current farm number stood at 30 with a total of 1.3 million chicken populations; and
Reducing the daily supply of live chickens to 15,000 head compared to 100,000 in 2003.
Conclusion
Both the in-use Intervet manufactured vaccine and the field-trialed Harbin Re-5 vaccine demonstrate similar efficacies against the H5N1 virus.

Farmers are reported to have mixed feelings concerning the new vaccine, but the lower cost of the Re-5 vaccine is expected to sway them.

Source: USDA

15 July 2012

New fan for pig houses reduces energy bill by 50-70%

//11 Jul 2012
Danish pig equipment company MHJ Agroteknik recently launched its new EC-fan. Depending on the type of fan, up to 50-70% of electricity consumption can be saved.
If it is a Triac-controlled fan (a triode – an electrical component for alternating current) the new EC-fan will save up to 70% of electricity consumption. If it is an electronic frequency controlled fan, farmers can save up to 50%.
The novel type of fan has a more optimised wing design, which provides a higher effect at the same rotations per minute. In other words, the EC-fan can move more air, especially at low rotation speed. The electricity consumption reduction is strongest in winter, as the demand to cooling is lower and wing speed is generally low.

In addition, since the EC-fan can provide a higher negative pressure in the livestock section at the same amount of rotations per minute, the wall air inlets can be opened earlier. This means that speed of the wings can be lowered even more, with further energy savings as a result.

In Denmark the average consumption per finisher (30-105 kg) is 10 kWh. Data collected on a Danish farm shows that this can be reduced with 50% if old fans are replaced with the new EC-fan, see Figure 1.
Figure 1. The development in the monthly consumption of electricity on a farm in the years before and after the installation of EC-fans (kWh per month, Y-axis). The EC-fans were installed during March to October 2010.


Noise reduction
Another feature of the novel fan type is the reduction of noise. The motor is silent and there is no whistling in the regulation. A motor protection and an ELCB-relay are incorporated in the fan.

The new EC-fan fits into all existing ventilation systems. Only the motor, wings and the control unit have to be replaced. This means low installation costs. (by Anja Pernille Jacobsen, freelance journalist)

Related website:
MHJ Agroteknik

Canada’s pork subsidies frustrate Trans-Pacific partners

//13 Jul 2012
Canada’s pork production subsidies have become the focus of much discussion now with Canada’s inclusion into the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).
The USA, New Zealand and Australia up in arms over Canada’s open agricultural subsidisation schemes, in particular those schemes centred on pork production. They claim that Canada’s support of the sector distorts the market for pork.
At the G20 summit, the nine-strong partnership of the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Brunei Darussalam, Chile, Malaysia, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam, also voted to include Mexico into the TPP. These nine economies have a combined gross domestic product (GDP) of US$16,968 trillion, a GDP per capita of US$33,546 and represent a population of 505.8 million people.
Canada and Mexico
The inclusion of Canada and Mexico now takes the 11 member TPP group to nearly 30 per cent of global GDP. This is a substantially larger trading power than the 27-nation European Union bloc. Whilst trading power is one element, the TPP goes beyond a traditional trade agreement and deals with behind-the-border impediments to trade and investment. The group serves as a pathfinder to broader regional economic integration, similar to the EU. This ultimately gives it potential to form the basis for free trade across the Asia – Pacific region. The main aim of the TPP negotiations is to eventually include all 21-member economies of Asia –Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) forum.
Distortion of the overseas markets
Australian Pork Limited CEO, Andrew Spencer, said “These subsidies cause significant distortions to overseas markets such as Australia, the US and NZ. Domestic subsidy programmes are generally not within the scope of free trade agreements. However, in this case Canadian agricultural subsidies are so wide ranging and have such a broad and far reaching impact on overseas markets it is on these grounds we, along with the US, and NZ, urge the TPP negotiators and governments to deal with these issues fairly as part of the process”.
“Canada needs to end its federal and provincial hog subsidy programs, which are distorting the North American and world pork markets,” said R.C. Hunt, president of the United States’ National Pork Producers Council and a hog farmer from Wilson, NorthCarolina. “Subsidy programs are antithetical to free trade and to the spirit of the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations that Canada is entering.”
New Zealand Pork CEO, Owen Symmans, said “We support safe free trade with appropriate management of biosecurity and food safety risks. However, we are concerned that Canada enters the TPP with federal and provincial government subsidies for the Canadian pig industry in place. This sort of blatant subsidisation [e.g, Ontario province’s Risk Management Program] places competing pork producers, who do not subsidise their production, at a distinctive disadvantage”.
Canadian Pork Council disputes distortion
The US has brought up Canada’s subsidies eight years ago, Reuters reports. Both Canada and Mexico have a free-trade agreement with the USA, in the shape of NAFTA, which went into effect in 1994. Since then, Canada’s industry has scaled back, partly due to increasing costs and the strength of the Canadian dollar. Given this scaling back, the executive director of the Canadian Pork Council, Martin Rice, has said that US claims of overseas market distortion are exaggerated, as Canadian position in the international pork market has lessened over time.

Influenza and PCVD discussed at fourth Merial Swine Forum

//13 Jul 2012
Over 230 swine pathology experts, vets, and researchers from over 28 countries of Europe and South Africa, participated in Merial’s 4th Swine Forum in Berlin, Germany, on May 30 and June 1. Main question of the forum: Is PCVD and Swine Influenza under control?
Concluding the Forum, Sophie Randoux, swine marketing head EMEA for the French animal health company concluded: “Yes! As we have seen, PCV2 and SI vaccines have proved their efficacy and also their technical and economic advantages as illustrated by trials done in research centres and by field testimonials. Diagnostic techniques and vaccination schedules are among subjects which still need to  be explored and which will be mobilizing our teams in the coming months.”

Sub-clinical forms
Dr Joaquin Segalès, director of the Animal Health Research Centre (CreSA) of Barcelona, Spain, opened the discussion on sub-clinical forms linked to Porcine Circovirus 2. As the vaccine has demonstrated its efficacy on the clinical form of the disease, Segalès invited the audience to consider efficacy of this vaccination on the more insidious subclinical form which is often a source of deteriorations of technical performance, hence economic performance.
Moreover, Professor Hans Nauwynck, of the University of Ghent, Belgium, reminded the assembly of the role of PCV2 in reproduction disorders and opened the debate on the importance of vaccinating breeders, and especially gilts against PCV2. Testimonies from European practitioners have confirmed the positive role of PCV2 in reproduction disorders in breeders and particularly in gilts.
“Although I was absolutely convinced of the importance of Circovac vaccine against PCV2 in piglets, this forum has made me reconsider my position regarding the vaccination of breeders,” said Francesco Salvini, a swine veterinarian, at the end of the PCVD Day presentations, which had clearly demonstrated the extra benefits of vaccinating piglets and breeders on a same farm.
Swine influenza virus
The second day was devoted to swine influenza, helped participants to evaluate the impact of this disease which remains a serious problem in all countries of Europe, as explained by Dr Gaëlle Simon, member of the ESNIP 3 (European Surveillance network for Influenza in pigs), and leader of the Work Package 2: Collecting swine influenza strains and epidemiological data. Gaëlle explained that in 2011, in most European countries, the most prevalent strains of swine influenza virus were H1N1, H1N2 and H3N2.
Gripovac 3 vaccine is the first vaccine which enables protection against these three strains. Dr Karen Van der Meulen, virologist at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at Ghent University, Belgium, shared results of research which proved the efficacy of the vaccine in reducing clinical signs, virus titre in the lungs and nasal excretion in piglets challenged with a recent European H1N2 strain. However the pandemic strain of the H1N1 virus needs to be further managed as it is still present throughout Europe; protection by the commercial vaccine does exist, but requires further investigations.

Reduction of antibiotics
For these two major pathologies which were the object of at least 13 presentations, it was quite obvious that vaccination caused a considerable reduction on the impact of pathogens on the technico-economic performance of farms, as well as less use of antibiotics.

This was a major subject which was the object of the opening lectures of the Merial Forum on 31st May. Drs Schillinger, Andreasen and Aerts practising respectively in Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands, explained their countries’ strategy regarding the reduction in the use of antibiotics on farms. Strict control on farms, formal legal notice procedures and sanctions to counter excessive use are all means used to control and limit the use and prescription of antibiotics, in order to achieve a 50% drop in use over the next five years.

Vaccination to reduce antibioticsIn this context, “which is inevitably impacting all production areas, all countries are affected; and vaccination is proving to  be the strongest weapon of all to control the the reduction in antibiotic consumption,” said Randoux in her concluding remarks.
“Vaccines against PCV2 and swine influenza have already broadly proved themselves, as illustrated by the diverse presentations of the Forum, coming from both fundamental science and practical field experience. Nevertheless, more studies are absolutely necessary, especially in the field of diagnostics, the prevalence of contaminants, and vaccination schedules which need to be even better adapted to different field situations.
“We still have lots of work before us”, she said announcing the 5th Merial Forum in 2013, which will be designed, as former symposia, on the complementary nature of presentations from fundamental science and testimonies from practitioners from all over Europe.
Related website:
Merial

Nepal reports itself HPAI-free

//12 Jul 2012
Nepal has declared itself HPAI free as of 8 July 2012, after surveillance of live bird markets, water bird areas, and the outbreak area itself, yielded no further cases.
The World Animal Health Organisation (OIE) received a report from the director general of the Department of Livestock Services, Dr Nar Bahadur Rajwar,  on 10 July that Nepal is declaring itself HPAI-free.
In March the stamping out, cleaning, disinfection disposal and sealing of the infected farm was completed. Following that, post-operative surveillance of the affected zone was intensified with a total of 3,123 samples being taken for monitoring. None of the samples tested positive for HPAI, and no further evidence for HPAI has been found for more than 90 days following the last outbreak. Nepal has therefore declared the event to be resolved.
Source: OIE

12 July 2012

FDA approves Eco Animal Health antibiotic for pigs


//12 Jul 2012
Eco Animal Health Group, a UK veterinary pharmaceutical specialist, has announced that the FDA has approved their product Aivlosin, a water soluble antibiotic for pigs.
The Food and Drugs Administration’s approval is a first for Eco in the US and follows last year’s approval by Canadian regulators. Eco can now roll out Aivlosin as a global veterinary product.

Aivlosin is used for the treatment of respiratory and enteric (gut) diseases in pigs and poultry. It is a water soluble product produced in granule form. Given that it dissolves readily in water, large numbers of animals can be treated simultaneously.

Analysts suggest that with the US approval Eco could gain a 10 per cent share of the global antibiotic market for pigs and poultry, another potential use for Aivlosin, while further development of the drug into an anti-viral product for animals could add more potential revenues.

Eco has been waiting for US approval for some time, but has been hampered by a backlog of work at the FDA. Eco chairman Peter Lawrence said: “This key milestone follows some 12 years of investment in product development and regulatory activity in North America.”

Eco established a joint venture sales and marketing company, Pharmgate Animal Health the US in 2010 to prepare for its launch.

Nepal reports itself HPAI-free


//12 Jul 2012
Nepal has declared itself HPAI free as of 8 July 2012, after surveillance of live bird markets, water bird areas, and the outbreak area itself, yielded no further cases.
The World Animal Health Organisation (OIE) received a report from the director general of the Department of Livestock Services, Dr Nar Bahadur Rajwar, on 10 July that Nepal is declaring itself HPAI-free.

In March the stamping out, cleaning, disinfection disposal and sealing of the infected farm was completed. Following that, post-operative surveillance of the affected zone was intensified with a total of 3,123 samples being taken for monitoring. None of the samples tested positive for HPAI, and no further evidence for HPAI has been found for more than 90 days following the last outbreak. Nepal has therefore declared the event to be resolved.

11 July 2012

Philippine farmers cull chicken early to improve local prices


//11 Jul 2012
Philippine poultry producers are culling their flocks early amid rising imports, industry sources say, hoping to improve poultry market prices.
Farmers said the early culling, or the harvesting of chicken for meat at an early stage, was part of a strategy to cut back on production cost and increase the farmgate price of chicken.

“DOC [day-old chicken] producers have started this practice. Those who are afraid that prices will continue increasing have started early culling. This is a cycle that usually happens whenever chicken prices drop,” United Broilers and Raisers Association president Gregorio San Diego said.

San Diego did not disclose how many poultry stocks were killed and how many were still up for culling.
Raisers and producers were complaining of production losses due to high cost of feeds, haggling and smuggling.

Industry data showed that chicken imports in the first quarter reached 30.65 million kg, up by 1.2% from 30.29 million kg a year ago.

“This, however, does not reflect the real data. There were imported chicken that were unaccounted for. There were those that sell cheaply in the supermarkets and wet markets. We have suggested measures to the Bureau of Customs, but they do not listen to us,” said San Diego.

Farmgate price of chicken currently ranges from P70 (€1.36) to P80 (€1.55) a kilo while retail price at wet markets and groceries is between P140 (€2.72) and P160 (€3.11) a kilo of dressed whole chicken.

Smuggling damage
Data released by the industry showed that rampant smuggling and excessive importation of chicken choice cuts had displaced as much as P10.34 billion (€20 million) of local production in 2010.

The poultry sector is still estimating foregone revenues in 2011, although they claimed that 14,906 poultry workers lost their jobs.

The group noted the glaring discrepancy in government data that accounted for a difference of 12,000 tonnes between the allowed poultry imports within the minimum access volume and the actual imports.
It said that while the allowed volume was only 23,500 tonnes in 2011, data from the Bureau of Animal Industry showed poultry imports of 28,352 tonnes during the same year.

The minimum access volume committee, for its part, claimed utilization of only 16,233 tonnes in minimum access volume.

“The difference can only be justified as having been imported outside the minimum access volume or out-quota volume. But out-quota is subject to higher tariff of 40% instead of 35% for in-quota volume,” said San Diego.

Source: Manila Standard Today


10 July 2012

Kazakhstan now vaccinating swine in ongoing FMD epidemic


//09 Jul 2012
The OIE reports that, in the Foot-and-Mouth Disease vaccination campaign taking place in Kazakhstan, the authorities are now also including swine.
The Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak in Kazakhstan dates to August 2011 and is ongoing. A recent report to the OIE shows that, in tandem with an extensive vaccination campaign for cattle and sheep, 72 pigs have now also been treated with an unspecified vaccine.

The outbreak is ongoing and continues to be monitored, with standard quarantine measures being undertaken.

Related website:
• Organization for Animal Health (OIE)

09 July 2012

Thailand too small for Charoen Pokphand


//08 Jul 2012
Dhanin Chearavanont, chairman and chief executive officer of Charoen Pokphand Group, said that his agricultural conglomerate was eyeing retailers in Europe and the United States to acquire and looking at China to build up a food franchise there.
Dhanin spoke at a seminar hosted by Prachachart Turakij newspaper where he said that he was confident China would undertake another giant stride next year after a leadership change.

"I am sure China will change and leap forward. After the change to the new government there will be a shift in the right direction," he said.

Retail investments
To capture opportunities from the economic crises in Europe and the US, CP is interested in taking over companies with established retailing and logistics networks in those markets. Dhanin was, among others, looking at pork producer Smithfield and French retailer Carrefour.

"The US and Europe are in crisis, and I'm studying [the situation]. Smithfield, whose business spans from pig farms to the dining table, has seen its P/E [price-to-earnings ratio] drop from 10-20 times to eight times, and its [stock market] valuation falling to US$10 billion from several billion dollars previously. [The market capitalisation of] Europe's Carrefour has dropped from $50 billion to just over $10 billion today.

"But it will still not be this year. This year studying, next year acting," he said.

“The European crisis will eventually be solved but it that will not be too soon because the countries still try to tackle the problems through austerity measures, which will not work,” he said.

Three major powers
Despite concern over China's slowdown, the next boom will be driven by three major "powers" - the property, service and farm sectors - which have not yet fully utilised their potential, Dhanin said.

KFC marketing copy
CP is studying how to create a nationwide network of fast-food restaurants in China similar to KFC's fried-chicken chain. "We will do it like KFC, though we will sell Chinese food," he said.

The Southeast Asian region is "full of potential", especially Indonesia. "If after the presidential election there is no political stir, I think Indonesia will definitely surpass Thailand," he said.

Political stability required
However, Thailand still has a chance. "If Thai politics become stable, we might become No 1 in Asean," he said. "For the economy to go further, politics must stabilise. Germany has had a one-party monopoly for more than 40 years. Japan also more than 40 years," he said.

Dhanin said he had confidence in China because most Chinese leaders sacrificed and devoted themselves to the country. "China is least corrupt. If there is corruption, there must be a reason," he said.

Heat wave pushes soybean prices sky high


//09 Jul 2012
Pig and poultry producers fear for their margins after the price of soybean meal hit an all-time high as a result of the intense heat wave in the US farming belt.
Soybean meal on Thursday exceeded the record set during the 2007-08 food crisis. Benchmark CBOT July soymeal futures rose to a record $475 per short ton, up 4.6%.

Other futures markets also surged late in the session. Corn was at its highest in more than a year, with benchmark CBOT July corn reaching $7.76¾ a bushel, up 8.1% on the day.

The December contract, against which much of the coming harvest will be priced, hit a peak of $7.13 a bushel, up more than 37% over the last three weeks.

The jump in prices will specifically hurt chicken processors since poultry eat more than 40% of the meal crushed from US soybeans.

Meal prices soared along with broader grain markets as drought and temperatures of more than 100°F (38°C) were forecast to continue in US corn belt states such as Illinois, Indiana and Iowa, threatening crop yields.

The rally in corn and soybean prices also dragged wheat prices higher. CBOT July wheat rose 5.2% to $8.22½ a bushel, the highest since May 2011, when the market was still wrestling with the impact of an export ban in Russia.

Bird flu in Mexico claims a million chickens


//09 Jul 2012
An outbreak of the H7N3 bird flu virus in Mexico has infected about 2.5 million chickens and led to nearly one million birds being destroyed by authorities.
The outbreak, which was detected in the western state of Jalisco, the country's largest chicken farming region, has led officials to declare a state of national emergency. In addition the outbreak has led to price rises in poultry products in the country.

Officials said 129 farms in Jalisco have been inspected and the virus was confirmed in birds at 24 of the sites. Tests have continued on most of the rest. Jalisco produces around 11% of the country's poultry meat and 50% of its eggs, according to the US department of agriculture.

The ministry has ordered vaccinations from Asia and is also developing its own drugs domestically to combat the spread.

Iowa State scientist positive about PRRS elimination


//09 Jul 2012
According to Iowa State University researcher Derald Holtkamp, there are reasons to be optimistic about the progress being made in the ongoing battle against PRRS, Pork Network reports.
Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) is still costing the US pork industry about US$1.8 million per day, said Derald Holtkamp, DVM, assistant professor Veterinary Diagnostic & Production Animal Medicine at Iowa State University. He made his comments at the Iowa State University Swine Day in Ames, IA, United States.

The Iowa State University scientist is optimistic that the industry will continue making progress against the PRRS by using innovations. He mentioned regional PRRS virus elimination programmes as well as herd closure and rollover methodology as positive steps.

Herd closure
Holtkamp said that the herd closure and rollover method of eliminating the PRRS virus can have a high rate of success. He estimated that it costs about US$10 to US$40 per sow. Costs for a depop-repop method are estimated at US$250 to US$500 per sow.

Constant improvement in farm biosecurity is critical to maintain progress against the virus, Holtkamp added. “Producers need to take biosecurity protocols to go to the next level in PRRS prevention.”

Padrap
The Production Animal Disease Risk Assessment Program, (Padrap) is a survey-based online resource that can be used to evaluate a producer’s biosecurity protocols, added Holtkamp. “The programme can help inform producers about possible weaknesses in their biosecurity.” He pointed to filtration of incoming barn air and testing oral fluids for diagnosis of PRRS.

Holtkamp concluded: “Two initiatives that will help greatly in winning the battle against PRRS are the regional virus elimination programmes and increased emphasis on upgrading on-farm biosecurity efforts.”

Source: Pork Network

08 July 2012

Taiwan opposition: Continue ban on ractopamine in pork imports


//06 Jul 2012
The Taiwanese opposition is not impressed by the Codex Alimentarius commission’s decision to adopt an acceptable daily intake and maximum residue levels for pork and beef.
The main opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) urged the government Friday to maintain the ban on ractopamine in pork imports even if it decides to allow residues of the drug in imported beef products.

Taiwanese consumers buy about ten times more pork than beef each year, which warrants the attention of the health authorities, DPP legislator Tien Chiu-chin stated.

"The government should mandate by law a ban on ractopamine in imports of pork and internal organs, even if it opts to follow a decision made by the Codex Alimentarius Commission to allow certain levels of the leanness-enhancing drug ractopamine in beef,” Tien said.

Before the Codex decision, civic groups and opposition lawmakers were strongly opposed to lifting Taiwan's ban on imports of beef containing ractopamine residues. Since the Codex vote, a softening of that stance with regard to beef has become apparent.

DPP lawmaker Chen Ting-fei said a law should be instituted to allow separate permits for the importation of beef and pork.

Beef
A government official stated that the Codex vote will not change Taiwan's policy to conditionally lift the ban on US beef imports with the additive.

Member states of the global food safety body voted 69-67 earlier in the day that it is safe to allow certain levels of ractopamine in cattle and pork tissues, including muscle, liver and kidney.

The result of the Codex meeting ‘will only be used as reference’, cabinet spokesman Hu Yu-wei said. It will not influence the government's decision to conditionally ease the ban on American beef imports, he added.

Related websites:
• Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
• Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
• World Health Organization (WHO)

Elanco and US pork council applaud Codex decision on ractopamine


//06 Jul 2012
The US National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) as well as animal health company Elanco have reacted positively to the news that the Codex Alimentarius Commission decided to adopt an acceptable daily intake and maximum residue levels for pork and beef.
“NPPC is pleased that the Codex commission finally approved this scientifically proven safe product,” said NPPC president R.C. Hunt. “The commission, as it should, fulfilled its mandate to base standards and guidelines on science.”

The standard was opposed by the European Union and Russia. The EU, China, Taiwan and Thailand currently ban imports of pork from pigs fed ractopamine.

“US pork producers are very disappointed with the continued opposition to ractopamine for reasons other than scientific ones from several countries, particularly Russia,” Hunt said.

“That country is set to join the World Trade Organization this year, and the WTO requires member countries to abide by international trade standards. Given Russia’s intransigence on ractopamine, we’re concerned about its commitment to WTO principles.”

Elanco
Jeff Simmons, president, Elanco, said: “These standards provide an international food safety reference point that helps assure consumers that their food is safe. Codex standards for ractopamine are a significant step towards enabling sustainable meat production, fulfilling the increased demand for animal protein and therefore addressing worldwide hunger.”

“Elanco is very pleased with the Codex Commission’s decision of adopting global food safety standards for ractopamine for muscle, fat, liver and kidney.”

In a press release, Elanco emphasised that ractopamine is a feed ingredient that directs nutrients from fat to lean protein, helping increase the yield of lean meat from cattle and swine. “Ractopamine is not an antibiotic, steroid hormone or genetically modified organism – nor is it manufactured using genetically modified organisms.”

Ractopamine is commercially available from Elanco as Paylean, a swine feed ingredient that directs nutrients to improve carcass leanness, increase average daily gain and improve feed efficiency.

Related websites:
• Elanco Animal Health
• Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
• National Pork Producers Council (NPPC)
• Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
• World Health Organization (WHO)

Codex approves standard for ractopamine use in pigs and cattle


//06 Jul 2012
The Codex Alimentarius commission, a United Nations commission to promote food safety and fair practices in trade, has approved an international standard for the use of the feed additive ractopamine hydrochloride.
The commission decided to adopt an acceptable daily intake (ADI) and maximum residue levels (MRLs) for pig and cattle muscle, fat, liver and kidney. Codex global food safety standards are designed to ensure that public health is protected and to facilitate the fair trade of safe food products by providing international food safety reference points for all countries.

Approved for use
Ractopamine has been evaluated and approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and has been approved for use in 26 countries, including Australia, Brazil, Canada, Indonesia, Mexico, the Philippines and South Korea.

The EU, China, Taiwan and Thailand have prohibited the use of ractopamine as leanness-enhancing agent and currently ban imports of pork from pigs fed ractopamine.

A Codex panel of international scientists, including scientists from the European Union, three times has confirmed the safety of ractopamine, most recently in 2010 based on data from China.

The human safety of meat products derived from pigs and cattle fed ractopamine had been confirmed by the joint FAO/WHO expert committee on food additives (JECFA) in 2004, 2006 and 2010 and by 27 regulatory authorities from around the world.

Codex Alimentarius
The Codex Alimentarius commission is established by the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and its World Health Organization (WHO). These days, its 35th session is in place in Rome, Italy. Ractopamine is a feed ingredient used to promote leanness in pork and beef. It was the fifth time the UN body considered setting a maximum residue limit for ractopamine.

This Codex decision will become official when the report of the commission is finalised on Saturday 7 July.

Related websites:
• Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
• Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
• World Health Organization (WHO)

06 July 2012

RESEARCH: Chinese isolate Newcastle disease virus from swine


//04 Jul 2012
Chinese scientists have isolated the Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV) from swine. The virus is normally considered to only infect avian species.
The strain was obtained from one area where swine and poultry mixed for breeding. According to the research paper, the strain was isolated in 2010, in Henan province of China. The strain, called Xiny10, was isolated from one sick swine whose clinical signs were characterised by progressive weight loss, fever and diarrhoea, in a group of post-weaned pigs of about nine weeks of age.

Comparative research indicates that the swine virus might be generated from the vaccine strain La Sota as it has been widely used as a live virus vaccine until now in China.

Serologic tests
The isolated paramyxovirus, was proved to be Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV) through serologic tests and sequence alignment. It was compared to another previous swine Newcastle Disease Virus (JL01), as well as with the vaccine strain La Sota. They were compared on the basis of sequences of the whole-lengthen fusion (F) gene and biological characteristics.

Xiny10 has great differences with JL01 in virulence, biological characteristics, genotype, and amino acid homology of F gene. The sequence alignment showed Xiny10 and La Sota both belonged to genotype II. It shared 97.3 to 98.7% identities with genotype II NDVs, which was higher than these strains from the other genotypes.

Newcastle disease
Newcastle disease (NCD, avian paramyxovirus-1 infection), an OIE-listed, highly infectious disease, affects birds with a wide range of clinical signs from mild to severe. Although the most significant impact of NCD is on chickens, other species can also be affected. Some pet and zoo birds become ill after infection, while other species can carry and shed virulent viruses asymptomatically.

An article about the study, carried out by Yuan X., Wang Y., Yang J., and others was was published in the July issue of Virology Journal. The article is called Genetic and biological characterizations of a Newcastle disease virus from swine in China.

Related website:
• Virology Journal

โคเด็กซ์โหวตรับสาร Ractopamine แล้ว



ในการประชุมคณะกรรมการมาตรฐานอาหารระหว่างประเทศ หรือ CAC ของ Codex ประจำปี 2555 ที่กรุงโรม อิตาลี ระหว่างวันที่ 2-6 กรกฎาคม 2555 ได้มีการลงมติลับเรื่องการกำหนดค่า MRLs สาร Ractopamine ซึ่งเป็นประเด็นคงค้างมาเป็นเวลาไม่ต่ำกว่า 10 ปีแล้วระหว่าง 2 ค่าย ประเทศสนับสนุน เช่น สหรัฐอเมริกา ซึ่งกฎหมายในประเทศเหล่านั้นอนุญาตให้ใช้ได้ในการเลี้ยงสัตว์ และประเทศคัดค้าน เช่น สหภาพยุโรป ซึ่งห้ามใช้สารตัวนี้ในการเลี้ยงสัตว์ ปรากฏว่าที่ประชุมมีมติ 69 ต่อ 67 เสียง เห็นชอบให้กำหนดค่า MRLs ของสาร Ractopamine ในเนื้อสัตว์แล้ว ซึ่งหมายถึงการอนุญาตให้มีการใช้ได้โดยต้องไม่พบการตกค้างในเนื้อสัตว์


ที่มา : มกอช. (6 ก.ค.55)

05 July 2012

Hipra focused on PRRS at IPVS 2012


//05 Jul 2012
During the last edition of IPVS, held in Jeju Island, South Korea, Spanish animal health company zoomed in on Porcine Respiratory and Reproductive Syndrome (PRRS).
During the days of the congress, the animal health company offered a programme of activities to delegates: The 'PRRSpectives' Hipra Symposium, in which the disease was discussed from three different points of view: the scientific, the field and the company’s perspective. The symposium was attended by more than 500 people and included participation by swine experts from several countries.

In addition, the company took part at the congress by presenting 28 papers and two oral presentations about recent topics in swine production such as PRRS, Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae, Atrophic Rhinitis, neonatal diarrhoea, etc.

Related website:
• Hipra

H5N1 outbreak in Xinjiang, China


//04 Jul 2012
The OIE has reported that HPAI has been flagged in the western province of Xinjiang, People’s Republic of China. The outbreak took place on a farm, and approximately 155,000 birds of the 156,440 susceptible cases have been destroyed.
Dr Zhang Zhongqui, director general of the China Animal Disease Control Centre, aligned with the Veterinary Bureau of the Ministry of Agriculture reported the outbreak to the World Organisation of Animal Health on 2 July 2012 a reoccurrence of HPAI.

The outbreak has not been resolved, and standard quarantine measures are being carried out. Some 116,327 Xinjiang birds have been vaccinated in response to the outbreak.

The Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, China’s national reference laboratory for avian influenza has isolated the virus, has identified the serotype as H5N1 through .

Source: OIE

Market research: Animal food production in the US


//04 Jul 2012
Industry research firm IBISWorld has added a report on the Animal Food Production industry to its industry report collection. The report has a major focus on pet food.
From cattle to cats, the Animal Food Production industry provides sustenance for livestock and pets in the United States and around the world.

“Given the grain-based nature of most types of feed, movements in agricultural inputs like corn, soybeans and wheat heavily influence profit for animal food producers,” says IBISWorld industry analyst Josh McBee.

“Likewise, feed demand stems from the agricultural viability of livestock commodities like beef, pork and poultry.”

Key drivers
Feed prices, downstream demand for animal products and commodity movements are the key drivers of the Animal Food Production industry.

Demand for pet foods augments total sales. “With regard to commodities, corn's relationship to oil has been increasing feed prices,” adds McBee, “but recent spikes in the crop's value have been to the detriment of feed producers.”

Meanwhile, growth in global meat consumption and, consequently, herd stocks has sustained modest revenue gains as meat producers demand more livestock feed.

Also, Americans have stood by their pets during the Great Recession, with canine and feline ownership growing even as personal disposable incomes have fallen.

Given these conditions, IBISWorld expects industry revenue to grow at an average rate of 3.8% per year during the five years to 2012.

Positive demand conditions from all downstream markets (farm supplies wholesalers, animal producers and pet stores) will help revenue gain 1.9% to total $50.4 billion in 2012.

Forecast
The industry's future prospects are modest, with slow but sustained growth anticipated through the next five years.

Advancements in crop technology and alternative energy sources combined with product innovation are projected to alleviate some of the inherent risks associated with commodity-based goods.

Also, a forecast increase in disposable incomes and, subsequently, pet ownership will likely drive demand for pet food, a segment typified by high profit margins and brand-loyal consumers.

Export growth is also anticipated during the next five years, as the economic rise of countries in the Asian Pacific and Latin America drive demand for meat and animal feed.

To this end, industry revenue is forecast to grow through 2017. Consolidation is expected to continue in the future through sustained merger and acquisition activity, primarily driven by major players such as Cargill, ADM and Mars.

Given that economies of scale are imperative to maintaining industry profitability, it is very likely there will be fewer animal food manufacturers servicing wider geographic markets through the next five years.

03 July 2012

Russia reports two new outbreaks of African Swine Fever

//03 Jul 2012
African Swine Fever (ASF) continues to spread across Russia. Over the last week two major outbreaks were registered in the Volgograd region.

On June 25, at a private farm in the village Kolkhoznaya Akhtuba, two pigs died and 16 more were found sick. The preliminary diagnosis of African Swine Fever (ASF) was confirmed by the Russian Research Institute of Veterinary Virology and Microbiology, it was reported. In an area with a radius of 20 km about 1,300 head of pigs will have to be culled preventively.
On June 29, a second outbreak was reported – the sixth in total this year for the Volgograd region.
"During a study in the Volgograd Oblast veterinary laboratory of samples of pathological material, obtained from sick pigs from one of the private farms of Leninsk city of the Leninsky Municipal District of Volgograd Region, ASF virus genetic material has been detected," stated Rosselkhoznadzor. Seven pigs were kept there at the time of occurrence of the disease. In the threatened zone in total, 896 pigs are located and all will have to be culled.
Wild boarsRosselkhoznadzor reported that a quarantine will be applied in the area, and all necessary safety measures have already been taken. It is expected this will not be the last outbreak of ASF as the virus is likely to be still present in wild boar populations.
Rosselkhoznadzor press secretary Alexei Alekseenko pointed out that Russia must learn an international experience for more effective combating with ASF. "We have examples that other countries were able to get rid of ASF, putting a great effort – e.g. Spain, Portugal, southern France. They resolved this problem, I think we also can," he said. (by Vladislav Vorotnikov)
Related websites:
Rosselkhoznadzor 

02 July 2012

EU: 'Euroleaf' organic logo up and running for organic pig products


//29 Jun 2012
The new label is for all pre-packaged organic food products produced by EU member states. The logo becomes obligatory starting from 1 July 2012.
The logo will not replace other regional, national, or private logos, but will appear alongside them.

The "Euro-leaf" EU organic logo was introduced on 1 July 2010, but in order to help operators adapt to the new rules, and to avoid waste of existing packaging, a 2-year transition period was allowed before it was compulsory on all products. The visual field of the logo should also show the code number of the control body and the place of farming of the agricultural raw materials. A recent EuroBarometer report on "European Attitude towards Food Security, Food Quality and the Countryside', to be published shortly, includes information on the EU organic logo and provides the encouraging indication that, since its introduction in July 2010, the logo has already gained recognition among a quarter (24%) of EU citizens.

“Our hope is that the EU logo can further develop into a widely recognised symbol of organic food production across the EU, providing consumers with confidence that the goods are produced in-line with the strict EU organic farming standards”, according to EU Commissioner for Agriculture & Rural Development Dacian Cioloş.

Background
The idea of fostering the organic farming sector by introducing a compulsory EU organic logo was backed by Member States in 2007. In order to find an original design for this logo, the Commission organised a competition in 2009 in which more than 3,400 Art and Design students took part, and a public vote on the best 3 designs in early 2010.

EU consumption of organic products has seen a steady rise in recent years and now accounts for roughly 2% of the EU market. Production has also increased considerably in the past decade – with roughly 5% of EU agricultural area and more than 2% of farms (more than 200,000 farms) now certified as organic.

In policy terms, this year has seen agreement on rules on organic wine, which enter into force on August 1 (IP/12/113). In February, the EU also signed an organic equivalence agreement with the USA, which will reduce bureaucracy for organic producers in the EU and the USA (IP/12/138). In May, the Commission presented a report on the existing organic farming regulation, aimed at opening an Inter-institutional debate with all stakeholders and thus creating the opportunity to explore new ways in which to further improve the EU organic policy framework.

For further information, photos and other material on the EU organic logo, please go to: http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/organic/home_en

FAO and OIE lay bare global FMD strategy


//28 Jun 2012
FAO and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) are joining forces to combat foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) on a global scale, laying out a detailed strategy to control the notorious livestock disease.
The two organizations underlined, however, that only solid commitments from global partners will make the strategy possible, as they opened an international meeting in Bangkok supported by the Thai Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives.

Chairing the opening session of the FAO/OIE global conference in Bangkok, Thai deputy prime minister Chumpol Silpa-archa, said: "Thailand is working for the further accomplishment of FMD freedom by 2015 in an eastern region pilot zone of the country as well as at ASEAN regional level by 2020."

FAO is emphasising the need for collective action to better control FMD where it is a high burden to millions of farmers, pastoralists and commercial operators.

"Recent FMD outbreaks around the globe demonstrate that animal diseases have no boundaries, can have a devastating impact and require a global response," said Hiroyuki Konuma, the FAO regional representative for Asia and the Pacific.

Foot-and-mouth disease is not a direct threat to human health. However, lost trade opportunities for affected countries are a global economic burden and a hindrance on human development.

Most importantly, for the poorest farmers who often depend on just a few animals, foot-and-mouth disease means hunger and economic ruin when it strikes and cuts off people's only source of income and protein.

More than 100 countries are attending the FAO/OIE meeting in Bangkok.

Global Strategy
"One main objective of the Global Strategy is to allow FMD control worldwide through the strengthening of veterinary services responsible for animal disease control," explained Bernard Vallat, OIE Director General.

"Positive effects of the strategy will extend far beyond the control of FMD because it represents an opportunity to initiate long-term actions which will enhance veterinary services' capacity to fight other high-impact diseases of livestock. At the regional level the South-East Asia and China FMD campaign (SEACFMD) programme managed by OIE/Bangkok is considered as a very efficient model," he added.

"The successful eradication of rinderpest, a joint effort by scientists, governments, donors, veterinarians and farmers, clearly shows that we can reduce and even eliminate the threat of major diseases," Juan Lubroth, FAO's chief veterinary officer.

"We could apply lessons learned and appropriate approaches when it comes to foot-and-mouth disease: better surveillance, coordination and control to reduce FMD outbreaks and finally eliminate the virus, to safeguard food security, animal health and human health," he said.

The Global Strategy combines two tools developed by FAO and the OIE. The OIE tool, called the Performance of Veterinary Services Pathway (PVS), evaluates national veterinary services with the aim of bringing them into compliance with OIE quality standards. Reliable veterinary services ensure the quality and safety of livestock production. In turn, strong veterinary systems protect the safety of food sources, trade and animal health, and as such, are a global public good.

FAO developed the Progressive Control Pathway for Foot-and-Mouth Disease, the PCP-FMD, which guides countries through a series of incremental steps to better manage FMD risks, beginning with active surveillance to establish what types of FMD virus strains are circulating in the country and neighbouring areas.

The process moves countries continuously towards improved levels of FMD control and thus an eventual opening to trade and international markets. A key pillar of the PCP-FMD involves coordinating efforts with countries in the same region in order to control the disease systematically across porous national boundaries.

The aim of the FMD Global Strategy is to decrease the impact of FMD worldwide by reducing the number of disease outbreaks in infected countries until they ultimately attain FMD-free status, as well as by maintaining the official FMD-free status of countries that are already free.

With many countries in the earliest stages of FMD control, the PCP-FMD benchmarks progress with the aim of eventually applying to the OIE for official recognition of their national control programmes and of their FMD-free status, with or without vaccination.

The FMD Global Strategy has been prepared by FAO and OIE under the umbrella of their Global Framework for the Progressive Control of Transboundary Animal Diseases (GF-TADs), in consultation with selected experts, countries and donors, as well as with regional and international organizations. Particular emphasis is put on regions of the world where the disease is endemic, including most of sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.

The strategy contributes considerably to poverty reduction by increasing trade opportunities and contributing to and protecting the daily incomes of the 1 billion poor farmers worldwide who depend on livestock.

Losses in the billions
While FMD is seldom fatal, the disease can cause high mortality in newborn and young animals, weight loss, reduced milk yields and lower fertility. The global annual cost of FMD in terms of production losses and the need for prevention by vaccination has been estimated to be approximately $5 billion.

In a severe event in 2001 in the United Kingdom, the direct and indirect impacts are estimated to have cost as much as $30 billion.

Earlier outbreaks had similar tolls: in the Chinese province of Taiwan in 1997, a major epidemic cost the economy $15 billion, while Italy in 1993 suffered economic damages of $130 million.

For more information click on to OIE/FAO FMD reference laboratories network

Natural compounds may be alternative to antibiotics in young animals

//02 Jul 2012
Natural compounds may offer an alternative to certain antibiotics in the future for treating young animals that are susceptible to bacterial infections, thanks to work by U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientists.
Researchers at the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Food and Feed Safety Research Unit in College Station, Texas, have invented a new method that involves using chlorate (sodium or salt) and nitro compounds to significantly reduce or eliminate intestinal bacterial pathogens in animals such as piglets and calves. Nitro compounds are organic substances that contain one or more nitro groups, which consist of three atoms—one of nitrogen and two of oxygen—that act as one.
ARS is USDA's chief intramural scientific research agency.
Chlorate and nitro compounds have proven to be effective against the foodborne pathogens Salmonella and Escherichia coli O157:H7. Salmonella alone causes more than 1.3 million cases of human foodborne disease each year, at a cost of $2.4 billion. Salmonella and certain E. coli strains also cause considerable losses to the swine and cattle industries due to enteric or intestinal diseases of newborns.
Microbiologist Robin Anderson and his colleagues at the College Station unit demonstrated the effectiveness of a chlorate-based compound in earlier research by mixing it into water or feed and giving it to cattle. The compound, which was highly effective in reducing E. coli., has been licensed by a private company. Chlorate also reduced Salmonella in turkeys and broiler chickens.
In addition, scientists looked at using certain nitro compounds as a method to control foodborne bacteria. Salmonella or E. coli bacteria were treated with or without chlorate and with or without nitro compounds. Chlorate was found to have significant bacteria-killing activity against E. coli and Salmonella. However, chlorate has not been approved for commercial use in food animals by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. When the nitro compound was added, the activity was enhanced 10- to 100-fold. Nitro compounds alone had significant bacteria-killing activity, which was more persistent than that of chlorate.
Anderson and his team concluded that nitro and chlorate compounds together were the best treatment—a combination that could offer an alternative to certain antibiotics that are commonly used to treat diarrheal infections in young animals.
Read more about this research in the May/June 2012 issue of Agricultural Research magazine.

Source: ARS

Exploring antibiotic alternatives: farm animals’ natural defences

//02 Jul 2012
The exclusive research collaboration program, the ASIA Research Consortium, is between, among others, Pfizer Animal Health, the University of Utrecht and Immuno Valley. The consortium will be set in the Netherlands with the aim of exploring the potential for exploiting farm animals’ natural defences to infectious diseases.
Pfizer has announced the launch of a new Public-Private partnership research program, ALTANT - ASIA in collaboration with prominent Dutch researchers, seeking to develop alternative strategies to protect farm animals from infectious disease, by minimising the likelihood of encouraging antibiotic resistance. The programme's acronyms ALTANT stands for ALTnernatives to ANTibiotics, and Animal Specific Immunomodulatory Antimicrobials (ASIA).
The Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation in collaboration with Immuno Valley and Utrecht University are financing the research programme, to the tune of US$10 million (€7.95 million). The sum is one of the largest ever granted for this type of therapeutic research, and attests to the growing importance of the sector.
All partners will collaborate closely to develop anti-infectives based on newly identified small peptides, seeking alternatives to antibiotics. They will contribute to the research programme by sharing knowledge, equipment and financial resources.
The overall project represents a new era in the co-funding schemes. The project is very much focused on delivering a platform of new anti-infective products for livestock with antimicrobial and immune-modulatory properties.
About ALTANT
ALTANT stands for ALTernatives to ANTibiotics, and aims to develop solutions to replace the use of antibiotics in livestock farming. The program is a collaborative effort by Utrecht University’s Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, the University Medical Centre Utrecht, Pfizer Animal Health and MSD Animal Health, coordinated by the Immuno Valley foundation and financed partly by the Dutch ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation. The total project budget amounts to approximately €18 million, of which half is provided by the industry partners.