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27 August 2012

Hong Kong to introduce new poultry vaccine


//27 Aug 2012
Hong Kong will introduce a new poultry vaccine to its chicken farms, the country’s Secretary for Food and Health, Ko Wing-man said.
The Re-6 vaccine, which has been successfully registered in Hong Kong, is more effective in preventing avian flu H5N1 than the existing one. The vaccine has already been introduced on Mainland China.

The government of Hong Kong hopes to introduce the new vaccine for use in local chicken farms before the end of 2012. Hong Kong has been adopting preventive and surveillance measures, including vaccination at local farms, import control, and stringent hygiene requirements at wholesale and retail markets to prevent avian influenza outbreak.

It will step up surveillance before the coming winter season, and surprise inspections will be conducted in local poultry farms and pet bird shops.

Source: Xinhua

26 August 2012

Vietnam: WTO egg import quotas granted


//24 Aug 2012
Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade has given permission for the importation of 500,000 egg products, dealing a severe blow to Vietnam’s domestic egg production industry.
Vietnam has commitments to the WTO, among them having to grant import quotas of 360,000 eggs per year, and the number of eggs increasing by 5% per year. The quota has been in place in since 2007.

The eggs have to be cooked through before importation.

The move has left farmers stupefied, given that poultry eggs have been in a state of oversupply and the prices have been decreasing.

Nguyen Thanh Son, Deputy Director of the Animal Husbandry Department of MARD, said that poultry egg prices have dropped by 47-48 %, farmers are incurring a loss of 500 dong (€0.019) per egg.

In the first six months of 2012, about 4 billion poultry eggs were produced, a 5% increase in comparison with the same period of the last year.

In the north, chicken eggs which were sold at 1700 dong (€0.065) in January 2012 have dropped to 900 dong (€0.034). Meanwhile, merchandise duck eggs have seen the price drop from 2400 dong (€0.092) to 1500 dong (€0.057).

The prices are even lower in the south, pushing farmers out the market and many households giving up farming.

Vietnam’s food security
With many households giving up farming, and the accompanying recent global increase in feed prices, the Vietnamese government is worried that domestic food shortages may be lurking in the future.

A big worry has been raised that with the permission to import cooked-through eggs, enterprises would import processed eggs in masses from China, which they would use to make moon cakes and other kinds of ready-made foodstuff products.

Source: Vietnam net



23 August 2012

Russia: new ASF outbreaks and spreading in the wild


//23 Aug 2012
Russia has registered four new outbreaks of African swine fever (ASF). Two of them occurred in the Tver region, one in the Krasnodar region and one in the Yaroslavl region.
Tver
In the Tver region, the disease killed two sows on the private farm "Nash put" in the village Zavidovsky Gorkha in Kesovogorsky district. As it was reported by the Office of Rosselkhoznadzor in Tver and Pskov regions, the fall of pigs on the farm began on 15 August. Laboratory tests conducted by Russian Institute of Veterinary Virology and Microbiology, have confirmed the presence of ASF virus in the carcasses of the dead animals.

In the wild
All remaining pig livestock (84 in total) on the farm were culled according to veterinary instructions.
Rosselhoznadzor has also reported numerous cases of sick wild boars. The Service is treating ASF in the wild pig population as a single outbreak. ASF was found in the carcasses of 10 wild boars in the Bezhetsky, Kashin and Rameshkovskom areas of the Tver region.

At the Federal meeting of Rosselkhoznadzor on August 16, it was noted that measures to reduce the number of wild boars in the infected areas of the Tver region are being carried out effectively. It was also criticised the work of regional veterinary services.

Krasnador
In the Krasnodar region an outbreak was registered in a private household of the village Ilyinsky of the Seversky district. The farm had three pigs, which had already died. No additional culling of the neighbouring farms was required. The distance to the nearest outbreak of African swine fever is about 50 kilometres.

Yaroslavl
Also on August 16 the experts identified the virus of ASF in the private farm of the village Solotskovo of Nekouz district in Yaroslavl region. According to the report the 20 pigs in the village are to be culled.

Rosselkhaznadzor links

First and second outbreak
Third outbreak
Forth outbreak

Russia increases poultry meat and egg production in 2012


//23 Aug 2012
Russia will produce 3.5 million tonnes of poultry meat in slaughter weight this year, which is 10.3% more than last year, according to a forecast made at the recent meeting of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation.
During the meeting the implementation of the program of development of the poultry industry in 2009-2012 was also discussed and the concept of its development to 2020 in terms of Russia's accession to the WTO.

The Russian Minister of Agriculture, Nikolai Fyodorov, stated that since 2006, Russia has built and renovated more than 400 projects within the poultry industry. Over the past six years, the production of poultry meat increased by 1.8 million tonnes (in carcass weight) and egg production increased by 3.7 billion pieces.

However, according to the President of Russian Union of poultry farmers (Rosptitsesoyuz)Vladimir Fisinin, despite efforts to improve the competitiveness of products, there are still various risks. He said that there exists the list of necessary measures necessary to ensure sustainable and competitive development of the poultry industry in view of Russia's accession to the WTO, which will allow the country to create the necessary prerequisites for entry of domestic poultry production into the foreign markets.

This year 164.5 million rubles (US$ 5.1 mln) from the federal budget has been allocated for the maintenance of poultry breeding stock.

Chia Tai Group invests €18.7 m in Henan egg breeder project


//23 Aug 2012
Chia Tai Group, an investment holding company of Thailand’s Charoen Pokphand Group, has announced construction of two grandparent egg breeder, two parent egg breeder, and two hatching facilities, in China’s Henan province. The total amount of investments is estimated to add up to €18.7 million.
The project is currently underway in Fangcheng County, Nanyang City of Henan Province. Financing of the project has been organised into three stages.

The first period investment amounts to 24.4 million RMB (€3.06 million), which is being used to build two grandparent egg breeder facilities (total scale was 12,000 sets) and one hatching facility that could produce around 746,000 parental chickens a year.

The second period investment was 62.09 million RMB (€7.84 million) used for constructing two 60,000 set parental egg breeder facilities and one hatching facility that can produce around 4.56 million sets of merchandise chickens per year.

The third period investment is similar to the second period’s, and is planned to begin in the years 2014-2015.

About Chia Tai
Chia Tai Group operates some 400 other commercial concerns across 20 countries. The company is an investment holding company of Thailand's Charoen Pokphand Group. Some of the group's companies include Beijing Poultry Breeding, Hunan Chia Tai Livestock, Beijing Chia Tai Feedmill, Huludao Chia Tai and Xiamen Chia Tai Agro-Industry.

Source: Chi-Agri

Mexico suspends egg import tariffs


//23 Aug 2012
Mexico has suspended tariffs on egg imports following the shortage and subsequent price increase of eggs due to the bird flu outbreak.
Economy Secretary Bruno Ferrari says that the avian influenza outbreak, that killed 11 million birds, has slowed the work of farmers in western Mexico, an important egg producing region.

Ferrari said that the cost of a kilogram (2.2 pounds) of eggs has more than doubled since the outbreak in July.

Ferrari has also announced that Mexico is increasing its inspections of farms and stores to find the cause behind the increase in egg prices; authorities are puzzled and have as yet not found a justification them.

A number of countries, the US among them, began exporting eggs to Mexico this week.

Source: Bloomberg

22 August 2012

Longer feeding of yoghurt leads to higher piglet weights


//22 Aug 2012
A trial at a breeding farm in the Netherlands with newborn piglets showed that those fed a yoghurt product for a longer period, two weeks after farrowing, resulted in higher feed intake and higher post-weaning growth rates.
The trial was conducted at a breeding farm by Sloten, producer of Nuklospray Yoghurt, a yoghurt product for newborn piglets as an addition to sow milk, to be fed as from day 1. The product contains higher amounts of dry matter than conventional milk replacers.

Among pig breeders, there was a strong demand at what period of feeding optimal results could be achieved, as many have been applying a different feeding strategy. For this reason, performance of two more or less identical groups were compared.

One group received the yoghurt product for one week after farrowing – the other for two weeks. Afterwards, both switched to porridge piglet feeds. The data show that piglets fed the yoghurt during two weeks achieved better results.

Table 1. Difference of feeding yoghurt for one week longer.




Table 2. Results trial 1 week yoghurt vs 2 weeks yoghurt.








Figure 1. One week more yoghurt product leads to more uniform litters and less piglets staying behind – see the blue line.



The benefits of improved health and higher growth right from the start will continue until slaughter.

Related website:
• Nuklospray Yoghurt

19 August 2012

IPC concerned about increasing feed prices


//17 Aug 2012
The International Poultry Council (IPC) is concerned that the global feed grain shortage is increasing the retail price of poultry, and are calling for governments to intervene in preventing further increases in price.
The International Poultry Council (IPC) is concerned that the current world grain shortage caused by prolonged drought situation in the soybean and corn producing regions in the United States, coupled with excessive rains in Northern Europe, is having a significant impact on poultry meat production worldwide.

Global commercial poultry production depends on feeds produced from corn, soy and other grains, all of which are important inputs. Because of the US drought, global corn and soybean supplies are insufficient. Meanwhile, financial speculation has worsened the situation, sending corn and soy prices to record levels, as well as driving up the price of alternative feed crops, such as wheat. Moreover, poultry production consumes 44 percent of the world’s supply of food animal feedstuffs.

Given these circumstances, it is the view of the IPC that:

The high prices of feed grains are pushing up the cost of producing commercial poultry. Poultry price increases are inevitable, which companies are forced to pass on to consumers to remain financially solvent. Further increases in the cost of grain will assuredly lead to additional cuts in production.

Accordingly, governments should take whatever measures are available to prevent any further increases in grain prices. Poultry meat has historically been the world’s cheapest large-scale source of animal protein, and has played a central role in providing consumers in poorer nations with access to protein. Continued high grain prices threaten food security, especially in low-income countries.

Furthermore, authorities should discourage financial speculation involving feed grain prices. Such speculation by entities not directly tied to the food-producing sector has generated even stronger price volatility in the feed sector. Derivative markets should not be used to speculate financially for such an important commodity as food.

Governmental policies that subsidise or encourage the production of renewable fuels from grains and cereals should be revised in order to avoid the risk of food shortages.

The IPC is a non-governmental organization comprised of trade associations and other entities that represent more than 90 percent of the world’s commercial poultry meat production.

Source: IPC

16 August 2012

Chia Tai heavily invests in China


Chia Tai, the Chinese arm of Thailands Charoen Pokphand Group’s, is taking up a plan for modern farm management and property development with a combined value of 23.62 billion yuan (€3 billion).
001_boerderij-image-1048768.jpeg
Trusted by the Chinese government, Chia Tai has been selected to manage the modernisation of the farm model through a so-called four-in-one cooperation project, involving government, farmers, the private sector and banks.

So far, Chia Tai is managing or setting up 13 modern farm projects with a combined investment value of 30.283 billion yuan (€3.845 billion). Of the total project value, four projects with a combined value of 23.62 billion yuan have inked agreements with the Chinese government.

Chia Tai supplies breeding stock for shrimp, pig and poultry farming, as well as feeds, technology and marketing management.

The Chinese government wants the project to help revolutionise its farm sector to ensure the country's food security and better living standards. Farmers will be encouraged to use modern techniques and equipment to increase revenue.

Chia Tai is a minor shareholder holding at least 15% of each project. This will encourage Chia Tai to grow more in the field of professional project management rather than only focusing its expertise on the agriculture, food and retail sectors.

China market penetration
Thanakorn Seriburi, vice chairman of CP Group, said it was stepping up its investment in China to ensure expansion of its business in the future.

It is CP's policy to increase investment in China by 15% per year to ensure annual sales growth by the same percentage.

In addition, the production from these modern farms can directly supply the group's retail business in China, Lotus Supercenter.

"Our whole strategy is aimed at strengthening the group's production from upstream to downstream as well as generating wealth for people there. The group's philosophy is to make a contribution with what we are invested in," Thanakorn said.

US Academy of Sciences publishes 11th edition of Swine NRC


//16 Aug 2012
The US National Academy of Sciences has released the 11th revised edition of Swine NRC, the Nutrition Requirements of Swine. The last edition of this work came out in 1998.
The new edition, produced by a committee of 10 swine nutritionists and with the USDA ARS, has been updated and expanded to aid farmers in formulating pig diets. The 11 Revised edition includes:

Updated energy and nutrient requirements for pigs in all phases of production.
Information on new feed ingredients from the biofuels industry and other new ingredients, such as novel soybean products.
New chapters on lipids, carbohydrates, potential feed contaminants, and on the digestibility of nutrients and energy.
A new evaluation standard for phosphorus: standardized total tract digestibility. Requirements for STTD phosphorus by all categories of pigs and STTD phosphorus content of feed ingredients.
Information on the effects of feed processing (pelleting, extrusion, and reduced particle size).
Strategies to increase nutrient retention and reduce nutrient excretion.
Expanded feed composition tables.
An updated computer model to estimate nutrient requirements for pigs.
Identification of future research needs.
The book can be ordered from The National Academies Press.

The new NRC is also the topic of a podcast produced by the Stein Monogastric Nutrition Lab. Click here for the podcast.

About Swine NRC
Since 1944, the National Research Council has published 10 editions of the Nutrient Requirements of Swine. This reference has guided nutritionists and other professionals in academia and the swine and feed industries in developing and implementing nutritional and feeding programs for swine. The swine industry has undergone considerable changes since the tenth edition was published in 1998 and some of the requirements and recommendations set forth at that time are no longer relevant or appropriate.

The eleventh revised edition of the Nutrient Requirements of Swine builds on the previous editions published by the National Research Council. A great deal of new research has been published during the last 15 years and there is a large amount of new information for many nutrients.

In addition to a thorough and current evaluation of the literature on the energy and nutrient requirements of swine in all stages of life, this volume includes information about feed ingredients from the biofuels industry and other new ingredients, requirements for digestible phosphorus and concentrations of it in feed ingredients, a review of the effects of feed additives and feed processing, and strategies to increase nutrient retention and thus reduce fecal and urinary excretions that could contribute to environmental pollution. The tables of feed ingredient composition are significantly updated.

Nutrient Requirements of Swine represents a comprehensive review of the most recent information available on swine nutrition and ingredient composition that will allow efficient, profitable, and environmentally conscious swine production.


Sources:

National Academies Press

Pork Network

African Swine Fever reported in Rostov region


//16 Aug 2012
An outbreak of African Swine Fever has been reported in the Tselinskii area of Russia’s Rostov region. This is the first time this year the Russian Service for Phytosanitary and Veterinary Surveillance reports the disease in this region.
The disease was reported on August 13, in seven animals of different ages on a private farm. The head of the Rostov Region veterinary service, Sergei Kartashov, qualified this outbreak as ‘very dangerous’ as it happened some while ago but the farm management failed to report it.

Near the farm, corpses of over 100 pigs were found, that possibly perished as a consequence of ASF and had been buried to avoid questions.

According to Tselinskii Veterinary Service, Rosselkhoznadzor’s regional office, the number of live pigs on the farm was 960. Pathological samples from the fallen pigs were examined at the Rostov Regional Veterinary Laboratory, and these indicated that ASF was the cause of death.

As the result, in total about 1,150 animals (the 960 in the farm and 190 in a 5 km radius) will be culled. Viacheslav Vasilenko, Rostov’s minister of agriculture and food, the region is currently carrying out a range of measures to counteract the spread of the disease.

He said, "The risk of ASF virus penetration into the territory of the Rostov region was very large, since our proximity to the Volgograd and Krasnodar regions, where recently major outbreaks of the disease were found. We were inside the circle of African Swine Fever.”

“So, first of all, our security largely depends on the vigilance of the owners of farms and private farms. In addition, it is also necessary to have a coordination of actions against ASF with neighbouring regions."

Related website:
Rosselkhoznadzor

15 August 2012

Malaysia battles fly breeding in poultry houses

 

//14 Aug 2012
In Malaysia an influx of flies have begun appearing as the onset of the wet season begins, leading some locals to blame nearby poultry facilities.
The problem has been blamed on the “open concept poultry farming” practised by some businesses. Although new investors must use a closed farming concept, existing farmers have been given time to gradually move to the closed farming concept.
Fly breeding occurs when the poultry droppings are wet and not when it is kept dry. Poultry droppings can get wet due to rain beating into the open poultry sheds, from leaking poultry drinking water containers or drinking nipples. They can also be caused by excessive moisture in the dropping itself.
To prevent this the floor of the poultry shed should be cemented for easy cleaning. Secondly, the roof of the sheds should be extended sufficiently on both sides to prevent rain water beating into the sheds and wetting the poultry litter (poultry manure/poultry droppings). Thirdly, a layer of sawdust should be spread daily over the poultry droppings to absorb excessive moisture in the droppings to keep them dry.
Source: The Star

Eco Animal Health profits with Aivlosin lead in Latin America

 

//14 Aug 2012
Eco Animal Health upped its dividend by a quarter last year as strong sales of its “best in class” livestock antibiotic helped profits surge.
The veterinary drug company increased underlying net profits by 32% to €3.3 million, from €2.5 million, in the year to March.
The improvement was underpinned by sales of lead product Aivlosin in Argentina, Brazil and Venezuela.
The group’s fortunes were further boosted after the year-end by US approval for Aivlosin - a water soluble antibiotic for pigs.
The drug, which works much more quickly than existing older products and so is more profitable for farmers to use, currently accounts for 65 % of the company's revenue.
Cenkos analyst Ian Berry said as the US and Canada are approximately a third of the addressable market, the approval represents a “massive opportunity” for the group.
Financially, this boost isn’t likely to start showing on the group’s figures until next year as it will need a little time for the product to build momentum.
Eco expects to start making sales in the last quarter of this financial year.
The company ended the year with €12.1 million in net cash and it now plans to up its dividend by 25%.

AEC expected to encourage regions’ livestock standardisation

 

//16 Aug 2012
In 2015 the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) will form a single market, the Asean Economic Community (AEC). Dr Ernst Bottcher, of Bayer HealthCare expects the single market will encourage livestock farmers to upgrade and harmonise standards in an attempt to export higher-quality meat to global markets. The AEC will, however, face stiff competition from South America, the Bangkok Post reports.
With the AEC, market integration will increase intra-regional trading in products such as pork, beef, poultry, and fish. That, and the fact that meat consumers in Southeast Asia will increasingly demand higher-quality meat products, is prompting farmers to invest and raise production standards, Dr Bottcher, Bayer HealthCare’s general manager for Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia, said.
“Some countries are preparing to increase their meat exports, while consumers will ask for an equal standard for the production process,” said Dr Bottcher. “There will be more investment for this objective from animal farmers and manufacturers who produce animal health products.
“Lifting the standard cannot be achieved by the investment from one company, but from all."
Wide disparity between AEC partners
The market for animal health products is increasing in Southeast Asia, as livestock operations are expanding to meet the demand of the region’s increasing population for meat, with the cash to buy it. Despite this general expansive trend, there is still wide disparity in meat production standards between countries. Of all the countries that Bayer HealthCare caters to, Thailand is the largest, and the livestock farm standards in this country are the highest.
Malaysia has been catching up to Thailand after the government a few years ago tightened law enforcement in order to force processors to produce meat products with higher standards to improve the country’s export prospects.
Indonesia is the largest meat consumer in ASEAN by virtue of its large population, but most livestock farms are “backyard style” and farmers have low awareness of international standards. All production in the country is needed to serve domestic demand and since no meat is exported, improving production processes does not seem to have a high priority.
Sales in this region are expanding faster than in the company’s bigger markets in the United States and Europe, where demand is stable.
As Southeast Asian livestock operations expand to increase their share of exports, their main competition is from South America, according to Dr Bottcher. Thailand and Brazil, for example, are major rivals in the world poultry market.
Tourism a significant driverTourism is also a significant driver of meat production and consumption for Thailand, which welcomed more than 19 million foreign visitors last year. Meat exports are also on the rise now that the EU has lifted its ban on raw poultry, imposed in 2004 at the start of the bird flu outbreak.
In recognition of the growth potential of the region, Bayer HealthCare has moved its office for Asia Pacific to Singapore. In 2010, it bought the New Zealand-based Bomac Group and built an innovation and development centre, aimed at developing products to serve the specific needs of Asia Pacific.
“Because of the rising trend in Southeast Asia, Bayer HealthCare has a target to grow higher than the market growth rate,” said Dr Bottcher. “A higher percentage of Bayer HealthCare’s investment is going to this region. We’re working closely with animal farmers in order to support them to do farming at a high and acceptable standard.”
Source: Bangkok post

Charoen Pokphand Foods reports drop in earnings


//15 Aug 2012
Charoen Pokphand Foods, Thailand's largest agribusiness company, has reported a 17% drop in quarterly earnings on Friday, hit by lower domestic meat prices and weak overseas operations.
CP Foods, 47.9% owned by CP Group, one of Asia's largest agribusiness conglomerates, posted a net profit of 4.04 billion baht ($128 million) for April-June, down from 4.84 billion a year earlier and a record 12.11 billion in the previous quarter.

The result was above the 3.8 billion baht forecast from 11 analysts surveyed by Reuters.

Its operations in Turkey, Malaysia and India are expected to recover in the second half due to higher meat prices, while domestic chicken prices are expected to recover in the fourth quarter, analysts said.

09 August 2012

S. Korean heat wave kills off 830,000 chickens


//09 Aug 2012
South Korea is experiencing a heat wave that has claimed 830,000 chickens; 40,000 ducks; and 3,000 quails. An algal heat-induced bloom is further threatening the potable water supply.
Since late July, the heat has claimed more than 40,000 ducks, 3,000 quails and 800,000 chickens, the Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said in an e-mailed statement.

Temperatures rose in Seoul to 35 degrees Celsius, and stayed steady for almost two weeks, and has also claimed the lives of seven people.

Sources:

AsiaOne
Bloomberg

Vietnam prepares for bird flu


//09 Aug 2012
Vietnam faces an increased risk of bird flu, brought on by the weather weakening poultry resistance. Some 29,700 birds have been destroyed in the latest swath of outbreaks of the influenza virus, taking place in the centre of the country.
Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Diep Kinh Tan announced that with the prevailing weather there was a high risk of new bird flu outbreaks due to unfavourable conditions weakening the resistance of poultry.

He also stated that ineffective management of poultry transportation in border provinces was also contributing to the heightened risk.

During the past two weeks, bird flu has reappeared in Hai Phong City, with poultry infections numbering as high as 67,000, while the number in Ha Tinh Province was 17,000.

Bird flu outbreaks have so far been reported in the two cities of Hai Duong and Hai Phong, along with the provinces of Quang Binh and Ha Tinh.

More than three million doses of bird flu vaccine have been allocated to the localities and nearly 100,000 affected chicken, ducks and other birds have been destroyed.

Tan asked the localities and agencies to strictly implement the Prime Minister's directive last week requesting them to strengthen inspection and control of poultry imports to Viet Nam to prevent bird flu.

Latest outbreaks
The Director General of the department of Animal Health, Dr Nam Hoang Van, has submitted the latest report on HPAI to the OIE. Since the last report submitted in late July, six new outbreaks of H5N1 have occurred, though isolated to the centre of the country.

The outbreaks are taking place in rural villages, and to date some 29,753 birds have been destroyed.

Controlling transmission
To control transmission of the disease via illegal poultry imports, the PM asked border provinces to encourage local people not to take part in the transport and trade of unidentified and un-quarantined poultry.

Other ministries, including the ministries of Industry and Trade, Defence, Finance, Public Security, Agriculture and Rural Development, and Information and Communications, were asked to work together to deal with illegal imports of poultry, while strengthening inspections and popularising measures to prevent H5N1 human influenza and information relating to the fight against bird flu.

Sources:

Viet Nam news
OIE

M hyo vaccine works best in first week after farrowing


//08 Aug 2012
Protection against Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae works best in piglets that are vaccinated early with a long-lasting vaccine. This protection appears to be working up until the very end of the finisher period.
This was stated by Dr Frédéric Vangroenweghe, veterinary advisor, Benelux for Elanco Animal Health, writes Dutch agricultural title Boerderij.

Speaking at a symposium in Ommen, the Netherlands, Vangroenweghe referred to scientific research from the US and South Korea.

The Korean research compared various vaccination moments, showing that vaccinating in the first week of life yields the best results, both for the protection duration as for the reduction of lung lesions in pigs at the slaughter line. In the American research, emphasis was on a potential connection between immunity through colostrum and early vaccination. Groenweghe said that colostrum-derived immunity does not impair the effects of early vaccination.

He said: "The common belief in the field is that early vaccination does not have any effect, as piglets will receive immunity through colostrum. These studies, however, show that there is no interference with maternal protection. In other words, maternal antibodies and early vaccination at the same time are not counterproductive."

M hyo is one of the more detrimental pathogens in pig production, partly responsible for worse performance due to lung lesions.

Related websites:

Elanco Animal Health
Boerderij (in Dutch)

07 August 2012

USA: PRRS vaccine in 100-dose presentation


//07 Aug 2012
Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica (BIVI) has expanded its range of vaccine products on the US market by offering the Ingelvac PRRS MLV in larger size bottles - now for 100 doses.
The 100-dose modified-live virus vaccine, to be rehydrated with 200 ml of provided liquid diluent, makes it convenient for producers and veterinarians to treat more animals per bottle.

Reid Philips, DVM, technical manager, Porcine Respiratory and Reproductive Syndrome (PRRS), for BIVI, says the vaccine is recommended for use in healthy, susceptible pigs, sows and gilts as an aid in the reduction of disease associated with PRRS virus, both the reproductive and respiratory forms.

Philips said that he new 100-dose units will add to the convenience of using the vaccine, especially in larger systems.

The vaccine in the 100-dose units will be available starting August 1, 2012, only on the US market. The vaccine also is available in 10- and 50-dose bottles.

Related website:
• Boehringer Ingelheim, USA

05 August 2012

Vietnam tightens border control due to bird flu fears


//03 Aug 2012
Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has asked authorities, especially those in border provinces, to tighten inspections and control of poultry imports in an attempt to halt a bird flu epidemic.
"Development of the disease is becoming complicated in Vietnam and other countries in the world, urging measures to ensure better control of imported poultry, especially poultry that is smuggled into the country," he said.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development's Animal Health Department, bird flu has re-emerged in 20 provinces and cities across the country since the beginning of this year. Small outbreaks have been reported in the provinces of Quang Binh, Hai Duong and Hai Phong during the past three weeks.

The outbreaks were caused by a lack of awareness among poultry farmers and poor preparation in disease prevention and control.

Last year, bird flu occurred in 22 provinces and cities in Vietnam, infecting over 110,000 poultry, with more than 151,000 culled.

Source: Asia News Network

Russian vet service continues to report new outbreaks of ASF


//03 Aug 2012
The Russian Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance, Rosselkhoznadzor, continues to report large-scale outbreaks of African Swine Fever in the Krasnodar region.
This time the virus has been detected in the pig-breeding complex ‘Dankub’ in the Krasnoarmeysk area of the Krasnodar region.

The Russian veterinary service management in the region stated that the total pig stock in the farm is estimated to be 15,700 head.

At the outbreak of the disease all necessary steps have been taken to contain and prevent further spread of infection. All livestock in the centre and first surrounding area - which in total accounts for 16,000 pigs - will be destroyed, Rosselkhoznadzor officially reported.

Tver region
In Tver region, north west of Moscow, the Russian veterinary service also continues to report outbreaks of African Swine Fever. According to veterinary experts from samples taken from wild boars in the region ASF virus is currently recorded in more than 30% of cases. As a result, the authorities decided to completely isolate the Tver region from other regions of Russia.

Sergei Dankvert, head of Rosselkhoznadzor said: "If we would place a special ‘zone’ of 40-50 km from the border around the Tver region, in which we will kill all wild boars and pigs in all farms, the possibility of the disease spread to nearby areas would be reduced. Therefore, pigs here must be somewhere, unfortunately, destroyed, somewhere the farms should be transferred to other economic activities."

He added: "If no action is taken, ASF soon will affected all regions of Russia.”

According to him, the direct and indirect damage to the Russian Federation as a result of ASF amounts to ‘hundreds of billions of roubles’.

Dankvert added that it would be necessary to expand the powers of Rosselkhoznadzor and provide its staff with the unimpeded access to private land of owners of pig population. However, this measure has been repeatedly provoked protests from farmers and human rights organisations in Russia.

Related website:
• Rosselkhoznadzor

Hawaii pig worker contracts unusual swine flu A (H3N2v)


//03 Aug 2012
A Maui pig worker is Hawaii's first confirmed case of an unusual swine flu strain that has been detected in only six mainland states in the past year.
The Honolulu Star reports that the Hawaii Agriculture Department plans to take nasal swabs of a ‘couple’ of pig herds on Maui looking for evidence of the H3N2v virus, said state veterinarian Dr James Foppoli.

H3N2v virus
Since August 2011, the H3N2v virus has only been found in 17 patients on the mainland United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). "If we find an infected herd, our recommendation is to not move the animals to make sure there's no more transmission in the herd, and then they will be OK to go to slaughter once they're well," Foppoli said.
"Human-to-human transmission is uncommon, so that's not a likely source. You've got to suspect that there's a pig intermediate somewhere along the line where the person got the virus."

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention late last week confirmed Hawaii's first case of the H3N2v virus after the unidentified, adult Maui resident sought medical attention upon experiencing symptoms consistent with the regular seasonal flu, including fever, cough and body aches, the Health Department said. The patient fully recovered.

Related websites:
• Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
• Honolulu Star

Pfizer improves anticoccidial agent for broilers & turkeys


//03 Aug 2012
Animal Health company Pfizer has launched an improved version its anticoccidial agent Cygro 10G to give broiler and turkey producers more effective control against the disease coccidiosis.
Improvements - achieved by changing the production process - include a shorter withdrawal period and easier application.

Instead Pfizer is using a mineral carrier rather than corn cob and the anticoccidial agent is being mixed with the carrier instead of being sprayed. Subsequently the withdrawal period has been reduced from five to three days, increasing its flexibility.

Product manager Tony Grainger said: "Moving away from a corn cob carrier eliminates any concerns about contamination with GMOs, insects or rodents, and achieves more even mixing. "The higher concentration provides enhanced activity against coccidia, with the shorter withdrawal time adding to flexibility of use."

02 August 2012

Indonesia: Charoen Pokphand records poultry profit


//02 Aug 2012
Charoen Pokphand Indonesia, a major producer of poultry and poultry feedstock in the country, has reported a 35% increase in profit through the first half of this year on rising sales.
Jakarta-based Charoen, a local unit of Thai conglomerate Charoen Pokphand Foods, said net income rose to Rp 1.69 trillion ($179 million) in the first half from Rp 1.25 trillion in the same period in 2011.

Companies like Charoen and Japfa Comfeed Indonesia are benefiting from strong consumer spending in the nation’s growing economy, with experts suggesting that the rising price of chicken also helped Charoen through the first six months of this year.

At the start of this year, the Finance Ministry imposed a 5% import tariff on raw materials for animal feed, specifically corn. This allowed for an increase in chicken prices, which have been passed on to consumers to the benefit of poultry producers such as Charoen.

Charoen’s earnings figures show that demand for meat products is increasing, a reflection of the changing tastes and increased disposable income of Indonesia’s growing middle class.

Source: The Jakarta Globe

People: New CEO for Lohmann Animal Health International


//01 Aug 2012
Dr Frank Sterner has been promoted to Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for Lohmann Animal Health International.
Sterner has been with Lohmann Animal Health International for the past four years, serving as president since 2009. He joined the company in 2008 as vice president of Biotechnology.

"It has been very rewarding to be part of a successful and growing biotechnical company located in Maine that provides high quality products to improve animal health around the world," Sterner said.

The 26-year veteran of the poultry industry has held key management roles in animal health at Maine Biological Laboratories, Inc. and several other large companies.

Sterner holds a PhD from the University of Wisconsin in Veterinary Virology. He earned an MBA from Salisbury State University, a subsidiary of University of Maryland.

Bank of America continues with HSUS, Alliance quits


//02 Aug 2012
The Animal Agriculture Alliance in the US ended its 25 year relationship with the Bank of America due to the bank’s relationship with action group HSUS, which aim is to end animal farming.
Last month, the Animal Agriculture Alliance reached out to Bank of America with concerns about its public support of HSUS and asked the company to sever its ties to the extreme animal rights group.

The bank indicated it would not discontinue its HSUS affinity card program, so the Alliance has made the decision to end its relationship with its bank of 25 years.

Bank of America’s Agribusiness Executive emphasised in a phone conversation with Alliance CEO Kay Johnson Smith that the affinity card program with HSUS was not new and that HSUS received no preferential treatment.

He emphasized his long time connections with agriculture and his sincere commitment to supporting agriculture through numerous sponsorships, research and service.

Bank of America does not consider the $60 from each affinity card as a donation, but rather a “fee” paid to HSUS (and other affinity program participants) for bringing in new clients.

When told that HSUS spends a great deal of money of disparaging campaigns, as well as legislative and legal attacks against farming, yet it spends less than one percent on direct animal care, he recognized that statistic.

He then discounted it by saying people believe HSUS helps animals and they enjoy having a card with cats and dogs on it.

Ironically, the bank’s representative specifically pointed out that the most critical issue right now for agriculture is the constant pressure on people in the food business.

After this conversation and careful consideration, the Alliance has decided to terminate its relationship with Bank of America.

The Alliance cannot continue a business relationship with companies that are contributing financially to extreme animal rights organizations that seek to eliminate the animal agriculture industry.

Russia: ASF spread to Ukraine due to inadequate transport rules


//02 Aug 2012
In reaction to the first outbreak of African Swine Fever in Ukraine, the Russian service for veterinary and phytosanitary surveillance Rosselkhoznadzor has pointed to inadequate hygiene regulations with respect to food transports between the two countries.
Rosselkhoznadzor's head Sergei Dankvert told the Ukrainian press agency Interfax that the virus could have come from Russia, despite the fact that the source of the disease has not been detected.

He said: "It could be, as our countries permit the carrying of 5 kg hand luggage with food. We've been saying for a long time that if you joined the WTO, let's stick to principles that are in effect in the European Union, where imports of any vegetable and animal products are toughly restricted, including in the hand luggage of passengers. We cannot check every tourist, as there are no regulations to allow this," he said.

"'Meat trains' are coming from Ukraine to us, and food goes from us to Ukraine, but we have to understand that today we're exchanging dangerous food from a veterinary point of view," he said. He added that such food as smoked sausage and smoked salo (pork fat) were withdrawn from the supervision of Rosselkhoznadzor.

Ukraine
The virus was found in a village where three pigs had died. The Ukraine says that the State Veterinary and Biosecurity Service has told persons who breed pigs not to give them food waste of unknown origin, not to buy animal products on unregulated food markets, and not to allow pets to come into contact with wild animals and strangers.

African Swine Fever has been reported in the Caucasus area since 2007, where pig populations in Georgia, Armenia, Azerbeidzjan and southern Russia have since been reported infected. Rosselkhoznadzor has ever since been reporting outbreaks in the Volgograd, Tver and Karelia regions. It is the first time, however, a country west of Russia has become infected.

Related website:
• Rosselkhoznadzor

UPDATE: African Swine Fever enters Ukraine


//01 Aug 2012
African Swine Fever has crossed another border - Ukraine now also has reported an outbreak in the south of the country.
According to the German veterinary website Animal Health Online (AHO) and the World Animal Health Organization (OIE), the virus was found in pigs in a backyard farm in the village Komyshuvatka, in the Prymorks'yi district, in the region Zaporozh'ye.

The OIE, which confirmed the outbreak on Wednesday afternoon, stated the outbreak was found in five pigs of which three had died of ASF. The other two had been culled.

The OIE wrote that the three animals had been affected with non-specific clinical signs, as only fever was detected. They died quickly afterwards. The samples were checked with PCR method, after which ASF was detected.

The location and the surrounding streets have been closed off, and traffic has been led through a detour. The pigs in the village have been killed and cremated.

It is thought that holidaymakers have carried the virus across the border, when they brought livestock products from Russia. Russia is reporting daily outbreaks of African Swine Fever, both in the south of the country as well as in the Tver region near Moscow.

In clinical signs somewhat similar to Classical Swine Fever, African Swine Fever is a deadly pig disease for which no vaccination is available. For more information on African Swine Fever, click here.

Related website:
• Animal Health Online (AHO)
• Animal Health Organization (OIE)



Brazil’s pork exports Jan through May went up 5%


//02 Aug 2012
Brazil exported 225,000 tonnes of pork in the first five months of the year. This ia a 5% year-on-year increase. The figures were made public by Rabobank in its quarterly report on the global pig industry.
Record numbers since 2009 were made in May 2012, when 54,300 tonnes were exported. Main importers of Brazilian pork were Ukraine and Hong Kong.

Nevertheless, the Brazilian pork industry is suffering from current developments in the feed market. Between March and June 2012, soy meal prices grew by 32%. In the same timeframe, however, pig prices came down by 4%.

Low pig prices
Current prices for pigs are about 30% lower than in the beginning of April. Gross margins in pork production therefore have dropped below zero. Rabobank states that pig prices have come down as a consequence of a dropping domestic demand as the economic situation is considered bad.

In addition, the beef industry is going through better times after four years of struggling, resulting in beef having become the main meat type in Brazil. For smaller and larger independent pig companies, it is more difficult to stay profitable.

The bank expects that the Brazilian pig prices will slowly increase again in the next months.

Related website:
• Rabobank