Russia: 100,000 chickens died due to feed costs

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The difficult situation with feed prices has recently led to mass deaths of birds at a number of poultry farms of Russian agricultural holding "Kirovhleb."

"The poultry farms of agricultural holding "Kirovhleb" in recent months have had issues with feed stocks. On October 5, the veterinary inspection conducted at the Kostinskaya poultry farm, revealed that there was no feed at all. The farm needed a total of 33 tonnes of feed per day, but only purchased 10 tonnes, and not every day," the head of the Veterinary Department of the Kirov region Sergei Chuchalin said.

As of October 5, 70,000 chicken died. At a press conference on October 10, the head of Kirovhleb Mikhail Prusak said that this figure continues to rise and the current death tol was closer to 100,000. He also confirmed that the cause of death for the birds was underfeeding.

“This difficult situation appeared to be due to the fact that poultry feed prices almost doubled in August, and the company could not buy in the required amount. Due to lack of working capital the company failed to accumulate any backlog of feed,” Prusak said.

Currently, Kirovhleb poultry farms still have a stock of 560,000 poultry. The dead birds were disposed of under strict supervision of experts from the regional veterinary services.

Poultry deaths are continuing so the figure of losses could rise in the coming days.

BPC warns consumers of chicken price rises

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UK poultry organisations have been warning retailers and consumers that due to the continuing problems affecting feed availability, rises in the price of poultry products is unavoidable.

New figures from the National Farmers Union show that wheat yields in England are down by almost 15% on the five-year average, with productivity down to 1980s level. In part this has been caused by the second wettest summer in the UK since records began (according to Met Office statistics), which follow the worst drought in the US in 50 years and a heat wave in Russia.

“The costs of wheat, soyameal and corn – which are the key feed ingredients for the poultry industry and a number of other sectors – have increased significantly this year,” said BPC Chief Executive Peter Bradnock.

“For several months we have warned that British poultry producers are under real pressure from global factors and are pleased that the British Retail Consortium has accepted this will lead to a rise in shop prices. If consumers are to continue to enjoy the secure supply of British poultry, food prices need to accurately reflect cost increases.”


Source: British Poultry Council

Malaysia builds bio-methionine plant for poultry feed

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Korean based CJ and French chemical company Arkema have marked the start of construction of the first global unit for bio-methionine and the first platform of Thiochemicals Arkema in Asia.

After several years of study, work has started on the joint project on the Kerteh site, in the state of Terengganu, Malaysia. The Prime Minister of Malaysia was in attendance to witness the start of construction.



Arkema will provide an essential raw material for the manufacture of CJ bio-methionine. The plant will have a production capacity of 80,000 tonnes of bio-methionine for poultry feed and 50,000 tonnes of sulphur derivatives for petrochemicals markets.



Arkema masters the manufacturing process of methyl mercaptan, an intermediate sulphur compound used in the production of methionine. For its part, CJ has developed an innovative industrial process of bio-fermentation and highly competitive to produce L-methionine from renewable raw materials.



The start of production is planned for late 2013. The project represents a total investment of about €450 million.

Alltech predicts a contraction in global feed production

//11 Oct 2012
Speaking at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN, in Rome, Alltech vice president Aidan Connolly, presented the results of the 2011 Alltech Feed Tonnage Survey, along with results from previous surveys, showing a steady increase in feed production year on year.
The 2011 survey, covering 128 countries, put the total feed at 873 million tonnes. The 2012 survey, due to be published soon and covering more than 130 countries, is expected to show a further increase. For 2013 however, Connolly, presenting at the IFIF-FAO joint meeting, predicted a contraction in the region of 3 – 5%, driven by the following three factors:
Continued global recession affecting protein consumption.
The conversion of large amounts of feed stocks and materials into biofuels.
Reduced feed supply due to a global drought, specifically in the US.
In addition, a mycotoxin survey, also carried out by Alltech, indicates that the surviving US harvest will be highly contaminated with up to 37 different mycotoxins, due to crop vulnerability from adverse weather conditions. The resulting percentage contraction in feed production will then be determined by the ability of integrated food producers, farmers and food companies to pass on the increased feed material cost to consumers, without any loss in overall consumption levels.

"We are facing into a completely new era for the agriculture industry where, for the first time in history, feed production for 2013 will be lower than for 2012, and it is clear that efficiency in converting feed into food will be more critical to food companies than ever,” said Connolly.

Pork industry in Fiji may suffer

//11 Oct 2012
The pork industry in Fiji may be in trouble due to subsidised pork imports.
Pork products deriving from imported pork, could be on sale for 10% less than local product supply.

According to a report, the Australian-branded imported products, are made from pork produced in Europe and Canada's heavily subsidised markets

Chairman of the Pig Farmers Association of Fiji, Simon Cole stated that "There's going to be a tightening, we're going to lose farmers, we're going to lose production to a subsidised product, and that just doesn't seem to make sense." He added that the Fijian industry does compete with Australian growers but not government subsidised industries as Canada's.

"Our industry here is not subsidised and we do compete therefore at a world trade level and I think that's an important benchmark.”

Source: Radio Australia

Agromed appoints Opticell distributor in Vietnam

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Agromed Austria, a provider of premium natural feed additives, has announced a new distribution deal with Zagro to support its growth plans in the Vietnam market. This new partnership is expected to drive stronger market position for its lignocellulose feed additive OptiCell in Vietnam, and elevate product and brand awareness.

Helmut Grabherr, CEO of Agromed Austria said, “This new partnership will reinforce Agromed’s commitment to Asia as we extend our global reach to this rapidly growing region. Vietnam is a vital market for us and we are pleased to partner with Zagro, a market-leading company with a professional team and strong distribution network in the livestock industry.”
David Saunders, CEO of LinkAsia Partners, said: “Agromed has built up a healthy reputation globally with its exceptional quality products that are natural, effective and consistently delivering the desired results. Developing the important Vietnam market with the support of Zagro will extend this success as more customers get more animal performance benefits from this valuable product’, said David Saunders, CEO of LinkAsia Partners."

Related websites:
Agromed
LinkAsia Partners
Zagro

Brazil: 52% increase in chicken exports

 

  

According to Abef, Brazil's impressive performance in exports is a result of a worldwide increase in poultry meat consumption, with shipments of chicken leaving the country increasing by 52%.

Brazilian chicken exports to the Middle East from January to September this year took the biggest share, totalling 718,000 tonnes, according to the Brazilian Poultry Exporters Association (Abef).

This figure represents a 40% increase in comparison with the same period in 2006. Exports totalled US$924 million, which is 70% more than in the first nine months of 2006.

Ranking second is the European Union, which imported 402,000 tonnes, representing a 40% increase over the period ranging from January to September 2006. Shipments to the EU yielded US$900 million - a 75% increase using the same basis for comparison.

Exports to Asia totalled 590,000 tonnes, representing a 6% increase with revenues climbing 26% with the amount of US$845 million reached.
The African continent imported 175,000 tonnes of chicken, which is a 7% reduction in comparison with the first nine months of 2006. Revenues from shipments rose 20% to reach US$153 million.

From January to September, Russia purchased 142,000 tonnes - 5% less than in the same period of 2006. Nevertheless, revenues grew by 32% to reach US$207 million. To other Latin American countries, Brazil exported 129,000 tons, a 17% increase in comparison with the first nine months of 2006. Shipments totalled US$156 million, a 26% rise using the same basis of comparison.

In total, Brazil exported 2.4 million tonnes of chicken from January to September, which is 22% more than in the same period of last year, with revenues totalling US$3.4 billion, an increase of 52%.

Related links:

Brazilian Poultry Exporters Association (Abef)