£200,00 Available - For Ideas Quick Off the Mark
UK - Pig producers with a 'big idea' they'd like to put into practice shoudl talk to BPEX Ltd - and fast? Producers and processors have got until the end of April to submit ideas and qualify for the BPEX Innovation Fund.

Chr. Hansen Obtains US Quality Certification
US - Following a comprehensive audit by BVQI (Bureau Veritas Quality International), Chr. Hansen has been awarded the FAMI-QS certificate – the state-of-the-art quality certification for feed additives.

Manure Issues: Analysis, Values and Compliance
UK - With fertiliser prices hitting dizzy heights, the value of livestock manure is becoming more important and the 'product' much sought after.

Marathon Man Matthew Says Thanks to Industry
UK - Matthew Curtis, Managing director of Yorkshire-based pig breeding company, ACMC Ltd has fitness in his genes. He completed the Flora London Marathon last week 4 hours 15 seconds and has raised over £3,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support.

New R&D Centre for Pfizer
BRUSSELS - A new development centre for veterinary vaccines will accelerate the development of new animal health products says Pfizer. The facility is part of its annual US$300 million commitment to research and development.

First ever European PCV2-Research Award Winners Honoured
GERMANY - Prof. Hans Nauwynck, Prof. Joaquim Segalés, Danja Wiederkehr together and Dr. Xaver Sidler are the first ever winners of the European PCV2 Research Award

Dutch Study Certifies Efficiency of BD Air Washer
THE NETHERLANDS - MagixX, the Big Dutchman exhaust air washing system, has been proven to be one of the best combi-systems for reducing dust, ammonia, and odour emissions from pig houses.

Breeding for Vitality Works - Weaning Performance Excels
THE NETHERLANDS - Dutch pig farmers using TOPIGS sows have achieved an average production of 26.36 weaned piglets per year in 2007. Compared with 2006, this is an increase of 0.65 piglets

Canadian Genetics Shipped to Expanding Russian Agri-Business
CANADA - Genesus has just completed the successful delivery of a Four Plane Shipment of swine genetics to Kuban AgroHolding of Krasnodar, Russia.

New World Beating Boar Goes to War on Feed Costs
UK - A new boar bred by UK's pig genetics company JSR Genetics, is consistently achieving a record breaking reduction in feed conversion rates (FCR) - 13.4 per cent less than the UK average - and the lowest achieved by any pig, anywhere in the world....

Market Growth Means More Capacity Needed at BD
THAILAND - Big Dutchman's operation in Thailand has moved to larger premises. The company says its further proof of the deep determination to strengthen the relationship between the German poultry and pork equipment supplier and its Asian clients.

WANTED: Technical Manager for Apex GN Complex
USA - PIC USA are looking for Technical Manager to implement and manage an efficient breeding and testing program to optimise the rate of genetic improvement within their Apex GN Complex, in South Dakota.

Pork Commentary: Carnage Continues But Ethanol Ideal is Over
CANADA - Last week Jim Long reported that Spectrum, a Manitoba feed/ 20,000-sow production operation was in receivership. Another Western Canadian production system was also in trouble and this week comes the sad news that Stomp Farms, a 25,000-sow system...

Free Conversion to PigCom for Easicare users
UK - Pig breeding company ACMC is offering free conversion to their advanced PigCom pig recording system to producers currently using the Easicare programme.

Hunt on for Top Trainees
UK - The UK pig and poultry sectors are once again searching their best students. Pfizer Animal Health has launched its 2008 Pfizer Trainee of the Year Award and is seeking nominations.

New Study Proves Virkon® S Misting's Superior Value
Us - A team of leading researchers in the USA have found that directed misting of a four per cent solution of disinfectant Virkon® S can successfully reduce environmental bacterial contamination, such as Staphs and Salmonella, to extremely low levels...

New Regional Manager for TOPIGS
GLOBAL - Alfonso Arenilla will join TOPIGS international sales team in June as regional manager for Spain, Portugal, Central and South America.

Hypor signs distribution deal in Poland
POLAND - Pig breeding and genetics company Hypor has signed an agreement with the family-owned Farmers Sp.zoo, a Polish agricultural company, located in Goldap in the North East of Poland.

Selection for Piglet Vitality Pays Off
THE NETHERLANDS - A decision taken in 2002 to select for piglet vitality is now showing more piglets per litter and less mortality, says breeding company TOPIGS

Vaccine Voucher Scheme Launched
UK - A £1.5million vaccine voucher research project being run by the British Pig Executive (BPEX) is now up and running.

Taking Action on PCV2 - BPEX Research Scheme Starts
UK - Just a day into its new role and BPEX Ltd is making a stand with the launch of a £1.5 million PCV2 vaccine research programme. The aim of the project is to find out more about the debilitating infection and its interaction with PMWS and PDNS - persistent...

Business Support Manager for South Asia and Russia
GLOBAL - TOPIGS has appointed René ten Brinke to its international team.

Pork Commentary: Hogs and Pigs Report Offers No Panacea for What Ails Us
CANADA - The USDA March Hogs and Pigs Report was released last Friday, writes Jim Long. Unfortunately, it offers at first glance little positive news for our industry.

Make Time to Evaluate and Reap the Rewards
UK - The start of a new financial year is a good time to review production targets and set new ones, says BPEX. More producers are now seeing a gradual improvement in herd health with the stabilisation of PMWS and most herds there are showing signs of...

Social Behaviour Now Included in Selection
NETHERLANDS - Sociable pigs can now be bred thanks to a method developed jointly by the Institute for Pig Genetics (IPG) in Beuningen and the Animal Breeding and Genomics Centre of Wageningen University. It's the first time such a trait has been included...