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Welcome to this week's newsletter
We have 4 new features this week:
Nutrition and the Environmental Impact of Outdoor Pigs
By Professor Sandra Edwards, Newcastle University, School of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development. The growth of outdoor pig production in the UK has been driven by economic, marketing and agronomic advantages - and it has brought recognised niche marketing opportunities.
European Food Safety Authority Report on MRSA in Breeding Pigs
Report of the Task Force on Zoonoses Data Collection on a proposal for technical specifications for a baseline survey on the prevalence of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in breeding pigs
U.S. Pork Exports to the EU Increase
By USDA, Foreign Agricultural Service - This article provides the pork industry data from the USDA FAS Livestock and Products Annual 2007 report for the European Union.
Chain Reactions
By Jane Jordan, ThePigSite Editor. The EU Hygiene Regulations which came into force in 2006 recognised that all primary producers - including livestock farmers - are 'food' producers.
 United States
Hog Outlook: Projection Of Pork Production for 2008 Is Another Record High
US Weekly Hog Outlook, 14th December 2007 - Weekly review of the US hog industry, written by Glenn Grimes and Ron Plain.
Market Preview: Factoring In Feed Grain Price Volatility
US - Weekly US Market Preview for the weeke ending 14th December 2007, provided by Steve R. Meyer, PhD, Paragon Economics, Inc.
Farmers uneasy about animal tracking
US - Farmers have until Friday to decide if they will participate in a federal database designed to keep a lid on animal diseases.
Pork Plant Illness Remains a Mystery
US - Health officials have backed away from their initial diagnoses of strange neurological illnesses among 11 workers at a pork processing plant in Austin. They say a 12th employee now appears to have the same symptoms.
New Study Ties Meat to Lung Cancer
US - People who eat a lot of red meat and processed meats have a higher risk of several types of cancer, including lung cancer and colorectal cancer, U.S. researchers reported on Monday.
Are Large Operators "Living High On The Hog?"
US - Large livestock production operations have proven there is an economy of scale, but have they gained an even larger advantage in recent years over mid-sized operations from low prices of corn and soybean meal, asks Stu Ellis, University of Illinois Extension.
Pork Exports On Track For Another Record Year
US - US pork exports (including variety meat) in October broke the record for a single month set in Nov. 2006. October’s exports totaled 130,424 metric tons (mt) valued at $313.33 million. The previous record was 122,225 metric tons valued at $289 million.
MRSA Spells an End to Livestock Antibiotics
US - The increasing incidence of a scary antibiotic-resistant bacterial infection and new international evidence tying it to livestock provide two more good reasons why the United States needs to apply the brakes to routine use of antibiotics in animal feed
Premises registration proves winner against pseudorabies
US - Recent cases of pseudorabies in Wisconsin swine have demonstrated in real life how premises registration can protect livestock producers, their animals and the livestock industry. 
 Canada
Allies and Action: Key to Alberta Recovery
ALBERTA - Recruiting allies in industry and government and developing an action plan is key to the survival of the Alberta pork industry, says Jurgen Preugschas, outgoing chairman of Alberta Pork.
Researchers to Evaluate Effectiveness of In-Barn Biofilters
CANADA - New research being conducted on behalf of the Manitoba Livestock Manure Management Initiative is evaluating the effectiveness of in-barn biofilters designed to reduce odour emissions from swine operations, writes Bruce Cochrane.
Live Hog Prices On the Rise
CANADA - The Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture reports live hog prices appear to have bottomed out and have started to rise, writes Bruce Cochrane.
Canadian Pork Industry Needs Answers Now
CANADA - Canada's 11,000 hog producers demand to know whether its governments support the hog sector and its future. Producers can't wait any longer, as the situation growing more critical for their farms and their families every day.
Mandatory Country of Origin Labelling Expected to Increase Processing Costs
CANADA - The George Morris Centre says new US Mandatory Country of Origin Labelling legislation will increase the cost of processing pigs in the U.S. but more so for Canadian pigs, writes Bruce Cochrane.
EU Export Refunds on Pork Prompt Calls for Stepped Up Efforts to Reach WTO Trade Agreement
CANADA - North American pork producers are expressing deep concern over the European Union’s decision to re-introduce export refunds on pork.
Pork Commentary - Manitoba Hog Days
CANADA - This past week, Jim Long spent two days at Manitoba Hog Days, held in Brandon, Manitoba, Canada.
 United Kingdom
Contingency Plan for Exotic Animal Diseases
UK - Defra's revised Contingency Plan for Exotic Animal Diseases was laid before Parliament last week.
Food, Climate and Meat Industry Drivers Under Spotlight
UK - Making Sense of Uncertainty is the title of the Meat and Livestock Commission's 2008 Outlook Conference and Defra minister Lord Rooker will deliver the keynote speech.
Growth for Processed Pork
SCOTLAND- Total expenditure of further processed pork products in Scotland exceeded £351 million during the past year, with bacon, sausage and sliced cooked meat categories all seeing market growth.
NFU’s Rallying Call to Livestock Farmers Over Cost Sharing Plans
UK - The NFU is urging livestock farmers to voice their feelings on the Government's plans to transfer millions of pounds of the cost of dealing with animal disease outbreaks to producers.
Pig sector plea for EU crisis aid
NORTHERN IRELAND - Northern Ireland's pig industry has told European Farm Commissioner, Mariann Fischer Boel that structural funding from Brussels is now crucial for its long-term survival.
NADIS Pig Veterinary Report and Forecast – December 2007
UK - This is a monthly report from the National Animal Disease Information Service (NADIS), looking at the data collected from their UK farm inspections.
Skills Passport will strengthen Scotland's future prospects
SCOTLAND - The Scottish pig sector may be facing difficult times, but a new will help strengthen it's future by training the next generation of pig keepers.
 China
China lifts ban on six US pork plants
CHINA - China has lifted its ban on pork from six US processing plants, including five plants that are owned by Smithfield Foods.
Chinese city to ban on pig farming from 2009
CHINA - The Dongguan government of Guangdong Province will proceed with its plan to ban pig farming in the city from 2009, a top official said at the weekend.
Canned pork exports set to resume soon
CHINA - Shanghai is preparing to resume exporting canned pork made by a local company after safety checks.
China's largest pig breeding base to be set up
CHINA - China is to set up it's largest pig breeding opertion. The business, named Project 5113, will be in Hubei Province.
 European Union
EU pig prices: No uniformity
EU - Even mid-month, the situation on the European pig market proves to be steady, for the most part.
Immuno castration Up for Debate in European Parliament.
EUROPE - BPEX has learned that in answers to written questions, the Commission mentions the fact that'EU legislation does not foresee in any case specific restriction on the importation of pig meat on the basis that animals have been castrated whatever the means'.
 Russian Federation
Russia Lifts Ban on Polish Meat Imports
RUSSIA - Russia is to start lifting its ban on imports of meat from Poland next week.
African and Classical Swine Fever in Russia
RUSSIA - The Russian Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (VPSS) has confirmed the detection of the first case of African swine fever in a family of wild boars, in the Chechen Republic in an area bordering the Republic of Georgia. 
 Australia
Importers Defend Trade as Truss Demands PC Report
AUSTRALIA - There are fears pork producers may be in for a wait for the Productivity Commission's latest report into crisis-gripped industry, which is due to be handed to the Federal Government today.
 Singapore
Retailers Caught Selling Thawed Pork as Chilled
SINGAPORE - The National Environment Agency (NEA) has slapped 31 pork retailers with fines of $300 each this year for passing-off thawed frozen pork as chilled.
 Argentina
Grants to Dairy and Pig Sectors
Argentina - The Argentine agriculture department is to pay out grants of more than 12 million pesos to the dairy, flour milling and pig sectors.
 France
€3 Million Aid to French Pig Sector
FRANCE - The French agriculture ministry is to hand out grants of €3 million to the ailing pig sector to help pay the interest on loans.
 Ireland
Labelling Confusion Warrants Full Investigation, says IFA
IRELAND - Henry Burns of the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) has called on the Minister for Agriculture Mary Coughlan to undertake a full investigation into mislabelling of meat in some Eurospar outlets.
Company news
Pfizer Strengthens Pig and Poultry Team
UK - Two senior appointments have been made by Pfizer Animal Health to its UK and Ireland pig and poultry business unit.
Big Dutchman's Expands
US - Big Dutchman USA has just completed the construction of over 7,000 square feet of additional office space at its headquarters for the Americas in Holland, Michigan.
That's all for this week!
Ed. |
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