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Welcome to this week's newsletter
Editorial: Swine flu causes worldwide panic
Since reports of the first human victims of a new H1N1 swine influenza virus emerged from Mexico just a few days ago, the media have been full of reports, discussion and conjecture about the disease and its possible indirect effects.
Unhelpfully, opinionated or ill-informed bloggers have been been quick to blame the disease on commercial producers with larger farms. What is known is that - at the time of writing - there have been 20 confirmed cases of the virus in the US, six in Canada and one in Spain. Suspected cases are to be found in the UK, France, Israel, Brazil, Australia and New Zealand. Thankfully, in most cases outside Mexico, people have been only mildly ill and have made a full recovery following anti-viral medication.
The Asian stockmarkets fell by two per cent today, a move blamed on fears of a global pandemic. Airlines were affected because international travel may have to be curtailed, and the situation is making an nervous financial sector even more jittery.
Pig markets around the world are bound to suffer in the wake of the swine flu crisis despite repeated official confirmation that there is no danger of contracting flu from eating pig meat.
We at ThePigSite will continue to keep you up to date with developments.
Owing to a public holiday here next Monday, the next edition of ThePigSite Newsletter will be published on Tuesday 5 May.
Jackie Linden
We have 6 new features this week:
Strategies for Control of Boar Taint
Summarised by swine grower/finisher specialist of OMAFRA, Doug Richards, this paper was presented by Dr Jim Squires at the University of Guelph at the Centralia Swine Research Update on 28 January 2009. Dr Squires outlined the relative merits of three methods of controlling boar taint: nutrition, immunocastration and genetic selection.
Handling Stress During Marketing of Pigs from Large Groups
Pigs from large groups tended to load more quickly but the level of physical encouragement required, physiological responses to handling and meat quality were similar regardless of group size. These are the main findings of S.M. Hayne, D.L. Whittington and H.W. Gonyou from research for Prairie Swine.
Low-Solubles Dried Distillers Grains Improves Pork Fat Quality
Results of recent research at the University of Minnesota show that low solubles distillers dried grains (LS-DDG) is a valuable feed ingredient for growing-finishing pigs, according to Lee Johnston of the West Central Research and Outreach Center.
Segregated Parity Structure on Breeding Farms
This paper presents the rationale for segregating sows on a farm into age-dependent sub-populations in order to take advantage of nutrition, management and health opportunities. It was presented by R. Dean Boyd (The Hanor Co) and Noel Williams (PIC USA) at the Manitoba Swine Seminar 2008.
World Pork Trade Overview - April 2009
By USDA Foreign Agricultural Service - This article provides an overview of global poultry trade predictions for 2009.
More on Euthanasia
Employee and equipment considerations are outlined by Dale Rozeboom (Michigan State University, MSU, Animal Science), Michelle Kopcha (MSU College of Veterinary Medicine) and Jerry May (Educator Pork AoE, Gratiot County) in the latest issue of MSU Pork Quarterly (volume 13, number 4).
Boehringer Sees Sales Rise
GERMANY - Pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim saw the corporation's net sales rise to €11.6 billion last year compared to €10.9 billion in 2007.
Disease Sessions Announced for World Pork Expo
US - Swine producers attending the 2009 World Pork Expo in Des Moines, Iowa, can attend several swine management sessions sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc. (BIVI).
Porcilis PCV Vaccine Against PCV Type 2 Launched
EU - Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health today announces the introduction in Europe of its PORCILIS PCV vaccine against porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) infection.
Hypor Inc Forms New Alliance with Mag Inc
GLOBAL - Meeting the breeding needs of both Canadian and mid American producers has lead to the strategic alliance between Hypor Inc. and newly incorporated Mid-America Genetics International Incorporated (MAG) a Manitoba based genetic company.
Pork Commentary: Hog Markets on Launching Pads?
CANADA - This weeks North American Pork Commentary from Jim Long.
TOPIGS South Africa New Agreement
SOUTH AFRICA - Ede Farming, a multifaceted crop and livestock farming operation in the Mpumalanga province of South Africa, has signed a total depop-repop agreement with TOPIGS SA.
» EU Pig Prices: Prices Vary from Steady to Increasing
» Control of Cross Contamination in Feed Mills Advised
» Expansion of Animal Clinic and Lab Nears Completion
» Update on Ontario Veterinary Surveillance Project
» WCVM Upgrades to Enhance Biosecurity
» Substantial Run-Up in Hog Prices Projected
» Prairie Farm Groups Call for Help for Red Meat Sector
» Animal Health Expert Network Established
» Low-Phytate Barley to be Available Soon
» India Opposes EU Welfare Drive
» Lower Danish Pigmeat Production Anticipated
» Odour Removal from Food Processing Chimneys
» Danes May Invest in Finisher Units in Germany
» Swine Flu Reported in Two Children; Doctors Warned
» California Takes First Step to Feed Antibiotic Ban
» Congress Informed of Food Safety Progress Made
» Dwindling Research Funds Jeopardise Livestock
» NPB Issues Warning against New Swine Flu Strain
» Influenza-Like Illness in the United States and Mexico
» March Pork Production at Record High
» Smithfield Says No Sign of Swine Flu at Mexican JVs
» Weekly Review: Pork Stocks Up at End of March Again
» Market Preview: Lagging Loin Prices
» Weekly Roberts Report
» Keep Watch for H1N2 Swine Flu, Erysipelas in UK
» Kiotech's Last Financial Year Strong
» Rallying Call for Disease Cost Roadshows Issued
» NFUS: Action on Pigs Welcome but Not Enough
» Figures Reveal Continuing Rise in Producer Margins
» Pork Seminar Offers Everything but the Oink
» Still a Fairly Long Way for Producers
» Responsibility for Fallen Animals Rests with Minister
» Price of Domestic Pork Boned Ribs Rises
» Breakthrough Helps Aussie Pork Producers
» Experts to Meet in China to Discuss Pig Production
» $9.5b Earmarked to Help Chinese Farmers
» Shanghai FDA Looks Out for Tainted Processed Pork
» NZFSA Strategy Fights Foodborne Salmonella
» Managing Risk in New Zealand's Pork Industry
» Practical Application of DDGS in Feed Under Study
» Swine Producers Increase Overall Capacity
» New Biogas Generator Helps Farmers
That's all for this week!
Ed.
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