ThePigSite Newsletter - 6 July 2009

Monday 6th July 2009

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Welcome to this week's newsletter

Editorial: USDA Quarterly Report Was as Bad as Expected

The USDA published its latest Quarterly Hogs and Pigs report last week. It revealed continued contraction in the US pig population. Experts commented that it contained no surprises, and that the figures were in broad agreement with predictions. There can be no doubt that the US industry is facing many challenges right now.

One of those challenges is influenza A H1N1 - a pandemic in the world's human population that has little to do with pigs yet it is hitting the industry hard as demand for pork falls. Argentina is the second country - after Canada - to have declared an outbreak of H1N1 flu in pigs. A government official there announced that workers on the farm are the suspected source of the virus. This was followed by the results of another investigation, which suggest that the virus may have jumped back to pigs, providing a hidden virus reservoir among the porcine population.

On a positive note, American Humane Certified is working to develop more animal-friendly livestock transport standards, focussing initially on pigs.

And in company news, Marfrig Alimentos S.A has announced it is investing in the Diamantino industrial complex to boost output of processed and value-added products from its Poultry, Pork and Processed Food Division in Brazil.

Last but not least, we welcome Meriden Animal Health as a Supporting Partner on ThePigSite.

Jackie Linden

This Week's Feature Articles

We have 6 new features this week:

USDA Quarterly Hogs and Pigs Report - June 2009 (Updated)
This quarter's quarterly Hogs and Pigs report from the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).

H1N1 - an Economic Impact on the Pig Industry
Apart from economic events and challenging feed prices, one of the most important events this year to hit the US pig meat industry has been the outbreak of H1N1 influenza in Mexico and then in the US, writes ThePigSite senior editor, Chris Harris.

Feeding to Ensure Healthy Pigs
Joel DeRouchey and colleagues at Kansas State University's Applied Swine Nutrition Team discussed the influence of weaning age and weight, matching formulation to nursery pig maturity, maximising feed intake and growth-promoting nutrient levels. The papers was presented at the Swine Profitability Conference 2009.

Evaluating and Correcting Lameness in Sows
Dr Mark Whitney, Associate Extension Professor at the University of Minesota Extension Service offers practical tips to assess foot and claw health of sows and to correct some of the underlying causes by mineral supplements and improving the floor condition.

Strep. Suis – An Update
Pork producers need to be aware that a low but real risk may be present during manipulation of Streptococcus suis-diseased animals, Robert M. Friendship and Janet I. MacInnes of the University of Guelph warned delegates at the 28th Centralia Swine Research Update.

Fine-Tuning Feed Additive Management
Marnie van Barneveld, Product Application Manager for Biomin Australia Pty Ltd, explains that farmers should focus on efficiency indifficult economicconditions, not just cost-cutting.

Company News

Getting Gilt Integration Right
UK - With good returns on finished pigs, attractive cull sow prices and a contracting EU pig herd, many producers are building up their breeding herds again, says ACMC.

Pfizer Updates its Pig Health Educational Tool
US - There is a new assignment for Pfizer Animal Health's 'Virtual Walk the Pen' simulator.

Nedap Starts Sales Force in Asia
CHINA - Since 2007 Nedap made a successful introduction of Electronic Sow Feeding (ESF) into the important pig producing countries in Asia.

Inspiring International Innovations at VIV Europe 2010
NETHERLANDS - VIV Europe 2010 will be packed with inspiring international innovations for future farming, says the show organiser.

Global Pig Industry News