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Welcome to this week's newsletter
Editorial: Lessons Learned over Listeria
The report into the causes and actions taken during the listeriosis outbreak in Canada last year Published last week,that killed 22 and made 57 people seriously ill has found a series of failings at both government and company level.
The source of the outbreak was deli meats from Maple Leaf Foods' Bartor Road processing plant. The report, by Sheila Weatherill, highlights that a combination of events and circumstances created the conditions enabling listeriosis to take hold. The investigation found weaknesses in four critical parts of the food safety system. The report says that progress has been made since the 2008 outbreak on a number of fronts but there is still room for improvement in the federal food safety and legislative framework.
Michael McCain, the president and CEO of Maple Leaf Foods, commented: "This report is tough and it ought to be, with strong recommendations for further improving the Canadian food safety system. We thought we had a good food safety programme last August, but our efforts failed with tragic consequences. Since then, we have transformed every aspect of our food safety programme."
Gerry Ritz, Canada's Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, said: "The 57 recommendations in this report are detailed and comprehensive. This government will use these recommendations as part of the guideline to move forward and strengthen our food safety system."
There are surely lessons that all national governments and food safety agencies can learn from this investigation of the tragic episode in Canada last year.
Following the comment from Glenn Grimes and Ron Plain last week that the US needs to cut its sow herd by five to ten per cent for the industry to become competitive again, the same authors report that two pork producers have announced a reduction of 47,000 sows over the next several weeks: Smithfield says it will sell 27,000 sows in Texas, and Tyson is liquidating 20,000 sows from Arkansas and Missouri. This amounts to just 0.8 per cent of the national herd.
Last but not least, we welcome Cablevey Feeding Systems as a Supporting Partner on ThePigSite.
Jackie Linden
Virtual Walking the Pens - Now on ThePigSite
If you missed it, you can now access the Virtual Walking the Pens game on ThePigSite.com.
NEW VERSION... An update has been made to the software, please log in and download the latest versions to ensure the most up-to-date game experience. This will ensure you have the opportunity to achieve the best score possible. Click on the banner below to access the game.
NOT JOINED THE GAME YET? Find out more here.
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This Week's Book Focus - Special Offer
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Recognising and Treating Pig Infertility
This paperback pocket guide has been written as a second companion to Managing Pig Health and the Treatment of Disease. The book, which has over 200 pages provides quick and easy reference to identifying and treating pig infertility. Now on special offer.
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We have 7 new features this week:
Dioxin Discovery Leads Ireland's Residue Plan Results
The discovery of dioxin in samples of pig fat is the major feature in the Irish Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (DAFF) results of testing carried out under the National Residue Control Plan for 2008, writes ThePigSite senior editor, Chris Harris.
Boar Taint Vaccine Improves More Than Welfare
A new vaccination that inhibits boar taint in meat has also been found to have other benefits for the pig producer by improving feed efficiency and delivering a leaner carcass with better meat quality, writes ThePigSite senior editor, Chris Harris.
Pork Production Versus Consumer Demands
"With the high production costs in Canada, what can we do to build a long term competitive industry?" asked Mario Lapierre of Génétiporc Inc. at the London Swine Conference 2009.
Latest Vaccine Research from PCVD Forum
As part of its ongoing commitment to research and development into PCV2, Merial held its inaugural PCVD Forum in Athens where 350 pig veterinarians from across Europe exchanged information and views on Porcine Circovirus-associated diseases (PCVD).
Variability of Water Flow Rates and the Impact on Therapy Using Tetracycline Powder
The results presented at the 28th Centralia Swine Update by Glen Almond and colleagues at North Carolina State University indicate that medicating pigs with tetracycline in the drinking water is problematical and ineffective.
How to Improve Sow and Litter Performance Using Orego-Stim
Research from the University of Minnesota showed that sows receiving a natural phytobiotic feed additive (Orego-Stim from Meriden Animal Health) had larger litters in total and born alive, and the sows had superior breeding scores to the controls. The results are published by Meriden as Technical Bulletin No. 14.
United Kingdom Pig Meat Market Update - July 2009
Tony Fowler, senior economic analyst with AHDB Meat Services Economic and Policy Analysis Group, explains the latest trends in pig production in the UK and European Union.
Seeking a New Editorial Challenge?
UK - Due to strong growth across all sectors of our business, the 5M Publishing management team is currently looking for editorial staff to help drive the continuing development of our on-line publications in Pigs, Poultry, Dairy/Beef Cattle, Aquaculture, Meat Processing, Bioenergy and Crops.
Serious Health Threat from Weaner Imports
UK - The prospect of weaners being imported into Britain from the European mainland could pose a serious health threat to the UK pig herd, says Stephen Curtis, chairman of pig-breeding company ACMC Ltd.
» FMD NEWS: OIE Launch Major Drive Against Disease
» OIE's Role in the H1N1 Influenza Pandemic
» Market Preview: Big Guys Announce Sow Herd Cuts
» Canadian Pork ‘Bail Out’ Would Hurt US Producers
» AMI Continues to Oppose Animal Antibiotics Ban
» CME: Temporary Reductions in Slaughter
» Meat, Poultry are Major Sources of PBDE Exposure
» Tim Bierman Selected to Lead National Pork Board
» No Antibiotic Residues Detected in DDGS
» Meat May Pose Danger to Some Patients
» Record High Red Meat Production for June
» Weekly Outlook: Focus on Yield Potential
» Weekly Review: Smithfield, Tyson to Liquidate Sows
» Pork Commentary: National Pork Industry Conference Report
» Russia Lifts Remaining Ban on Pork Imports
» Research: Pigs Raised in Large Groups Handle Easier
» Listeria Report Finds Series of Failings
» Agriculture Minister Reacts to Weatherill Report
» Maple Leaf Endorses Report Recommendations
» Weatherill Report Expected to Improve Food Safety
» Researcher Wins Animal Science Award
» Industry Unveils Proposal to Maintain Pig Production
» EU Pig Prices: Quotations Either Stable or Increasing
» Authorisation of GM Maize in EU Moves Closer
» New EU Import Controls on Feed Ingredients
» What is Good Biosecurity?
» Help Sought on EU GM Zero Tolerance Policy
» Compassion in World Farming Opposes Trade
» Soil Association Highlights Superbug Threat
» NADIS Veterinary Report & Forecast - July 2009
» Consumers Build Strategies to Beat Recession
» UK Farms Set 2020 Green Targets
» ASDA and Tesco Continue Retreat from British Pork
» Scots Get Lucky with Pork This Summer
» Larger Buyers Cut Back
» Sandwich Waste: Pigs Get the Crusts
» Supply and Demand More Closely Balanced
» NZPork: Vote to Give Consumers Clarity and Choice
» San Miguel Food Group Posts Higher Profits
» PCR Assay Detects Brucellosis in Wild Boar
» New Temporary Site For Labuan's Pork Sellers
» Report Predicts Growth in Italian Pork Sector
» Bachoco Reports Higher Q2 Sales, Margin
» Pig Farm Waste Overflows into Southern River
That's all for this week!
Ed.
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