ThePigSite Newsletter - 5 July 2010

ThePigSite Weekly Newsletter

Monday 5th July 2010

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Welcome to this week's newsletter

Editorial - China's Meat Industry Undergoes Change

The China International Meat Industry Exhibition (CIMIE) was held in Beijing last week, and a growing presence from international meat industry companies and organisations was evident, according to Chris Harris, senior editor of ThePigSite, who attended the event. He reported that the Chinese meat industry is to embark on a period of investment and consolidation in a bid to establish its place on the world market, and the China Meat Association announced it is setting up a new organisation to oversee food safety issues in the meat industry.

According to a report received by OIE, the University of Hong Kong isolated the virus A/Swine/Hong Kong/201/2010 from one sample taken from a pig on 7 January 2010 during routine surveillance at the local slaughterhouse. The virus was essentially a swine influenza virus but had picked up a pandemic H1N1 gene by genetic reassortment, and it may pose a risk to human health.

Although it does not impact human health, PRRS (porcine respiratory and reproductive syndrome) is also proving to be a difficult disease to control in the US.

Lisa Becton, a veterinarian and director of swine health information and research with the National Pork Board in Des Moines, has explained in the last week that PRRS has the ability to mutate quickly, making it even more difficult for researchers.

Millions of dollars have been pumped into research programmes throughout the United States, she said, adding that one method that seems to be seeing some success is an attempt to deal with it regionally.

Jackie Linden

This Week's Feature Articles

We have 3 new features this week:

Comparative Evaluation of Infra-Red Radiant and Forced-Air Convection Heating Systems for Hog Barns
Compared to a room with conventional forced-air convection heating, the room with infrared radiant heating system consumed more gas but used less electrical energy and had more uniform temperature distribution within the room, according to Dr Bernardo Predicala and colleagues in the latest Centred on Swine from the Prairie Swine Research Centre. The heating system did not affect pig performance.

Milk Production and Nutritional Requirements of Modern Sows
Milk production levels of over 11 kg per day day can be achieved by today's sows in commercial situations, providing that specific needs are met for lysine and energy intake, according to Casey Neill and Noel Williams of PIC North America in a paper presented at the London Swine Conference 2010.

United Kingdom Pig Meat Market Update - June 2010
James Park, 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.

Company News

Boehringer Ingelheim Launches PCV2 Vaccine in Russia
RUSSIA - With the launch of Ingelvac CircoFLEX by Boehringer Ingelheim on the Russian market, pig producers in that country now have access to the world's market leading vaccine against Porcine Circovirus type 2 (PCV2).

Constant Weight Checks, Labour-saving Selection
GERMANY - In view of increasing prices for raw materials, pig producers get increasingly under pressure: electricity, gas and oil as well as feedstuffs – everything gets more expensive.

The Pfizer Trainee of the Year Award 2010
UK - The Pfizer Trainee of the Year Award 2010 is open to all United Kingdom pig unit personnel who can show how training benefits both their career and the performance of livestock on their unit.

Pfizer's New Portfolio Targets Prevention and Control
FRANCE - Pfizer unveiled its newly expanded swine respiratory disease (SRD) portfolio at a meeting in the company's European headquarters in Paris.

VIV China to Reflect Growth Perspectives
CHINA - The 'Grand International Edition' of VIV China will be held in Beijing on 6 to 8 September 2010. The international world of suppliers and buyers active in China will come together at the NCIEC, located near the international airport.

Meriden Transforms Orego-Stim Web Site
UK - Meriden Animal Health has re-launched the web site of its flagship product, Orego-Stim. The fresh website lay-out and design makes it easier for customers to use.

Global Pig Industry News