Welcome to this week's newsletter

Editorial - Pig Producers Protest over Poor Profitability

Pig farmers in Europe are struggling with a combination of high feed prices and low pork prices, as we have reported over recent months.

In London last week, producers from across the UK took part in a rally to draw attention to their plight and handed a petition to the Prime Minister.

Representing the retailers, British Retail Consortium (BRC) Food Director, Andrew Opie, said: "Retailers know some consumers prefer to buy British. They're already doing what they need to to look after their supply chain and secure a sustainable UK pig industry so they can sell the products people want to buy."

He stressed that the direct relationship is between farmers and processors, and that blaming retailers ignores the importance of the buying decisions made by manufacturers, caterers and the Government. He added that BRC members have signed up to a Government commitment on clear country of origin labelling, which helps shoppers get good information about where their food comes from and supports UK farmers.

Difficulties in the French pig industry were revealed at the international farm show, SIA, in Paris recently. The president of the French pig producers' federation (Fédération Nationale Porcine, FNP), Jean-Michel Serres, said: "There will be 10 to 15 per cent fewer pig holdings in France by the end of March."

Cereal prices remain an area of concern in France as elsewhere: "Back in June or July last year, nobody was expecting the steep rises that we've seen during the life of just one production cycle," Mr Serres added, saying that a shortage of cereals is expected in the summer months ahead of northern hemisphere harvests.

At the Agriculture Forum 2011 in the US, a slight increase in pork production was forecast for 2011. Following a 2.4 per cent drop in 2010, US pork production is estimated to rise by 0.4 per cent this year. Continued gains in sow productivity are expected to largely offset lower farrowing numbers.

In his North American Pork Commentary, Jim Long reports on the high average daily gains being achieved in the US at the present time. He also drew attention to the potential danger to the US industry posed by the potential licensing of the product to castrate pigs from injection, adding that the industry is unable to see how a chemical injection could be a positive to increase pork demand.

And finally turning to news of foot and mouth disease (FMD), there has been a report of an outbreak in pigs in Xinjiang, China. A team of international animal health specialists has arrived in North Korea to assist veterinary authorities there in responding to outbreaks.

Jackie Linden

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This Week's Feature Articles

Company News

Plans Advance for World Pork Expo
US — The US pork industry’s newest technologies, outstanding breeding stock and educational seminars are major features at the 2011 World Pork Expo.

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Electronic Sow Feeding System Approved
US - The American Humane Association (USA) has awarded the Seal of Approval for Humane Equipment to Big Dutchman’s CallMatic 2 electronic sow feeding system (ESF).

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New Online MTF Calculator Adds Focus on Profit
UK - A unique Meat per Tonne of Feed (MTF) Calculator, revealing how much it costs pig farmers to produce a kg of saleable meat, has been launched on JSR’s new-look website.

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Intervet/Schering-Plough Delivers FMD Vaccine
SOUTH KOREA - Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health announces today that it has shipped 12 million doses of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccine to South Korea to assist in the country’s efforts to halt the ongoing FMD outbreak.

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Global Pig Industry News

Korea, South

 » FMD NEWS: Govt Mulls Permanent FMD Vaccination

United Kingdom

 » NADIS BPEX Commentary – February 2011
 » Sign Our Sausage Rally
 » Lysine, Crude Protein Nutrition for Finishing Pigs
 » Scottish Pig Producers to Rally at Downing Street
 » UK Attacked for Not Backing Organic
 » Maintaining the Low Salmonella Status of NI Pork
 » Pig Herd Sees Some Stablility
 » Reminder: Changes to By-Products Regulations
 » Pig Farmers Do Have Retailers' Support
 » Retail Profit - Producer Loss!
 » Rallying Round the Pig Industry at Downing Street
 » A Few More Green Shoots
 » Letters for IPPC Assurance Scheme Participation

United States

 » Briefings on GIPSA; Positive Impacts for Producers
 » Pork Board Reveals New Marketing Campaign
 » Weekly Outlook: Pork Industry Walks Tight Rope
 » Market Preview: Pork Trade Forecast Looks Good
 » Arizona Food Bank Provided with 60,000 Meals
 » US-Mexican Trucking Deal Pleases Pork Producers
 » CME: Lean Hog Futures Pull Back in Last 10 Days
 » Predicting Corn Consumption and Prices for 2011
 » Pork Industry: Focus on Environmental Sustainability
 » US Pork Exports Forecast to Increase Annually
 » Doug Wolf Named New NPPC President
 » Obama Administration Advised on Ag Export Issues
 » Environmental Impact of Animal Waste

Canada

 » Pork Commentary: Growth Rates Best Ever?
 » New Reports Show Bright Future for Agriculture
 » Manure Management Assistance Programme
 » Profitability Means Local Company can Donate Again
 » Good News for Small, Medium Size Pork Producers
 » Reducing Airborne Contaminants in Swine Barns
 » Provision of Information for Pork Industry Advocacy
 » Hydrogen Sulphide and Ammonia in Swine Barns

European Union

 » EU Pig Prices: Price Movements on Steady Markets
 » Brussels Closes Pigmeat Storage Aid

Denmark

 » Danish Crown Joins Global Compact
 » Habits of Long Distance Pig Travellers Revealed

Philippines

 » Pork Prices Likely to Go Up by P5/Kilo Next Week

Australia

 » ABARE Outlook: Ag Exports to Rise
 » ABARE Outlook: Higher Pig Meat Imports, Exports
 » Wake Up and Smell the Bacon!

General

 » Tight Cereal Markets as Food Prices Increase Again

China

 » China's Farm Produce Prices Up

Ireland

 » UN Index Reinforces Importance of Food Security

Kenya

 » Kenya Reports Two Outbreaks of ASF

Myanmar

 » Outbreak of Blue-Ear Disease Found in Myanmar



That's all for this week!

Ed.