Welcome to this week's newsletter

Editorial - US Pork Industry Warns of Trouble Ahead

The pork industry in the US can continue to be a leader in food production and meet domestic and world demand for pork as long as exports continue to grow, feed grains are available and producers are allowed to operate without undue legislative and regulatory burdens, said the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) in congressional testimony last week.

NPPC President, Doug Wolf, a pork producer from Lancaster, Wisconsin, told the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry that the US pork industry is doing well but has concerns about issues that could jeopardise its continued success.

He pointed out that exports have been a boon to the US pork industry, which is the world's No. 1 exporter of pork. But, he said: "The industry will not stay in that position if competitor countries cut trade deals in key markets and the United States does not."

NPPC urged lawmakers to approve the pending free trade agreements with Colombia, Panama and South Korea. The deals, when fully implemented, will generate more than $770 million in additional pork exports, increase hog prices by more than $11 per head and create more than 10,000 jobs in the US pork industry, according to Iowa State University economist, Dermot Hayes.

Mr Wolf warned the committee about two issues: the availability of feed for animals and the US Department of Agriculture's proposed regulation on buying and selling livestock (the GIPSA rule).

Research carried out in the UK and published in the journal, Science, shows that there may be a window of opportunity when it is possible to identify cattle infected with foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) virus before they become infectious and/or show signs of having the disease.

Researchers at the Institute for Animal Health (IAH) and colleagues at Defra are now assessing if this window of opportunity can be exploited to reduce the number of animals that are culled during an outbreak. The FMD outbreak in the UK in 2001 was a disaster for UK agriculture, not least in terms of the welfare of millions of slaughtered animals in the media spotlight.

In the last week, new outbreaks of FMD have been reported in cattle in Botswana and Israel.

Jackie Linden

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This Week's Feature Articles

Company News

Focus on Feed Conversion
UK - Pig producers intent on surviving the current pig crisis could save themselves thousands of pounds by utilising a little knowledge, according to Matthew Curtis, managing director of ACMC.

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Meriden Continues to Grow in India
INDIA - Meriden Animal Health Ltd recently attended the India Poultry Expo in Raipur Chhattisgarh with its associate, Saife Vetmed Pvt. Ltd.

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Meriden China Exhibits at Feed Industry Exhibition
CHINA - Meriden Animal Health’s joint venture partner, Meriden (Guangzhou) Biotech Co Limited, recently exhibited at the China Animal Feed Industry Exhibition.

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Hermitage - The Genetics of Choice in Russia
RUSSIA - Since entering the Russian market in 2006, Hermitage Genetics has become one of the largest international suppliers of high health pig breeding stock to key customers in Russia.

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Group Housing Info Days Held in Belgium
BELGIUM - In February, TOPIGS Belgium organised its annual info days for the Belgian pig industry.

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Individual Feeding Stations for Topig's Sow Lines
NETHERLANDS - TOPIGS has expanded the use feeding stations for individual feed intake registration (I-FIR) in the breeding programme.

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Veterinarian Dr Robert Glock Honoured
US - Dr Robert Glock has been honoured for service to colleagues and the industry by receiving last month the Academy of Veterinary Consultants (AVC) Outstanding Service Award, sponsored by Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health.

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CID Lines Goes Practical!
BELGIUM - The sales people, executives and technicians at CID LINES strive to always be perfectly informed of and maintain in touch with their various products and application forms.

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Genesus Sends Breeding Stock to South Korea
SOUTH KOREA - Genesus has been chosen by several swine breeders to replenish their genetics following the foot and mouth disease (FMD) outbreaks.

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PIC Announces New Franchise to Serve Dutch Market
NETHERLANDS - PIC, part of Genus plc, has signed a franchise agreement with Elite Groep bv to deliver PIC's genetic improvement to the Dutch market.

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Global Pig Industry News

General

 » FMD NEWS: Potential for Alternatives to Culling
 » Global Food Prices Hold Steady
 » US, Canadian Processors Petition to Use ‘Pasteurised’
 » Feed Additive Market Estimated at $19 Billion in 2016
 » MAP and FMD Funds Drive Global DDGS Promotion

Spain

 » Genesus Global Market Report: Spanish Market

European Union

 » Biological Sciences Reinforced to Tackle Big Issues
 » EU to Target Antimicrobial Resistance in 2012
 » EU Pig Prices: Price Rally Continues

Brazil

 » Brazil's Pork Exports Lower in March

Canada

 » Maple Leaf's Fresh & Prepared Meats More Profitable
 » CME: Highlights of Quarterly Hogs and Pigs Survey
 » Council's Producer Survey 30 Per Cent Complete
 » CQA and ACA to be Amalgamated
 » One in Three Sask Producers in Care Programme
 » ACA to Bring Pork Industry in Step Internationally
 » Pork Commentary: Tough Week for Hog Producers

Russian Federation

 » Cherkizovo Reports Higher Sales in All Divisions

United States

 » CME: Lean Hog Futures Continue to Slide
 » Corn And Soybean Prices Continue Erratic Pattern
 » US and Canadian Hog Inventory Up One Per Cent
 » Hogs Bring Money to North-Central Missouri
 » Market Preview: Inter-Agency Situation to Disrupt Market?
 » Canadian Swine Breeding Herd Down in April
 » Meat Groups Back Ethanol Subsidy Abolition Bill
 » Workshop Aimed to Improve Animal Disease Control
 » CME: Livestock Futures Meltdown Continues
 » Pork Industry Can Thrive, Says NPPC
 » Pork Industry Represented at House Ag Hearing
 » Weekly Roberts Market Report
 » Pork Management Conference from Pork Checkoff
 » USMEF to Expand South Korea Pork Campaign
 » April Costs High for Third Consecutive Month
 » CME: Clear Concerns About Tight Corn Supplies
 » USDA Offers Pig and Lamb Market Data

Mexico

 » Bachoco Closes 'Difficult' Quarter

United Kingdom

 » When Will Retailers Pay Sustainable Prices?
 » Training to Remember
 » Gap Between Open Market and Weekly Prices Widens
 » FSA Holds Meetings on Meat Charges

Australia

 » New Test to Improve Feed for Pig Industry
 » Australian Pig Annual 2009-2010 Now Available

Philippines

 » Malaysia Keen on Philippine Pork Products

Czech Republic

 » Ministry Video Shows Survival Threat to Czech Pigs

Thailand

 » Thai Foods Group Invests in Future Growth
 » International Growth & Strong Food Prices Drive CPF

China

 » Zhongpin Achieves Double-Digit Growth in Revenue
 » President Stresses Food Safety as Top Priority
 » China Rolls Out Food Safety Campaigns

Hong Kong

 » Pork Price Fixing Alleged in Hong Kong

Denmark

 » Professor Suggests How to Cut Ammonia Emissions

Ireland

 » Consumers Urged to Eat Local Produce This Week

France

 » Supply Chain Agrees to Control Price Volatility

That's all for this week!

Ed.