Welcome to this week's newsletter

Editorial – US Pig Population Reaches New Plateau

According to the latest USDA Quarterly Pigs and Hogs Report, there were 65.0 million hogs and pigs in the US on 1 June 2011, one per cent more than a year previously and two per cent more than the last count on 1 March 2011.

Breeding inventory, at 5.80 million head, was up slightly from last year and from the previous quarter.

Market hog inventory, at 59.2 million head, was one per cent more than last year, and two per cent up from the last quarter.

The March-May 2011 pig crop, at 28.9 million head, was up slightly from 2010 but down one per cent from 2009. Sows farrowing during this period totalled 2.88 million head, two per cent fewer than the same quarter of 2010 and five per cent fewer than 2009. The average number of pigs saved per litter was a record high of 10.03 for the March-May 2011 period, considerably higher than the 9.81 recorded last year,

Producers are planning three per cent fewer farrowings in the next quarter than in June-August 2010.

In the EU at the end of last week, the European Commission (EC) adopted a regulation that harmonises the implementation of the zero tolerance policy on non-authorised genetically modified (GM) material in feed.

The regulation, which will enter into force 20 days after its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union, addresses the current uncertainty EU operators face when placing on the market feed products imported from third countries.

The regulation sets out a technical zero at the level of 0.1 per cent, which corresponds to the lowest level of GM material that is considered by the EU Reference Laboratory for the validation of quantitative methods.

In the UK, the Soil Association is calling on the Government to take immediate action to limit the spread of 'a deadly new type of Salmonella', which is passing from pigs to humans. It is a strain of Salmonella typhimurium resistant to several classes of antibiotics.

Jackie Linden

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This Week's Feature Articles

Company News

Eight Receive Leadership Course Awards
UK - Eight pig unit supervisors received leadership awards last week at the end of the first BPEX leadership programme for the North and Midlands.

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BPEX Publishes Bedding Options Bulletin
UK - BPEX has published a bulletin highlighting the pros and cons of alternative bedding materials, plus ways to reduce straw wastage.

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Genesus Breeding Stock Sale to Russia Announced
CANADA - At the Canada-Russia forum held on 1 June in Ottawa, Canada's Agricultural Minister Gerry Ritz in the presence of Russia's First Deputy Prime Minister Victor Zubkov announced the largest sale ever of High Health Registered Swine breeding stock to Russia from Canada.

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Expo Draws Producers with a Business Focus
IOWA, US - Business was brisk throughout the three-day 2011 World Pork Expo as nearly 20,000 people participated in the world's largest pork-specific trade show 8-10 June in Des Moines, Iowa.

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Satellite Symposium Highlights PCV2 Landmarks
BARCELONA, SPAIN - An important anniversary in the history of porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) has been marked at a special international pig veterinary satellite symposium held in Barcelona, Spain in June 2011 as part of the 6th International Symposium on Emerging and Re-emerging Pig Diseases.

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Programme Aims to Accelerate Finishing Profitability
US - A new 'Accelerating Finishing Profitability' programme from Novus International is helping to bolster pig performance and the bottom line.

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New ACMC Multiplier Herd Established in Spain
SPAIN - A new 440-sow multiplier herd has been established in Spain to meet the growing demand for AC1 gilts, the prolific hybrid developed by British-based international pig-breeding company, ACMC Ltd.

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Chu Joins Ceva's Global R&D Team
US - Ceva Santé Animale is excited to introduce Dr Steve Chu as its new Vice President, Global Biology Research and Development.

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Global Pig Industry News

Russian Federation

 » Miratorg Results Buoyed up by Pig Expansion
 » Two New ASF Outbreaks in Tverskaya
 » Cherkizovo Starts Production at Kaliningrad Plant

United Kingdom

 » Pig Producers Warned of IPPC Change
 » Most Strep Suis Found is Type 2
 » Feeds for Smallholders Now a Mouse-Click Away
 » Export Revenues Up but Margins Still Tight
 » Agriculture Put at Top of G-20 Agenda
 » Scottish Red Meat Industry's Pride Highlighted
 » NFU Concerned about Changes to Organic Feed Rules
 » New Superbug Threat from Intensive Pig Farms
 » Freedom Food Accreditation for Sainsbury Supplier
 » UK Slaughter Statistics - June 2011
 » New Powers for Groceries Adjudicator
 » Pig Welfare on 'Mega Farm' Approved by CIWF
 » NOAH Revises Advertising Code of Practice
 » Premier's Visit Boosts Poultry & Pork Exports
 » Poor Retail Demand
 » QMS Launches Perfect Roasts and Steaks App

United States

 » USDA Stocks and Acreage Reports
 » Research Increases Profits for Swine Producers
 » CME: Estimate of Breeding Herd to Play Major Role
 » Weekly Roberts Market Report
 » US Swine Economics Report
 » Market Preview: Pork Prospects Brighten
 » CME: US Farrowing Units Still Very High
 » CME: Highlights of Latest Cold Storage Report
 » US Compliance with International Trade Obligations
 » Commercial Red Meat Production Up from Last Year
 » Cash Hog Prices Surge to Record Highs
 » CME: Hogs and Pigs Report Turns Out as Expected

China

 » China's Pork, Pig Prices Soar Past 2008 Record
 » Mitsubishi Invests in Meat and Livestock in China
 » Increase in Pork Prices Breeds Hopes and Worries
 » China to Import More US Soybeans
 » NDRC: Inflation Under Control Despite Concern

European Union

 » EU Pig Prices: Prices at a Standstill
 » New Campaign to Stop Food from Cloned Animals
 » MEPs Vote to Maintain CAP Budget
 » EC Adopts Regulation to Control GM in Feed
 » European Pig Herd in Decline?

Canada

 » Pork Commentary: Lower Corn Plus Higher Hogs
 » Incentive Programme Available to March 2012
 » Global Interest in Needle-Free Injection Fueled
 » Front Line Protection Against Swine Disease

General

 » Farm Groups Appeal to G-20 Ministers
 » FEFAC Sends Message to G-20 Ministers
 » G20: Ministers Agree to Fight Volatility of Ag Prices

Australia

 » New Board for New Pork CRC

Mongolia

 » New PRRS Outbreak Reported in Tuv Region

Japan

 » Iowa Pork Producers Continue Half-Century of Aid

New Zealand

 » No Antimicrobial Resistance Fears in NZ

Brazil

 » Brazil's Pork Exports Rose Again in Value

Chile

 » Chile Holds Promise for US Co-Product Exports

Ukraine

 » Ukraine's Meat Production Forecast to Grow in 2011

Korea, South

 » Korean Govt to Introduce Pork Tracking System



That's all for this week!

Ed.