European Commission Proposes New Labelling Rules
EU - Action is needed to improve communication about the qualities of agricultural products — to help reconnect farmers with consumers. Quality labelling schemes must also be easier for people to use and...

Climate Change Brings Heightened Disease Risk
GLOBAL - The impact of climate change on the emergence and re-emergence of animal diseases has been confirmed by a majority of World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) member countries in a worldwide...

Pork Checkoff Presents PORK Academy at Expo
US - The Pork Checkoff is sponsoring Producers Opportunity for Revenue and Knowledge (PORK) Academy Wednesday, 3 June through Friday, 5 June during World Pork Expo at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des...

PM Needs to be Prime Mover on Sow Welfare
NEW ZEALAND - The Green Party is calling on the Prime Minister John Key to intervene on the issue of sow crates.

FAO: Animal Welfare Web Portal Launched
GLOBAL - A new internet portal has been launched today by FAO that will serve as a one-stop-shop for individuals and organisations searching for the latest information about the welfare of livestock. ...

OIE: Global Standards for Humane Killing of Animals
GLOBAL - The OIE already strongly advised on the pointless culling of pigs in relation with the recent outbreaks of novel A/H1N1 influenza.

Pork Producers Support Animal ID System
US - The US pork industry strongly supports a mandatory national animal identification system, said David Kempen, a pork producer from Poteet, Texas, at a US Department of Agriculture listening session...

Free Range Pig Farmers Deserve COOL Support
NEW ZEALAND - New Zealand pig farmers that are practising humane free-range animal management practices deserve the benefit of Mandatory Country of Origin Labelling (M-COOL), and inhumane farmers need...

Greens Say Pork Labelling Urgently Needed
NEW ZEALAND - The Prime Minister needs to step in and requite the clear labelling of pork products so consumers can act in good conscience and buy humanely reared pork, Green Animal Welfare Spokesperson...

Minister Urges Top Priority for Pig Code Review
NEW ZEALAND - Agriculture Minister David Carter has asked the review of the 2005 Code of Welfare for pigs to be a top priority for the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee.

No Plan to Develop Free-range Brand for Pork
NEW ZEALAND - The Pork Industry Board does not plan to use free-range branding for pork, despite public concern over meat sources.

WSPA Calls on Egyptian PM to Stop Pig Cull
EGYPT - The World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) has written to the Prime Minister of Egypt calling for an immediate end to the brutal handling and slaughter of pigs in Egypt.

Maine Bans Gestation Crates
MAINE, US - Maine has become the sixth US state to ban extreme confinement. Gestation crates for sows and crates for veal calves will be prohibited from January 2011.

Industry Supports Investigation of TV Pig Farm
NEW ZEALAND - A TV programme aired yesterday showing sows in stalls has caused a great deal of controversy.

France Plans National Research Consortium
FRANCE - French farm and fisheries minister Michel Barnier and research minister Valerie Pecresse have announced a plan to create a national research consortium to manage the country's food, farming and...

ARM Buildings Running Flat Out to Meet Demand
UK - ARM Buildings, the Staffordshire-based pig and poultry buildings specialist, reports that it has been running flat out with 24-hour shifts having been introduced at its Rugeley factory to keep up...

LEGS: New Guidelines for Livestock Emergencies
GLOBAL - Following the disastrous 2005 earthquake in Pakistan, several humanitarian organizations came forward to help households who had lost their livestock to rebuild herds and flocks by providing replacement...

Is This the End of Castration?
DENMARK - Castration of pigs without anaesthetic will not be banned in the EU in the foreseeable future. However, more animal welfare-friendly alternatives will be seen further down the road and then castration...

New Standard in Canadian Housing Unveiled
CANADA - For two years, Canada has been facing difficulties in pig production. But changing circumstances motivate the innovative sector to prepare for better times. And the farm that was shared with fellow...

Measures to Cut Risk of Importing Animal Diseases
EU - A regulation on the introduction into the European Union of small quantities of animal products intended for personal consumption – a measure that will help reduce the risks of importing serious animal...

Open Day Attracts Many Visitors
GERMANY - The new barn for finishing pigs of the Driever family who live in Freren, northern Germany, was recently inaugurated with an Open Day.

AFBI and Teagasc Sign Scientific Collaboration MoU
IRELAND - Scientific collaboration between the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) and Teagasc has been formally recognised with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the two org...

Dwindling Research Funds Jeopardise Livestock
US – Dwindling federal funding jeopardizes important animal and biomedical research, together with the institutional research programs that focus on them, a group of Michigan State University scientists...

Experts to Meet in China to Discuss Pig Production
CHINA - The Global Pig Forum is the first industry-wide conference for pig production. The forum brings together international experts the entire pig industry.

WCVM Upgrades to Enhance Biosecurity
CANADA - The Western College of Veterinary Medicine says improved biosecurity is among the resulting benefits of a six million dollar upgrade of its Diagnostics Laboratory and Large Animal Clinic, writes...