Help for Smaller Abattoirs Proposed
EU - The European Commission should ensure that meat imported from non-European Union countries meets European standards, said MEPs at a meeting of the European Parliament agriculture committee.

Update on Pig Welfare Quality Programme
EU - Henri de Thoré gives an overview about the work on setting animal welfare standards in the EU Project Welfare Quality® for European Pig Producers.

Campaigners Urge Action on Antibiotic Use
UK - The Soil Association and Compassion in World Farming have written to British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, urging him to recognise the importance of statements made in the Chief Medical Officer’s...

Council Makes Progress on Animal Welfare
EU - At the 2934th Agriculture and Fisheries Council meeting in Brussels on 23 March 2009, support was given for a Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare (UDAW).

Web Site Guides Livestock Down Path to Organic
PURDUE, US - Livestock producers who find organic production an entirely different animal than what they're used to can now turn to a Purdue University resource for help.

Medina Pig Out Day to Showcase Research on Pigs
AUSTRALIA - Pig producers will be able to ‘pig out’ at the industry’s open day at the Department of Agriculture and Food’s Medina Research Station on Friday, 27 March.

NPPC Condemns Acts on Television Documentary
US - The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) has condemned cruelty to pigs as shown in a TV documentary in the US. The programme, entitled Death On A Factory Farm, was aired on HBO.

OIE and WTO Bond Tightens for Animal Health
GLOBE - During a visit by Mr Pascal Lamy, Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), to the OIE Headquarters in Paris, the leaders of the two organisations further emphasised the benefits...

New Focus for Pig Meat Supply Chain
UK - Pig farmers, meat processors, retailers, and the Government have agreed to work on areas of common concern for the benefit of consumers and the industry itself.

Canadian Gov't Improves Program for Hog Farmers
CANADA - The Government of Canada is extending its support for hog farmers who have downsized their herds to cope with tough economic times.

EU Considers Regulations to Stop Slaughter Suffering
EU - All forms of unnecessary suffering by animals must be avoided, but religious freedom must be respected, says the Agriculture Committee, which voted on Monday on plans to tighten up the rules on animal...

Welfare Issues Impact Swine Production
US - The use of individual gestation accommodations (IGAs) for dry sows in commercial pork production is an issue that has raised much debate.

'What We Know about Feeding Liquid By-products'
GERMANY - Dr Jerry Shurson of the University of Minnesota, USA, gave a lecture on the advantages and challenges of liquid feeding at Big Dutchman's 5th International Agents' Meeting in Bremen, Germany,...

ACMC Tip: Review Pig Unit Water Systems
UK - A periodic review of the water system is essential on every pig unit. Borehole water should be checked at least annually as problems of salinity are seen in some aquifers, advises Paul Thompson,...

Perfecting the Pig Environment
UK - Having dealt with environmental difficulties associated with pig housing in their book, published in 2005, Pig Environment Problems, a trio of industry specialists have taken the next step...

NPPC Urges Congress to Back Animal ID System
US - Saying a mandatory animal identification system is needed to maintain the viability of the US pork industry and all of animal agriculture, the National Pork Producers Council has urged Congress to...

New Piglet Product Prevents Coccidiosis
UK - The first UK licensed coccidiocide for the prevention of coccidiosis in piglets has seen its UK launch this week.

Roadshow to Give Farmers Face Time with Defra
UK - Farmers will have more opportunities to discuss their views, ideas and concerns with Defra staff at this year’s Livestock Market roadshow.

Experts to Address Sow Housing
US - A hot topic in the pork industry, group housing of sows, will be addressed 19 March during a meeting at the University of Illinois Extension office on the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfiel...

Alternatives to the Farrowing Crate?
UK - Which way for farrowing crates? A possible peep into the future was provided for pig producers by an independent Swiss pig adviser, Thomas Zanotelli, at a packed meeting of the Suffolk Pig Discussion...

Livestock Market Visits 2009 Announced
UK - Defra's livestock market visits are underway again, starting in Exeter and Hexham, on 13 March 2009. Defra’s representative team will visit 73 livestock markets across England during March – May...

Urgent Help Provided to Flooded Livestock Producers
CANADA - The Governments of Canada and Manitoba are supporting livestock producers in flood areas by delivering urgent funding to buy feed, supporting forage crop re-seeding, and allowing tax deferrals....

Oz Launches 'No Food Scraps to Pigs' Campaign
AUSTRALIA - A new campaign is underway to raise awareness of the risks of feeding food scraps that have had contact with any form of meat to pigs.

California Bill to Restrict Antibiotic Use
US - California state legislator, Dean Florez, has introduced a bill to restrict antibiotic use in animal agriculture.

Animal Rights Activists May Mislead Consumers
CANADA - A Washington, D.C. based communications specialist warns the growing disconnection of the urban population from the farm leaves the majority vulnerable to the strategies used by animal rights...