Scottish SPCA Approves Launch of Pioneering Brand
SCOTLAND, UK - Pig farms throughout Scotland are being visited by inspectors from the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) as part of a ground-breaking initiative welcomed by...

Piglet's Posture is Best Guide to its Comfort
NORWAY - Piglets tend to make changes in posture rather than huddling in order to keep comfortable, according to research published by G. Vasdal of the Norwegian University of Life Sciences and co-authors....

Animal Transport Proposals Off the Table... for Now
SCOTLAND, UK - NFU Scotland yesterday welcomed the news that proposals to introduce controversial new animal transport laws have been withdrawn from internal European Commission consultation.

Study: Pork Quality Varies According to Compartment
CANADA - A just completed transportation study shows the quality of pork will vary depending on the compartment of the truck in which pigs are transported, writes Bruce Cochrane.

New Disease Threat?
EU - There were reports of a new unexplained syndrome of diarrhoea in young piglets from Denmark and France at the first European Symposium on Porcine Health Management in Copenhagen at the end of August....

NPA Calls for Rethink on Vitamin A
UK - To protect consumers, the European Food Standards Agency has proposed new maximum levels of vitamin A in animal feed.

Swine Producers Encouraged to Analyse Feed Grain
CANADA - With the increasing prevalence of a new more aggressive and toxic form of Fusarium graminearum, swine producers are encouraged to make sure they know what is in the grain they feed their...

ACMC Tip: Avoid Greedy Pigman's Disease
UK - With high pig prices there is a temptation to push production as hard as possible. The advent of circovirus vaccines has allowed some producers to cut corners on stocking density, downtimes for cleaning...

Pork Producers Welcome Reopening of PSC Elstow
CANADA - Saskatchewan pork producers are hailing the reopening of the PSC Elstow Research Farm under new ownership as very good news for the province's pork industry. writes Bruce Cochrane.

First Humane Livestock Transportation Council Meeting
US - American Humane Certified has convened the first meeting of Humane Livestock Transportation Council.

Sale of PSC Elstow Research Farm Applauded
CANADA - Western Canadian pork producers are welcoming the reopening the PSC Elstow Research Farm under new ownership as very good news for the Canadian pork industry.

Irish Pork Not Up to Scratch for Top Chefs
IRELAND - The vast majority of top chefs avoid using home-produced pork because of poor standards, according to a new survey.

WPC REPORT - Pledge for International Cooperation and Transparency
CHINA - The International Meat Secretariat has set out a seven point pledge to enhance transparency, animal welfare food safety and cooperation within the global pig meat industry at the World Pork Conference...

US Vets Respond to Report into Intensive Production
US - The American Veterinary Medical Association's CEO, Dr Ron DeHaven talks about the Pew Commission's report and the AVMA's response, calling the report 'flawed and unscientific'.

Breeding Better Barley for Feed
DENMARK - Low-protein malt barley is fine for drinkers of ale while high-protein feed barley meets the needs of pigs and cows. However, now that environmental effects are also an important issue, a new...

Possible Cures for Tail-Biting Found
UK - The results of recently published research suggest that Stockholm tar and Dippel's oil may be effective in reducing tail biting.

Net Energy Based Ration Formulations Encouraged
CANADA - Scientists with the Prairie Swine Centre are encouraging hog producers to consider moving to net energy based ration formulations but to make the change cautiously, writes Bruce Cochrane.

CAST Analyses Productivity and Genetic Diversity
US - The Council of Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST) has released a new scientific paper detailing the productivity and genetic diversity of cloned and transgenic animals.

Operations Suspended in the Bryanskaya Oblast
RUSSIA - Taking into account a high risk of spreading infectious farm animal diseases, agents of the Rosselkhoznadzor Administration for the Bryanskaya and Smolenskaya Oblasts, have carried out inspections...

ACMC Tip: Dealing with Deadstock
UK - Unit bio-security is critical to maintaining health on a pig unit. One route of disease transmission which must be controlled is the disposal of dead stock. Ideally, this should be through on-farm...

RSPCA's Supermarket Animal Welfare Competition
UK - The Royal Society for Protection of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) is calling on the British public to vote for their favourite animal-friendly supermarket.

Merial: Performance Data Drives Improvement
UK - A willingness to try new techniques is integral to Kevin Gilbert’s approach to improving pig production at Womblehill, Aberdeenshire. A recent visit to the unit demonstrated Kevin’s willingness to...

CPC Strengthens Efforts on Traceability System
ALBERTA, CANADA - The Canadian Pork Council (CPC) is pleased to announce the selection of two strategic partners to implement a national traceability program for the Canadian pork sector.

NBAF: Safe, Secure and Vital to Nation's Interests?
KANSAS, US - Kansas State University leaders remain optimistic that the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility will be built in Kansas.

Calls for Rethink on Farm Veterinary Service
UK - The veterinary profession needs to rethink its relationship with farmers and with the government, and play a more positive and central role in ensuring food safety, according to an independent report...