Getting Gilt Integration Right
UK - With good returns on finished pigs, attractive cull sow prices and a contracting EU pig herd, many producers are building up their breeding herds again, some of which have been run at below optimum...

Industry Seeking Producer Input on New Direction
US - With a wide array of challenges facing pork producers today, the National Pork Board is seeking input from pork producers across the country for a new plan to shape the future of the US pork indu...

Contact with Gov't Representatives Encouraged
CANADA - Manitoba Pork Council is calling on the province's pork producers to write personal letters to government and on the public to support producers by understanding the situation and by buying pork,...

CPC Calls for Special H1N1 Recovery Program
CANADA - The Canadian Pork Council is appealing to government for special assistance to help pork producers cope with the added economic pressure resulting from the H1N1 flu virus, writes Bruce Cochra...

East Anglia Winning War Against Swine Dysentery
UK - The majority of East Anglia pigs are now in the region’s producer-run Swine Dysentery Eradication (Control) Scheme. And no breeding units in the scheme are positive for the disease, writes Digby ...

Manitoba Hog Farmers Plead for Gov't Help
MANITOBA, CANADA - Manitoba hog producers want the province to step in with an emergency bailout.

Improved Welfare Measures Brings Praise from PETA
US - Welfare campaign group, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has praised restaurant chain, Ruby Tuesday, for favouring poultry suppliers that use what PETA describes as 'controlled atmosphere...

Bryan M. Retales New Manager of TOPIGS Philippines
PHILIPPINES - TOPIGS is pleased to announce the appointment of Bryan M. Retales, DMV as manager of TOPIGS Philippines with effect from May 2009.

AMI, NCC Challenge 'Food, Inc.' Claims
US - Spokespersons from the American Meat Institute (AMI) and National Chicken Council (NCC) have commented in a television interview to the film, 'Food Inc.'.

NPPC: New Director to Oversee Grassroots Programs
US - The National Pork Producers Council has hired Bryan Humphreys as director of grassroots in its Des Moines, Iowa, office. Mr Humphreys will oversee NPPC’s Legislative Education Action Development Resource...

Deadline Set for Removal of Pigs
TAMIL NADU, INDIA - Collector R. Palanisamy has set a deadline of one week for removal of all pigs from the Cuddalore municipal areas.

NFU: Antitrust Laws Must be Enforced
US - National Farmers Union said yesterday the enforcement of agricultural antitrust laws has been nearly nonexistent for the past decade, leading to expedited consolidation and concentration within nearly...

New Minister will Walk the English Pigmeat Chain
UK - He has only been at Defra for a few days, but new farms minister Jim Fitzpatrick has already accepted NPA chairman Stewart Houston’s invitation to walk the pig industry chain.

Ag Sector More Resilient to Global Crisis Than Others
GLOBAL - Because food is a basic necessity, the agriculture sector is showing more resilience to the global economic crisis than other industries. But the risks could increase if the economic downturn...

Patchy Pig Monitoring May Hide Flu Threat
GLOBAL - Public-health experts are warning that a lack of surveillance may be allowing the 2009 pandemic H1N1 flu virus to go undetected in pigs. This raises the risk that the virus could circulate freely...

Producers to Ensure Animal Welfare and Food Safety
MINNESOTA, US - Pork producers do an excellent job producing a safe, nutritious, and economic product. However, today’s consumers want assurances that the products that they eat have been produced in an...

Danish Groups Merge to Create Single Entity
DENMARK - Danish agriculture organisations Landbrugsraadet (The Danish Agricultural Council) and Dansk Landbrug (Danish Agriculture) have agreed to merge with Danish Meat Association (DMA is a gathering...

Rally to Discuss Pork Industry Crisis Planned
CANADA - Manitoba Pork Council says it wll make a concerted effort on the part of pork industry stakeholders and government to come up with the solutions necessary to address the economic crisis facing...

Health Service for Pigs to be Launched
UK - A health service for pigs is being launched in Yorkshire and Humberside. It aims to chart the health of all pig herds in the two counties and to bring pig-keepers together to reduce common pig illnesses...

Taiwanese Producers Get Eye-opening Experience
US - Firsthand experience is a powerful and successful learning tool for US Grains Council international teams coming to the United States in search of modern production methods to implement in their own...

JSR Strengthens UK Sales Team
UK - The UK pig industry is witnessing a renewed resurgence in the south of the UK, according to JSR’s latest employee Len Phoenix.

WPE Report: Sow Retirement Programme Launched
US - American swine producers have introduced a new programme designed to allow an equitable exit by sow owners from the farrowing business, writes Bruce Cochrane.

WPE REPORT: Certification in PQA Plus Called for
US - The US National Pork Board is calling on pork producers to become certified in the in the Pork Quality Assurance Plus programme, writes ThePigSite senior editor Chris Harris.

WPE REPORT: Industry's 'We Care' Initiative Endorsed
US - A program that formalizes and verifies pork industry efforts to operate responsibly has been publicly endorsed by Tyson Foods, Inc., one of the nation’s leading pork processors. The company made...

Role of Pork Checkoff in Today's Industry
US - The Pork Checkoff is helping US pork producers as they work to earn the trust of their customers by demonstrating accountability and social responsibility in all they do.