Friday, July 31, 2015

9 avian influenza updates for the week ending July 30

Michigan State University starts animal antibiotic study

  • Freeimages.com/Danilevici Filip-E
    Michigan State University’s Center for the Health Impacts of Agriculture is researching animal antibiotic use.
    From WATTAgNet:
    The Michigan State University Center for the Health Impacts of Agriculture (CHIA) is conducting a study that looks at the antibiotics in animal agriculture and their possible impact on antibiotic resistance.
    In the study, researchers will analyze soil and water samples from the environment to see if this use of antibiotics is having an effect.
    “We are pleased to announce the first research project to be funded by the Center for the Health Impacts of Agriculture,” said Felicia Wu, John A. Hannah Distinguished Professor and CHIA Co-director. “The study will target antibiotics used in animal agriculture to find out how they find their way into the environment and what the ultimate impact on humans, if any, might be.”
    Antibiotic use has become a growing area of concern among consumers. Responding to those concerns, numerous companies within the global meat and poultry industry have developed antibiotic-free poultry and pork products. Foster Farms became the most recent company to introduce a new line of antibiotic-free products, announcing the launch of its Foster Farms Organic Ground Turkey on July 21.
    CHIA was developed to advance research that addresses the links between the study of global food supply, agriculture and nutrition to the study of human health.

UK poultry industry sees opportunity for higher sales

    In 2014, the U.K. poultry industry produced 1.384 million tons of broiler chicken meat, down slightly on 2013’s 1.388 million tons. Total poultry production was also down slightly, however the British Poultry Council (BPC) notes that, over the past three years, the annual weight of poultry meat produced in the country has stabilized at around 1.6 million tons.
    Chicken dominates U.K. poultry industry’s production, accounting for 92 percent of total poultry production in 2014. Turkey and duck production accounted for 3 percent and 2 percent of production, respectively.
    While 2014 may have been broadly stable for the broiler sector, the same cannot be said for the U.K.’s turkey producers. At 173,000 tons, U.K. turkey meat production declined by almost 8 percent last year, back to levels last seen in 2009 and at almost half the level of 2000.
    The U.K. is thought to be the European Union’s third-largest poultry meat producer, behind Poland and with a similar volume of output to that of second-ranked France. It now accounts for approximately 14 percent of the European Union’s poultry meat output. However, where broiler meat production is concerned, the U.K. is thought to rank second.
    In 2013, the most recent year for which complete sales data is available, the U.K. poultry industry generated sales of GBP6.9 billion (US$10.6 billion). Around two-thirds of this income came from the poultry processing sector, with the remainder coming from poultry farming.

    UK poultry consumption

    Poultry meat now accounts for 47 percent by weight of all meats purchased in the U.K. Chicken meat dominates, accounting for 91 percent of total consumption last year, and up by 1 percent on 2013.
    The British Poultry Council notes that poultry meat continues to become cheaper relative to other foods.
    It explains that, between 2000 and 2014, the average annual rate of increase in the cost of chicken at retail level stood at 2.1 percent. This compares with an inflation rate of 3.6 percent per annum for food overall during the period. The BPC notes that, while poultry prices have risen by 13 percent since the start of the recession, those for beef and lamb are 35 and 42 percent higher, respectively. 
    U.K. consumption of poultry meat continues to grow, and in response to this rising demand, the number of chickens reared for meat production has also been rising. In 2000, the national flock stood at a little over 760 million head. By last year, this had risen to 900 million.

    UK poultry imports and exports

    The U.K.’s poultry meat exports were valued at GBP305 million in 2014, with 69 percent going to other European Union member states. Exports rose by 120 percent between 2000 and 2014. The main destinations for U.K. fresh and frozen poultry meat exports last year were the Netherlands, Ireland and South Africa. Seventy-five percent of export earnings came from frozen meat. Ireland the Netherlands are also important destinations for the U.K. exports of processed poultry meat.
    The U.K. is not self-sufficient in poultry meat and, while exports have been growing, imports have also been rising by an annual average rate of 2.5 percent between 2000 and 2013. Twenty-six percent of the fresh and frozen poultry meat consumed in the U.K. is imported, and almost one-third of this comes from the Netherlands. Poland and Ireland are also important suppliers for fresh and frozen meat. Fresh and frozen imports were valued at GBP1.1 billion in 2014. The UK’s imports of processed poultry have been rising considerably over the past five years, with Thailand and Brazil being the main suppliers.
    The British Poultry Council believes there are significant opportunities for U.K. chicken producers in the home and international markets.

WTO panel to examine EU poultry meat tariff concessions

Double-digit sales growth for Ceva in 2015 first half

Walmart VP speaking at International Poultry Forum China

Cargill pork feed mill celebrates 35 years of safety

Aviagen and Jamesway host seminar on embryonic heat

Thursday, July 30, 2015

Research renders good news about Marek's Disease

USPOULTRY and Foundation approve three new research grants

ARREFF Terminals is Organically Certified

Virginia cooperative building turkey processing facility

Recent developments in international wheat trade

  • freeimages.com
    Iran has imposed import duties on wheat, as Egypt received huge offers at a recent wheat tender.
    From WATTAgNet:
    Iran has imposed import duties on wheat and barley, hurting chances for more trade in the aftermath of the country’s historic nuclear deal.
    The wheat duty is IRR1,500 per kilo (US$50 per ton). Traders say that amount would render wheat imports commercially unfeasible. The new wheat duty has been imposed for the next year, and the barley duty until September 22, 2015.
    The import duty applies to all private sector importers, traders and mills. It does not apply to the state import agencies Government Trading Corp. of Iran (GTC) or the State Livestock Affairs Logistic Co. (SLAL).
    Traders said the move was seen as an effort to protect Iranian farmers from cheap imports an prevent imported grain from being resold to the government at higher prices.
    Huge wheat tender in Egypt
    The world’s biggest wheat importer, Egypt, received offers for 22 cargos at a recent tender, including some offered at prices not seen in years.
    At its fourth wheat tender of 2015-16, Egypt’s Gasc grain authority purchased 175,000 tons of wheat, all from Russia, for an average price of $205.37 per ton including freight.
    Gasc was offered 1.3 million tons of wheat, an unusually large amount. Gasc’s previous tender attracted less than 900,000 tons in offers. Its best tenders in July 2014 received 950,000 tons.

Brazilian meat companies in investment mode


    Jackie Linden is a contributing writer for WATTAgNet.

Angel Yeast makes plans for second overseas plant

Wednesday, July 29, 2015

Highly pathogenic avian influenza returns to Germany

Royal De Heus makes strategic entry into the Balkans

Foster Farms launches 1st antibiotic-free turkey product

WELTEC builds another agricultural biogas plant

Cargill, Naturisa to build shrimp feed facility in Ecuador

EU outlook positive for pork, poultry markets

Accreditation available to New Zealand feed manufacturers

Rabobank forecasts boost to global pig meat trade


    Jackie Linden is a contributing writer for WATTAgNet.

Tuesday, July 28, 2015

Need for avian flu action in West Africa urgent

Hendrix Genetics nearing the goal line

H.J. Baker to build new facility in Kansas

OIE: H7N7 avian influenza case in Netherlands resolved

Cobb-Vantress hosts first National Hatchery Conference

Researchers develop new Ammonia-Oxygen Monitoring System

China broiler companies face losses in 2015 first half

Monday, July 27, 2015

Minnesota slowly recovering after avian flu infections