11 new Minnesota, Iowa avian influenza cases confirmed

Highly pathogenic H5N2 avian influenza has been confirmed in 11 flocks in Iowa and Minnesota. The latest round of outbreaks, reported by the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) on April 29, includes both turkey and egg layer flocks.
Four suspected cases of avian influenza reported earlier this week by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship have now been confirmed. The newest list of reported outbreaks also brings the total number of avian influenza infected turkey flocks in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota, to 23.
USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratories confirmed H5N2 avian influenza in the following counties and states:


1. Sioux County, Iowa: Commercial layer flock of 3.66 million chickens, second detection in the county
2. O’Brien County, Iowa: Commercial layer flock of 240,000 chickens, first detection in the county
3. O’Brien County, Iowa: Commercial layer flock of 98,000 chickens, second detection in the county
4. Osceola County, Iowa: Commercial layer flock of 258,000 chickens, second detection in the county
5. Stearns County, Minnesota: Commercial flock of 19,100 turkeys; 11^th detection in the county
6. Steele County, Minnesota: Commercial flock of 82,900 turkeys; first detection in the county
7. Swift County, Minnesota: Commercial turkey flock, size of flock pending; third detection in the county
8. Kandiyohi County, Minnesota: Commercial turkey flock, size of flock pending, 20^th detection in the county
9. Kandiyohi County, Minnesota: Commercial flock of 8,400 turkeys; 21^st detection in the county
10. Kandiyohi County, Minnesota: Commercial turkey flock, size of flock pending, 22^nd detection in the county
11. Kandiyohi County, Minnesota: Commercial turkey flock, size of flock pending, 23rd detection in the county
The affected premises have been quarantined and birds on the property will be depopulated to prevent the spread of the disease. 

Third Ontario avian influenza case confirmed

A third case of highly pathogenic avian influenza has been confirmed in Ontario. Like the previous two outbreaks in the Canadian province, this case has occurred in Oxford County.
In the latest outbreak, a commercial turkey operation of about 8,000 birds has been infected, with tests conducted at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease laboratory proving positive for H5N2 avian influenza.
CFIA stated that the premises have been under quarantine and the farm has been depopulated.
Ontario’s first case of avian influenza, confirmed on April 7, was in a commercial flock of 44,800 turkeys. The second case in the Canadian province was in a broiler breeder farm and was confirmed on April 18. An estimated 27,000 birds were affected in the second outbreak.
CFIA has established two quarantine zones in response to the Oxford County avian influenza cases.
To date, Ontario and British Columbia are the only two provinces with confirmed cases since the virus first appeared in the country in late 2014. Avian influenza has also been discovered in 18 U.S. states, with Minnesota having the largest number of outbreaks.
To keep informed of the areas affected by avian influenza, see WATTAgNet’s avian influenza map to track cases confirmed across the U.S. and Canada.

Avian influenza confirmed in Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin

Three new H5N2 avian influenza cases have been confirmed in commercial poultry flocks, including an Iowa layer operation containing 1.7 million birds. The three avian influenza cases were confirmed by the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) on April 28.
A suspected case of avian influenza in Sioux County, Iowa, initially reported by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship on April 27 was confirmed by APHIS to be an H5N2 avian influenza infection. The flock contained 1.7 birds, and Center Fresh Group revealed that it was one of its flocks. Four other suspected cases in Iowa reported by the state agriculture agency have not yet been confirmed.
The other two avian influenza cases reported by APHIS include a commercial turkey flock of 26,900 birds in Stearns County, Minnesota, and a commercial turkey flock of 83,300 birds in Barron County, Wisconsin. This is the tenth avian influenza confirmation in Stearns County and the second confirmed case in Barron County.
The affected premises have been quarantined and birds on the property will be depopulated to help prevent the spread of the virus.
To keep informed of the areas affected by avian influenza, see WATTAgNet’s avian influenza map to track cases confirmed across North America.

USDA researchers working on avian influenza vaccine

USDA researchers are working on a potential vaccine for avian influenza, agency officials say. 
The USDA is working on developing a vaccine for avian influenza, but even if such a vaccine becomes a reality, it could be a while before it becomes available to poultry producers in the United States.
USDA Southeast Poultry Research Director David Swayne said during a USDA-hosted media call on April 22 that a laboratory under his supervision is working on a potential vaccine for the virus.
“We’re making progress on that. It’s a multi-step process that involves completion of one step, evaluating the information and going back to additional steps,” said Swayne. “At this point, we have a potential seed strain but once we complete our work, which will include testing in chickens and turkeys, the decision to use that vaccine will only be made if it’s necessary in the regulatory process of the eradication. Our work is only on the front end.”
Once the laboratory does its “front end” work, the potential vaccine would then be evaluated by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), with consultation from staff members of state labs, to decide whether the vaccine created could actually be used in the industry.
The idea of finding a vaccine for avian influenza has been of particular interest to the U.S. poultry industry, as avian influenza outbreaks have been reported in commercial poultry flocks, backyard flocks, wild birds and captive wild birds in 17 states.
USDA Chief Veterinary Officer John Clifford, who joined Swayne in the call, added that the agency has also had conversations with some private companies that have expressed an interest in developing a vaccine for avian influenza.
See a related story about how Clifford and Swayne discussed their views on future avian influenza outbreaks in the United States.

Proposed Hillandale egg farm, feed mill faces opposition

A proposed Hillandale Farms egg layer farm and feed mill in York County, Pennsylvania, is seeing opposition from neighbors.
The proposal for the facilities is listed under both U.S. egg company Hillandale Farms and James Bailey, reported 21 News. Bailey already operates one poultry farm on adjacent property, but neighbors have expressed concerns that the newly proposed operations may be more than the area can handle.
Area resident Brian Kaltreider said he was worried about increased truck traffic and increased water use, should the proposed operations be realized. Kaltreider is a former township manager, who resigned from his position so he could oppose the plans. He is also concerned that the proposed project could hurt property values in the area.
A group called the York County Friends of Family Farmers, of which Kaltreider is a member, is meeting weekly with larger public meetings held monthly, where the proposed egg farm and feed mill are the key topics of discussion.
Hillandale Farms, according to the WATT Global Media Top Companies Database, is the seventh largest egg producer in the United States, housing an estimated 9 million laying hens. The company has production facilities in the Northeast, Midwest and Southeast and supplies retailers and distributors throughout the eastern half of the United States.

AFIA releases downloadable presentation on careers in Ag

Careers in agriculture are gaining interest, and the American Feed Industry Association's Networking, Education and Mentoring in Agriculture Committee (NEMA) wants to provide AFIA members with an easy-to-use PowerPoint template outlining occupations in the animal food industry. Many leaders in agriculture--including AFIA membership--are often offered to speak to the future of agriculture (FFA, 4-H, high school or collegiate students, etc.) about the potential of a future career in agriculture, or more specifically in the animal food industry.
This one-stop-shop resource highlights numerous roles specifically pertaining to animal feed such as human resources, finance and accounting, lab technicians and managers, feed mill engineers, operators and managers, animal nutritionists, and regulatory managers. Details are also provided about job tasks as well as varying salaries per degree and discipline.
To learn more about the Ag presentation, click here. 

Frisia Food incorporates new Meyn technology

Frisia Food has a tradition dating back more than 60 years in the poultry industry. The original company (J. de Vries & Zn BV) started out as a traditional chicken processing plant and developed into one of the larger processing plants of The Netherlands. In 2010, the slaughtering activities of J. de Vries & Zn BV were acquired and continued under the name Frisia Food b.v. The company is situated in Haulerwijk, in the Northern part of The Netherlands.
Over the years, the plant has been extensively refurbished. In 2011, the complete slaughtering department was replaced with new equipment, such as Quest stunner, electrical stimulation, footpad inspection system and jet stream scalder. Also incorporated in this department is a complete feet processing line as the company exports their feet products to Asia. One year later, in 2012, the refurbishment of the evisceration department took place and a new 12,000 bph Maestro evisceration line was installed.
This year, Frisia decided to incorporate several newly developed Meyn machines into their existing process. In the slaughtering department, the new tail feather puller was added, making the plucking process more efficient. For the automatic rehanging from the slaughtering line to evisceration line, the newly developed Syncom rehanger was installed. In the evisceration department, the new fat retention machine and cropping machine result in a reduced wear and tear.
Frisia is also the first company to be operating the new Meyn Mags automatic giblet harvesting solution. Anton Storteboom, CEO of Frisia Foods: “We are very content with the results of the Mags. The liver quality is very high and the reliable and constant performance and optimum end product presentation is exactly what we need in this highly delicate part of the process.”

USPOULTRY hosts Biosecurity Webinar addressing ON-Farm Waterfowl Mitigation Practices

As a further continuation of its Biosecurity Program offerings, USPOULTRY is hosting a webinar addressing “ON-Farm Waterfowl Mitigation Practices” on Wednesday, May 13, from 1 – 2:15 p.m. EDT. The webinar is free of charge to USPOULTRY members.
The webinar will feature Shannon Chandler, wildlife disease biologist, and Clint Turnage, wildlife disease biologist, both from USDA-APHIS Wildlife Services. Both specialize in disease surveillance pertaining to avian influenza, along with other areas such as plaque & tularemia, feral swine diseases, chronic wasting disease, E. coli, rabies, raccoon roundworm and canine parvovirus.
The “ON-Farm Waterfowl Mitigation Practices” webinar will discuss how producers can reduce congregations of wild birds (mainly waterfowl) on farm premises and methods that farmers can implement to help make farms unattractive to the wild birds.
Participants will be able to submit questions throughout the webinar, which will be answered during a question and answer period at the end of the program. All participants will receive a copy of the recorded program and a one-page document containing important points from the webinar.
To register for the “ON-Farm Waterfowl Mitigation Practices” webinar, click here.

Columbia Farms replaces defeathering line

House of Raeford Farms, Inc., headquartered in Rose Hill, NC, is a family owned, fully integrated poultry company with processing facilities located throughout the southeastern United States. One of their poultry processing facilities, Columbia Farms is located in Greenville, SC, and processes 11,000 large broilers per hour for deboning.
In order to improve their yields and overall plucking performance, Columbia Farms decided to replace their existing 6-inch defeathering line by a new 8-inch 11,000 birds per hour Meyn line. The newly installed line consists of a Quest waterbath stunner, jet stream scalder, four JM64 pluckers, one JMD2 plucker, new tail feather puller, hock plucker as well as two rehangers from slaughtering to evisceration. The rehangers hang the birds from the 8-inch slaughtering line to two 6-inch evisceration lines, which is the first of its kind in the United States.
Mr Luke Brewer, plant manager says, “We are very happy with the results of the new defeathering line. Over-scalding of the birds has been completely eliminated; both whole griller and boneless breast yields have increased; and quality checks confirm improved feather removal.”

H5N1 avian influenza in Niger for first time since 2006

H5N1 avian influenza has been confirmed at a layer farm in Maradi, Niger, according to a report from the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE). The confirmation marks the first occurrence of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in the country since June 2006.
OIE stated that there were 2,440 susceptible laying hens and breeding parents at the farm. Of those 2,290 birds died.
Tests conducted at OIE’s reference laboratory in Padua, Italy, came back positive for the virus.
Control measures included movement control, screening, zoning, quarantine, stamping out, control of wildlife reservoirs and disinfection of the infected premises.
The source of the outbreak has not yet been determined. However, the farm is near the border of Nigeria, a country which has also been dealing with outbreaks of avian influenza. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) had stated that traditional trading patterns, both formal and informal, between Nigeria and its neighbors, provide an opportunity for cross-border or inter-regional disease spread.
FAO identified Niger as one of the countries at risk, as well as Benin, Cameroon, Chad, Ghana, the Niger and Togo. Other countries were also said to be at risk, and the FAO has advised that they should prepare for disease incursions.

Avian influenza confirmed in Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin

Three new H5N2 avian influenza cases have been confirmed in commercial poultry flocks, including an Iowa layer operation containing 1.7 million birds. The three avian influenza cases were confirmed by the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) on April 28.
A suspected case of avian influenza in Sioux County, Iowa, initially reported by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship on April 27 was confirmed by APHIS to be an H5N2 avian influenza infection. The flock contained 1.7 birds, and Center Fresh Group revealed that it was one of its flocks. Four other suspected cases in Iowa reported by the state agriculture agency have not yet been confirmed.
The other two avian influenza cases reported by APHIS include a commercial turkey flock of 26,900 birds in Stearns County, Minnesota, and a commercial turkey flock of 83,300 birds in Barron County, Wisconsin. This is the tenth avian influenza confirmation in Stearns County and the second confirmed case in Barron County.
The affected premises have been quarantined and birds on the property will be depopulated to help prevent the spread of the virus.
To keep informed of the areas affected by avian influenza, see WATTAgNet’s avian influenza map to track cases confirmed across North America.

Kentucky is 18th state with avian influenza confirmation

H5N2 avian influenza has been confirmed in two wild birds in McCracken County, Kentucky. The new discoveries, reported on April 28 by the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) makes Kentucky the 18th state where avian influenza has been confirmed.
Both the goose and the duck were found dead. Samples from the birds were tested by the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study at the University of Georgia and confirmed by USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) in Ames, Iowa.
USDA will include the confirmation information in routine updates to the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE).  OIE trade guidelines call on countries to base trade restrictions on sound science and specifically state that countries should not impose trade restrictions based on findings of HPAI in wild birds, such as these two found in Kentucky.
Other states with confirmed avian influenza cases in 2015 include Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, Washington, Oregon, Utah, Idaho, California, Nevada and New Mexico. The virus has also been discovered in the Canadian provinces of Ontario and British Columbia.
To keep informed of the areas affected by avian influenza, see WATTAgNet’s avian influenza map to track cases confirmed across North America. Filter the map view by avian influenza strain, type of operation, species, region and date confirmed.

Five probable avian influenza cases in Iowa

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is responding to five probable cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza in commercial poultry farms in Osceola, O’Brien and Sioux counties in Northwest Iowa.  These five new cases, if confirmed, would join three confirmed cases of the disease in Iowa.
Two of the suspected cases are in O’Brien County, two are in Sioux County and the other is in Osceola County.
The Sioux County cases both involved commercial egg laying operations. One of the affected flocks has an estimated 3.8 million birds, while the other has about 1.7 million birds. Center Fresh Group confirmed that both suspected outbreaks in that county were at farms operated by the company, reported ABC9 News.
Both O’Brien County cases are also in commercial egg laying operations. One has an estimated 240,000 chickens, while the other has an estimated 98,000 birds.
The suspected avian influenza case in Osceola County was at a pullet farm with approximately 250,000 birds.
Additional testing of samples from each of the affected operations is being conducted at the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inpsection Service (APHIS) National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa. State officials have quarantined the premises and if the initial test are confirmed, all birds on the property will be humanely euthanized to prevent the spread of the disease.

Avian influenza hits six new flocks in four states

The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has confirmed the presence of highly pathogenic H5N2 avian influenza in six new cases that span four states. The states affected by the new outbreaks are Iowa, North Dakota, Wisconsin and Minnesota.
The latest round of confirmed avian influenza outbreaks involves more than 1.3 million birds.
Three of the new cases were confirmed in Minnesota, and two of those were in Kandiyohi County. One Kandiyohi County flock involved 42,900 turkeys and the other involved 67,000 turkeys. With those two cases, Kandiyohi County has not had 19 confirmed cases, according to APHIS. Minnesota’s other new case was confirmed in Chippewa County, where a flock of 68,000 turkeys was infected.
The outbreak involving the largest number of birds was in Jefferson County, Wisconsin, where a flock of 1.03 million laying hens was infected. This is the second avian influenza outbreak in that county.
In Sac County, Iowa, the virus was confirmed in a flock of 33,900 turkeys.
The North Dakota avian influenza case reported by APHIS was previously reported by the North Dakota Department of Agriculture. In this case, 71,500 birds – including both chickens and turkeys – in LaMoure County were affected by the virus.

Pilgrim’s to cut antibiotic use in chicken by 25%

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  Andrea Gantz

  Pilgrim's plans to eliminate the use of antibiotics in 25 percent of its chickens by 2019.

  From WATTAgNet:
  Pilgrim's has plans to eliminate all antibiotics from 25 percent the chickens it produces by 2019, Bill Lovette, CEO of Pilgrim’s, recently announced. Pilgrim’s, the second largest poultry company in the United States, currently has about 5 percent of its birds raised without the use of antibiotics.
  The move is being made in response to the growing demand for antibiotic-free chicken, both from consumers and from companies that Pilgrim’s supplies.
  The company also announced that it is working to end the use of antibiotics that are deemed important in human medicine, which responds to a growing trend of companies phasing out such antibiotics amid concerns about their use leading to antibiotic resistance. Quick service restaurant chain McDonald’s and retail chain Costco both announced in March that they would be phasing out chicken raised with antibiotics also used in human medicine.
  Other restaurant chains, such as Chick-fil-A, have initiated plans to totally eliminate chicken raised with antibiotics from company locations.
  Headquartered in Greeley, Colorado, Pilgrim’s processes 28.72 million birds weekly, according to the WATT Global Media Top Companies Database. The company, which is a subsidiary of Brazil-based meat and poultry company JBS SA, has 24 slaughter plants, five cooking plants, 30 hatcheries and 24 feed mills.

Brazil’s Cocari sells poultry plant to Aurora Foods

Brazilian farm cooperative Cocari has closed on the sale of its poultry processing plant in Paraná to the Aurora Foods group of cooperatives, according to local reports. The transaction was valued at BRL250 million (US$81.7 million)
The poultry processing plant has capacity for handling about 140,000 birds per day. Its purchase increases the poultry processing capacity at Aurora Foods to 900,000 birds daily in a total of seven plants.
Aurora is an agri-food conglomerate owned by 12 farming co-ops, operating eight pig units in addition to feed mills and pig slaughter/processing plants. The company has feed production of more than 1 million tons annually, according to the WATT Global Media Top Companies Database.
Cocari is primarily a producer of pet food and poultry feed.

ForFarmers launches share buy-back program

ForFarmers BV will launch a share buy-back program, beginning on April 21, 2015, and ending on October 17, 2016.
The company says the share buy-back is being launch to benefit employee participation plans. The maximum number of shares that can be repurchased amounts to 1.5 million based on the current share capital of EUR1 (US$1.08) nominal value per ordinary share, for a maximum of EUR7.5 million (US$8.1 million). The buy-back will be executed by a bank, which will purchase the shares on ForFarmers’ trading platform during open and closed periods and within the buy-back program’s preconditions.
ForFarmers will report on the program’s progress weekly on its website.

BRF invests US$19 million in Singapore venture

Brazil-based meat and poultry company BRF, the world’s largest exporter of poultry meat and the seventh-largest food company in the world by revenue, has invested US$19 million in a new venture to run meat processing facilities in Singapore.
Its investment gives it a 49 percent stake in SATS BRF Food Pte Ltd, with Singapore Food Industries as the majority partner in the joint venture. The formation of SATS BRF Food will create a food distribution and meat processing business that offers branded products initially for the Singapore market and later also for other parts of Southeast Asia.
Singapore Food Industries is a wholly owned subsidiary of SATS Ltd of Singapore, which operates airport logistics and catering services in the region.
The transaction due to be completed in early May 2015 involves a transfer of operations from Singapore Food Industries, including two meat processing plants. The transaction is in line with BRF‘s strategic plan of globalizing the company by means of reaching local markets, strengthening BRF‘s brands and distributing and expanding its product portfolio around the globe, the Brazilian company stated.
Formerly known as Brasil Foods, BRF processes 1.83 billion birds annually, according to the WATT Global Media Top Companies Database. The company’s key product categories include chicken, turkey and pork.

Website helps farmers combat mycotoxins

A website developed by plant pathologists from Purdue University and research institutions nationwide helps farmers understand and respond to the threat of mycotoxins in corn.
The website, Corntoxins, includes management information, photo and video documentation, information on how to properly store moldy grain, and describes the characteristics of various types of mycotoxins.
“Prevention is the most effective management strategy to reducing the impact of ear rots and mycotoxins,” said Charles Woloshuk, a professor of botany and plant pathology and member of the website development team. “We created the website to make management information readily accessible to farmers and agribusiness personnel so they can take appropriate precautions to prevent ear rots and manage mycotoxins if they occur in the grain.”
The website is a product of the Integrated Management Strategies for Aspergillus and Fusarium Ear Rots of Corn project, which was established in 2012 with funding from the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. The project’s goal is to coordinate and promote a research and extension collaboration that provides new tools for managing ear rots and mycotoxins.
Along with Purdue, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), University of Arkansas, Michigan State University, North Carolina State University and Texas A&M University are participating the in project.

Old, previously unseen crop diseases found in New York

Research by the Northern New York Agricultural Development Program has found a corn disease not seen in the region in 30 years, and a soybean disease new to New York.
The report, “Diagnosis and Assessment of Diseases of Corn and Soybean in Northern New York,” says head smut was found on corn in Jefferson County. Head smut has not been identified in New York since the 1980s, according to the report, which said the finding was “surprising.”
On soybeans, the northern stem canker, which has never been identified or documented in New York, was found. The northern stem canker was identified in nine soybean fields in western New York, which the report said indicates that this previously unknown disease may be widespread and undermanaged throughout the area.
The report also found that northern corn leaf blight was widespread, though not universal. It says white mold and northern stem canker are “potentially serious” soil-borne diseases with “long-term implications for crop rotation sequence” and that these diseases deserve further assessment in the region.
Also, the report says soybean cyst nematode was not found in any of the 28 soil samples collected, but that scouting will continue into 2015. If soybean cyst nematode is confirmed, more intense testing would be needed and affected farms would need to plant soybean varieties with resistance to the nematode.

Top US Cobb700 flock award goes to Arkansas family farm

The Pablo Cardenas Farm of the Tyson Foods Nashville Complex in Arkansas has gained the top Cobb700 flock award from the 2014 Cobb Sold Flock Survey. The survey, begun in 1994, has developed into one of the most viable measures of Cobb breeder performance worldwide.
Flock data is collected annually measuring key performance metrics including hatching and total egg production, hen livability, feed consumed, hatchability and chicks/hen housed. In addition to the award for the overall top performing U.S. company, the top six regional performances are also recognized.
The Pablo Cardenas Farm had a total of 170.14 eggs and 140.60 chicks (adjusted to 65 weeks). Pablo purchased the farm 10 years ago after managing it for the previous owner. He also works on the second shift in the maintenance department at a local company.
He used conventional nests for many years and had just installed double belted nests before his latest flock placement. His upgrade on the houses also included sealing the environment and installing improved ventilation. Pablo commented: “We really like the new nests and the performance we’ve achieved with the upgrade.”
Steven Stapp, breeder manager of the Tyson complex, stated: “With uniform pullets produced from the rearing house and with improved egg gathering practices, we should expect this kind of result each time. Pablo is great to work with—always willing to do whatever we ask of him.”
Cobb North America technical service director Ken Semon commented: “The leadership at Tyson Nashville Complex has proved that it takes team effort and attention to detail to yield outstanding performance. They strive for excellence and it’s reflected in the performance ranking of this flock.”

Senator calls for more AI compensation for farmers

The United States government should consider expanded compensation for poultry farmers whose flocks have been infected with avian influenza, Sen. Amy Klobuchar says.
Under the current federal program, the government pays poultry producers for birds that have been euthanized, largely as an incentive to assure that avian influenza infections are reported to animal health agencies, Minnesota Public Radio reported. However, the program does not cover the birds that fall ill with the virus and die. Klobuchar says it should, particularly since in some cases, several thousand birds in one operation die.
The avian influenza situation demonstrates that poultry and livestock producers need an insurance program to compensate them for catastrophic disease losses, Klobuchar said, similar to a crop insurance program that covers losses.
"Your force here is not a tornado or a drought," she said. "Your force here is a disease that is spreading across the poultry in the country."
Avian influenza has caused the losses of several million chickens and turkeys since it was first confirmed in the United States in January 2015. Minnesota, the nation’s largest turkey producer, has had more avian influenza cases than any other state. But the state’s avian influenza losses have not just been in commercial turkey operations, as one of its most recent confirmed cases was in an egg layer flock, the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) reported.

New avian influenza cases in Minnesota, Wisconsin

Four new cases of H5N2 avian influenza were reported by the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) on April 24. Three of the four outbreaks were reported in commercial turkey flocks, while the other involved an egg layer operation.
According to APHIS, two of the cases were confirmed in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota, making them the 16^th and 17^th cases of the virus in that county. The number of turkeys in the flocks affected by the county’s most recent cases is still pending, according to the federal agency.
The other new avian influenza outbreak in Minnesota was confirmed in Clay County, with 175,000 chickens affected.
The fourth outbreak was confirmed in Chippewa County, Wisconsin, where a flock of 56,000 turkeys was infected. This marks the fourth confirmation of avian influenza in Wisconsin.
According to APHIS, all four of the affected properties have been quarantined and birds on the property will be depopulated.
An avian influenza state of emergency has been established by the governors of both Minnesota and Wisconsin. Each declaration called for the assistance from the National Guard if needed.
To keep informed of the areas affected by avian influenza, see WATTAgNet’s avian influenza map to track cases confirmed across North America. Filter the map view by avian influenza strain, type of operation, species, region and date confirmed.

House ag leader: More avian influenza research needed

Rep. Collin Peterson, D-Minnesota, ranking member of the House Agriculture Committee, says that more research needs to be done to help contain the spread of avian influenza.
In an email newsletter sent to constituents on April 24, Peterson, D-Minnesota, reported that he had recently met with Dr. John Clifford, chief veterinary officer for the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), to discuss the virus that has impacted dozens of commercial turkey operations in the state Peterson represents in Congress. During the meeting, Peterson wrote, he and Clifford discussed USDA’s response to avian influenza outbreaks and ways to improve the response and provide assistance to turkeys in Minnesota.
“Avian flu is impacting poultry and egg producers around the world, with Minnesota producers being particularly hit hard. With the virus continuing to impact the region, I will continue to work with USDA and state officials to help get producers back up on their feet,” Peterson wrote. “This is a complex problem.”
Peterson added that the infrastructure needs to be strengthened to help the animal agriculture industry be able to better deal with such animal health issues.
Information concerning avian influenza outbreaks in Minnesota and other states, as well as Canadian provinces, can be found on WATTAgNet’s avian influenza map.

Arbor Acres annual South Africa roadshow focuses on feed

Experts from Aviagen® came face to face with top nutritionists in South Africa recently to discuss the best way to feed the Arbor Acres® (AA) bird, as part of AA’s annual International Nutrition Roadshow.
The technical roadshow for Arbor Acres parent stock customers focused on the nutrition and the effect of the feed on bird performance in breeders and boilers.
Puzant Dakessian, Commercial Manager, Neil Clark Regional Technical Manager, Leonardo Linares, Global Nutritionist and Mohsen Ganjaei, International Technical Service Manager, attended the roadshow representing Aviagen’s international technical support team for Arbor Acres.
They were joined by Arbor Acre’s local technical support team with Deon Venter, South Africa Technical Service Manager and Arno Van Der Nat, South Africa Grandparent Manager also in attendance.
Discussing the roadshow, Leonardo Linares said, “The outstanding Arbor Acres broiler performance is making the breeders very sensitive to the feed. We are completely aware of the effect of the nutrition on the breeders, and we try to be fully supportive of our clients, either through distant support, or face to face, for any assistance and update of the nutrition.”
The team met representatives from a number of different companies in the country during the roadshow, including Chubby Chicks, Eagles Pride and Mikes Chicken.
Mohsen Ganjaei added, “The roadshows require a lot of preparation and hard work from both the local and international teams. However, we try to be ahead of the game. The transfer of knowledge and awareness of the genetic improvements are key to managing such modern birds as AA.
“In our regular face-to-face technical visits and roadshows we do our best to not only solve problems, but also to share experience with our clients, and assist them to comply with biological needs. As the AA family, we will carry on supporting the AA birds because we believe the AA is the breed of choice in South Africa.”

Research provides insight for ventilation of broiler houses during hot weather

USPOULTRY and the USPOULTRY Foundation announce the completion of a funded research project at the University of Georgia in Athens, GA, in which researchers studied the interaction of temperature, relative humidity and air velocity in influencing heat production by broilers in tunnel-ventilated houses. The project is part of the Association’s comprehensive research program encompassing all phases of poultry and egg production and processing. A brief summary of the completed project is shown below. A complete report, along with information on other Association research, may be obtained by going to USPOULTRY’s website, www.uspoultry.org. The project summary is as follows:
Project #F050:  Factors that Influence Bird Heat Production in Tunnel-Ventilated Broiler House
The findings of Dr. Brian Fairchild and Michael Czarick at the University of Georgia Department of Poultry Science help to clarify how broilers of different body weights produce and lose heat in response to the environment. Several trends in bird heat production and loss were observed, which will provide practical insight for growers and integrators to minimize heat stress in broilers during hot weather. For a detailed summary, click here.

Hormel CEO: Avian influenza will impact company earnings

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) is creating problems with a reduced supply of turkeys, and will have a subsequent negative impact on plant operations forJennie-O Turkey Store, the company stated.
Jeffrey M. Ettinger, chairman of the board, president and CEO ofHormel Foods, the parent company of Jennie-O Turkey Store, cautioned investors that the avian influenza outbreaks will likely put pressure on the company’s earnings during the second half of fiscal year 2015.
H5N2 avian influenza has been detected at multiple turkey farms that supply Jennie-O Turkey Store, resulting in the loss of affected flocks and temporary quarantine of farms in the area until a full cleaning process is completed. Jennie-O Turkey Store is managing the occurrences in full cooperation with the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and state agency officials in Minnesota and Wisconsin. The company is also collaborating closely with industry associations and other poultry companies in the region to ensure food safety and employee safety.
“We are experiencing significant challenges in our turkey supply chain due to the recent HPAI outbreaks in Minnesota and Wisconsin,” stated Ettinger. “While Jennie-O Turkey Store has delivered strong financial performance so far in the first half, tight meat supplies and operational challenges will pressure earnings in the back half of our fiscal year. We are currently maintaining our fiscal 2015 non-GAAP1 adjusted earnings guidance range ... with the assumption that farm outbreak occurrences will decline as the weather improves, but expect turkey supply challenges to push our full year earnings toward the lower end of this range.”
Ettinger added that he did expect avian influenza’s financial impact on the multi-protein company to partially offset by favorable hog prices benefitting Hormel’s Refrigerated Foods segment and portions of the Grocery Products segment.” 
Hormel Foods will reveal more details on avian influenza’s financial impact on the company on May 20, when the company releases its second quarter financial report.

HKScan to establish new Asian offices

Finland meat and poultry company HKScan will establish a sales office in Hong Kong this year as a local presence in the Asian market will be critical in order to enhance the value of the group’s export business, the company says.
It also plans to office a sales office in China as soon as the necessary approvals are secured from the Finnish authorities and exports from Finland to China commence.
Chinese inspectors  visited a number of HKScan’s slaughter facilities in Finland last year and pork is expected to be first of the company’s products to enter the Chinese market, followed by poultry meat, processed meat and convenience meals.
The company, which already exports to some 50 countries, is also planning that the Hong Kong office will assume responsibility for marketing and customer service in other Far Eastern markets, while the Chinese sales office will focus exclusively on the Chinese market.

Rabobank: Pork prices moderate in first quarter

The global pork industry searched for stability during the first quarter of 2015, with strong supply growth and relatively weak demand driving the market, Rabobank stated in its pork quarterly report for the second quarter. The report was released on April 17.
Pork prices are sharply lower, as robust global supply growth, which has been driven by the United States, Russia and Brazil, has outpaced rather subdued demand, dragging producer profitability into negative territory, the bank reported.
Rabobank animal protein analyst Albert Vernooij said: “The increasing competition in the global export market will result in continuous price and margin pressure in most countries around the globe. Therefore, after the buoyant — at least price-wise — last couple of years, the global pork industry is slowly moving towards the bottom of the cycle.”


U.S. pork outlook
In the U.S., as supply recovers after porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) virus infection, the question is as to what degree recovery will be coupled with the strengthening U.S. dollar and lower prices.


EU pork outlook
In the EU, prices will follow seasonal developments, but will remain lower than the historical average and below break-even level.


Brazilian pork outlook
Brazilian prospects remain positive, but less buoyant than in the first quarter, driven by pressured domestic consumption and difficult Russian export negotiations.

DuPont Diagnostics announces VWR as exclusive distributor in U.S.

DuPont Diagnostics, a part of DuPont Nutrition & Health, has signed an exclusive distribution agreement with VWR, a leading, global, independent provider of products, services and solutions to laboratory and production facilities. This agreement allows VWR exclusive rights within the United States to sell the DuPont™ BAX® System Q7 instrument, assays and related products as its only PCR-based pathogen detection solution to the food industry.
“The ability for our customers to order all their laboratory equipment and supplies – including BAX® System assays and disposables – from a single location is a great advantage for our U.S. customer base,” said DuPont Nutrition & Health Diagnostics Sales Leader – Americas, Troy Ayers. “Customers now have access to VWR’s ‘one-stop shopping,’ providing the convenience and support they deserve.”
“DuPont is a well-known and reputable brand, and VWR is excited to add these award winning products to our food and beverage portfolio,” stated VWR Senior Vice President and President of Americas Lab and Distribution Services, Mark McLoughlin. “These products help enable science for our customers requiring rapid testing methods for food safety.”
For nearly 20 years, food companies, service labs and government regulators around the world have relied on the award-winning DuPont™ BAX® System to help them get products to market faster while protecting both quality and reputation. The BAX® System provides advanced, automated testing for foodborne pathogens, spoilage organisms and other microbes in raw ingredients, finished products and manufacturing environments. The system breaks down samples at the genetic level using the power of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), then uses target-specific primers to automatically detect the presence or absence of the target bacterial DNA and provide clear “yes or no” results. With certifications and regulatory approvals around the world, the BAX® System is recognized as one of the most advanced pathogen testing systems available to the food industry today.

Canada introducing new rules on animal antibiotic use

Canadian Health Minister Rona Ambrose is introducing new measures and strengthening regulations to encourage prudent use of antibiotics used in animal agriculture, particularly involving those that are considered important in human medicine.
This effort is intended to help minimize the global emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance and to conserve the effectiveness of available antimicrobials. These actions will protect public health and food safety and align with other countries, the health minister said.
Health Canada has already worked with the pharmaceutical industry to phase out all growth promotion claims of medically-important antimicrobial drugs by December 2016. In addition, Health Canada plans to:


• Propose amendments to the Food and Drug Regulations to address personal use importation of veterinary drugs, and strengthen the control over the importation of veterinary active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs); and
• Continue to work with stakeholders to increase the appropriate veterinary oversight with respect to access to all medically-important antimicrobial drugs that are used in livestock drinking water and feeds. This measure will require further amendments to the Food and Drug Regulations and the Feeds Regulations.
These initiatives are part of the Canadian government’s recently released Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) and Use in Canada, which builds on the Federal Framework for Action announced in October 2014. The department will continue to engage partners and stakeholders while the proposed amendments to the Food and Drug Regulations are being developed and further actions on AMR are being implemented.


Chicken Farmers of Canada supports reduction of antibiotic use
The Canadian government’s move to limit antibiotic use has drawn the praise from poultry industry group Chicken Farmers of Canada (CFC).
“Chicken Farmers of Canada supports the federal government in their objective of amending these regulations to ensure responsible antimicrobial stewardship,” said Dave Janzen, CFC chair. “The chicken industry is continuing to study all facets of antibiotic use in animal agriculture to ensure that responsible, appropriate, and safe use of antibiotics can continue while reduction methods are explored at all levels of the industry, and with stakeholders and government partners.”
CFC stated that it supports the responsible use of antimicrobials to maintain animal health, animal welfare and food safety and is pleased to partner with the federal government on these issues.

USDA: Avian influenza cases to decline in spring, summer

Avian influenza cases will drop off during the spring and summer months, but could likely return in the fall, USDA leaders say. 
Outbreaks of avian influenza in the United States should drop off dramatically with the emergence of summer weather, but the poultry industry should still be cautious as the virus will have a good likelihood of returning in the fall, USDA officials said.
Speaking during a USDA-hosted media call on April 22, USDA Chief Veterinary Officer John Clifford and USDA Southeast Poultry Research Director David Swayne spoke of the virus that has caused the deaths of millions of birds – including commercial turkeys and layer hens – in the United States in 2015.
“We know this virus doesn’t like the heat. When it gets up to a certain level of temperature, this virus doesn’t survive usually. It does like the cooler temperatures,” said Clifford.
Swayne added that it is not just the heat that can kill avian influenza virus. While the temperatures tend to rise during the spring and summer, the amount of sunlight also increases. And the ultraviolet light in sunshine will kill influenza viruses, whether it is on dust, in the air or on individual surfaces.
The amount of humidity also plays a factor, according to Swayne, because dryness helps reduce the life of avian influenza virus.


Avian influenza likely to return in fall
While more southern states like Missouri, Kansas and Arkansas have seen cases of avian influenza, the most recent cases have been further north, in states including Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, North Dakota and South Dakota. Two recent cases have also appeared in Ontario.
Wild birds, who are believed to have been spreading the virus, are returning to the north.
Swayne said he was not sure whether the birds would bring the virus back during their next migration to the South. However, he indicated it is likely, and that the poultry industry needs to be prepared.


Potential for avian influenza in the Eastern US
To date, avian influenza cases have only been detected within the Pacific, Central and Mississippi flyways, but people should not rule out the possibility of the virus spreading to the Atlantic flyway. The furthest east the virus has been confirmed in North America in 2015 has been near Woodstock, Ontario, north of Lake Erie.
“Thse birds don’t just stay in one flyway. There is some crossover. We would anticipate if we see the virus again in the fall, we are likely to see it in all four flyways,” said Clifford.
See a related story about how Swayne and Clifford discussed the USDA’s efforts to develop a vaccine for avian influenza.

Minnesota declares avian influenza state of emergency

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  Freeimages.com/jzlomek

  Minnesota's governor has declared a state of emergency to deal with the rapidly spreading avian influenza outbreaks.

  From WATTAgNet:
  Due to the high number of cases of avian influenza that have been confirmed recently in Minnesota, Gov. Mark Dayton has declared a state of emergency. With the declaration, Dayton has authorized the National Guard to be called up for duty if needed.
  The state of emergency was called for on April 23, one day after the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirmed 13 new outbreaks of H5N2 avian influenza in commercial turkey flocks. Several new avian influenza cases have since been confirmed in Minnesota and in neighboring states. The outbreaks have affected more than 2.6 million birds in the state and the virus continues to spread.
  Several days prior to Minnesota’s state of emergency declaration, a similar declaration was made in Wisconsin by Gov. Scott Walker.
  H5N2 avian influenza has been detected in three Wisconsin poultry flocks, affecting tens of thousands of chickens and turkeys. The virus was discovered in a commercial flock of 126,000 turkeys in Barron County, as well as in a flock of 40 mixed breed birds in Juneau County, the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection (WDATCP) reported on April 16. The state’s first confirmed case of avian influenza was reported on April 13, infecting a flock of about 180,000 egg-laying chickens in Jefferson County.

Second avian influenza case reported in North Dakota

Highly pathogenic avian influenza has been confirmed in a commercial turkey flock in LaMoure County, North Dakota, according to an April 24 report from the North Dakota Department of Agriculture. The premises contained approximately 69,000 turkeys and also about 2,000 chickens.
The exact serotype of the virus in the LaMoure County flock has not yet been determined.
A presumptive positive case was first identified by the University of Minnesota’s Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory and confirmed by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) National Veterinary Services Laboratories in Ames, Iowa.
This is the second case confirmed in North Dakota. A response team has been working with a Dickey County poultry farm since the first case was confirmed on April 10. In that outbreak, a flock of about 40,000 turkeys was affected.
“We have activated the avian influenza response plan that has been in place for some time,” said North Dakota State Veterinarian Dr. Susan Keller. “It is a collaborative effort with help from federal and state agencies, local officials and poultry producers.”
The avian influenza response team is working around the clock to control the outbreak and serve as a resource to residents. In an emergency clause, the North Dakota legislature has allotted $300,000 of federal spending authority to respond to and combat avian influenza.

Minnesota avian influenza cases adding up

Highly pathogenic H5N2 avian influenza cases continue to mount in Minnesota, with the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirming two new outbreaks on April 22.
Among the two new cases are a commercial turkey operation and a flock of mixed poultry.
A flock of 62,600 turkeys in Kandiyohi County was affected by the virus, according to APHIS.
The affected flock of mixed poultry involved 151 birds. That flock was located in Pipestone County, the first confirmed avian influenza case in the county.
Both properties have been quarantined and disinfected. The flocks are being depopulated.
So far in 2015, avian influenza has been detected in 17 states. In addition to Minnesota, avian influenza cases have been confirmed in North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas, Washington, Oregon, California, New Mexico, Idaho, Montana, Utah, Nevada and Wyoming. The virus has also been confirmed in flocks in the Canadian provinces of British Columbia and Ontario.
To keep informed of the areas affected by avian influenza, see WATTAgNet’s avian influenza map to track cases confirmed across North America. Filter the map view by avian influenza strain, type of operation, species, region and date confirmed.

North American Meat Institute celebrates 25 years of support for 'Meating the Need'

The North American Meat Institute (NAMI) has recommitted to its "Meating the Need" Partnership with Feeding America as it celebrated the project’s 25th anniversary. All totaled, food banks in the Feeding America network have received an estimated 200 million pounds of surplus meat and poultry from Institute members during the last 25 years.
As part of the celebration, Feeding America’s Managing Director of Manufacturing Partnerships Karen Hanner addressed the Institute’s Management Conference and offered the organization’s gratitude, noting that meat and poultry are among the foods most desired by food banks nationwide.
“Feeding America is deeply appreciative of our 25 year partnership with the North American Meat Institute,” said Hanner. “With over 49 million Americans facing hunger, the valuable protein provided through the ‘Meating the Need’ program has made a measurable difference for clients served by our food bank network. Thanks to NAMI members, millions of families across the country have enjoyed nutritious meals with beef, chicken, pork or turkey that they otherwise may not have been able to afford.”
During the Management Conference, Institute members also participated in a backpack decorating and stuffing event that will provide food and supplies to hungry school-age children.
“We are committed to supporting Feeding America’s fight against hunger,” said NAMI President and CEO Barry Carpenter. “Our products are among the most nutrient dense foods available and so important for healthy growth in children and for good health throughout the lifespan. We pledge to expand awareness of our ‘Meating the Need’ project among our members and encourage continued and hopefully expanded donations in the years to come.”
‘Meating the Need’ was recognized with an Associations Advance America award in 2006 by the American Society of Association Executives.
For more information about donating meat and poultry through ‘Meating the Need,’ click here.