9 avian influenza updates for the week ending July 30

The global poultry industry has done much in recent weeks concerning the prevention and control of avian influenza. 
Avian influenza has been an area of high concern for those in the global poultry industry. Here are 9 news developments concerning the virus you should know:
1. USDA closer toapproval of avian flu vaccine – U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says a vaccine has been developed that has tested 100 percent effective in protecting chickens from avian influenza, and testing is being conducted on its effectiveness with turkeys. Should it prove effective in protecting turkeys, the agency would like to get theavian influenza vaccine licensed for widespread production.
2. Cleanup of U.S. farmsprogressing – Vilsack, while attending theAvian Influenza Outbreak Conference in Des Moines, Iowa, said the avian influenza cleanup efforts are progressing well. Vilsack, at the July 28 conference, said of 211 commercial facilities affected, about 90 percent have finished their cleaning and disinfection efforts, and nearly 70 percent are in the position of restocking.
Tweet: #TomVilsack says 70% of commercial facilities affected by #avianflu are now restocking, #poultry #avianinfluenza http://ctt.ec/5q217+
3. New H5N6, H5N1 casesin Vietnam – The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) reported new cases ofH5N6 avian influenza and H5N1 avian influenza in Vietnam. Between the two confirmed cases, more than 900 birds were affected.
4. Avian influenzabiosecurity audits lacking -- A survey conducted by the USDA’sAnimal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) showed that most U.S. turkey farms have established biosecurity protocols, but only 43 percent of the 81 farms surveyed reported that on-farm biosecurity audits were conducted by the company with which they do business or by a third party. This was one of the findings in the APHIS highly pathogenic avian influenza epidemiology report.
5. H7N7 avian influenzareturns to Germany –H7N7 avian influenza has been confirmed at a layer farm in the district of Emsland in the state of Lower Saxony (Niedersachsen) in northwest Germany, affecting about 10,000 birds. The virus was last detected in Germany in March.
6. Ag secretaryadvocates avian flu insurance – Vilsack is calling on Congress to allocate funding for anavian influenza insurance program farmers who might be affected by the virus. The idea has the support of both of Minnesota’s U.S. senators, Al Franken and Amy Klobuchar.
7. Keys to good biosecurity identified – Speaking at theUSPOULTRY Hatchery-Breeder Clinic in Nashville, Tennessee, Shawn Carlton, technical service manager with Cobb-Vantress, said there are three general principals to a successful biosecurity program. Those are: “Go onto a farm clean, leave the farm clean, and if in doubt … clean and disinfect,” 
8. North Carolina preparingfor avian influenza – Even though there have been no confirmed cases of avian influenza in North Carolina in 2015, the state is doing what it can to be prepared. TheNorth Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is requiring all commercial poultry growers with more than 200 birds to submit a highly pathogenic avian influenza plan. The state is also requiring all poultry owners, regardless of the number of birds on the property, to register their farms with the state.
9. Georgia Department ofAgriculture trains workers for avian flu -- The Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) is training its employees how to deal with flocks affected with the virus in case it appears in the state. One of the training activities the department conducted recently at Fort Valley State University involved how to euthanize flocks of poultry that have been infected with avian influenza.
Bookmark WATTAgNet’savian influenza update page for the latest news and analysis concerning the virus and its impact on the poultry industry.

Michigan State University starts animal antibiotic study

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  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.
To learn more about the UK poultry industry, read:
UK poultry production forecasts positive 2014, but challenges remain
www.WATTAgNET.com/165516.html

WTO panel to examine EU poultry meat tariff concessions

The World Trade Organization (WTO) has agreed to establish a panel to examine measures affecting tariff concessions on certain poultry meat products adopted by the European Union (EU).
China, the complainant, requested consultation with the European Union regarding measures to modify its tariff concessions on certain poultry meat products in April. It alleges that the measures are inconsistent with Articles I, II, XIII and XXVIII of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994.
China hopes that through dispute settlement proceedings, the EU will adjust its measures and so satisfy China’s trade concerns, however, the EU has said that its measures are in conformity with the WTO agreements and that it was ready to defend them before a panel.
The Dispute Settlement Body has now established a panel, following an initial deferment, to examine the dispute. Brazil, Russia and the USA have reserved their third-party rights to participate in proceedings. 

Double-digit sales growth for Ceva in 2015 first half

Consolidated sales of the Ceva Group reached EUR424 million (US$462 million) at the end of June 2015, representing growth of 16 percent and a 12 percent increase at constant perimeter and exchange rates.
Sales grew in all zones, except Europe which was stable versus the same period of 2014, with strong performance in North America/Pacific region (up 43 percent), Asia (up 38 percent) and Latin America (up 26 percent).
Business centered around all species are growing, especially poultry (up 27 percent globally and up 35 percent on vaccines) and companion animals (up 13 percent).
The group delivered an operational result slightly ahead of the budgeted objective and continued to make significant investment in research and development.
Marc Prikazsky, Ceva’s chairman and CEO commented: “The growth of the group remains consistent and ahead of our 2020 business plan. It’s very pleasing to see that our previous investment to develop innovative new technology vaccines is being rewarded with increased business from our poultry customers. We have a significant new pipeline of products to launch, which will further boost our business in companion animals, swine and dairy. ”

Walmart VP speaking at International Poultry Forum China

Frank Yiannas, Walmart’s vice president of food safety, will speak at 2015 International Poultry Forum China. 
Frank Yiannas, Walmart’s vice president of food safety, has been added to the lineup of speakers for 2015 International Poultry Forum China: Food Safety on Chicken Poultry Supply from Farm to Table. The event will be held August 21-22 at the Intercontinental Shanghai Pudong.
In his role with Walmart, Yiannas oversees all food safety, as well as other public health functions, for the company, which is world's largest food retailer, serving over 200 million customers around the world on a weekly basis. His responsibilities include food safety oversight of Wal-Mart’s stores, Neighborhood Markets, and Sam’s Clubs. Training and education of associates, food safety oversight of thousands of food suppliers, and a number of critical regulatory compliance issues also come under his purview.
Poultry professionals from China and around the world will gather to learn the latest data, insights and information during 2015 International Poultry Forum China.
Other speakers for 2015 International  Poultry Forum China include:


• Jisheng Cao, president, Shangdong Yisheng
• She Feng, general manager, Beijing Huadu Group Corp.
• Michael R. Goble, chairman, executive vice president and chief operating officer of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization Global Feed LCA Institute, Diamond V
• Christopher Langholz, business unit leader, Cargill Animal Protein China
• Arex Lee, CEO, Tyson Foods China
• Jinghui Li, vice president, Dachan Group
• Terrence O’Keefe, content director, WATT Global Media
• Jie Wen, researcher and doctoral supervisor, Institute of Animal Science of China Animal Agricultural Association
• Philip J. Wilkinson, director and vice president, British Poultry Council, AVEC
2015 International Poultry Forum China is being organized by WATT Global Media and Poultry International China, and is supported by China Animal Agricultural Association, China Broiler Alliance and Shanghai Poultry Industry Association.

Cargill pork feed mill celebrates 35 years of safety

Cargill’s pork feed mill in London, Arkansas, is celebrating 35 years without a lost time accident, spanning the facility’s existence and the first to reach the milestone in the Arkansas Department of Labor’s records kept since 1976.
“The London facility began its feed mill operations in 1980, and there has not been a lost time accident since then,” said Pat Pollack, Cargill Pork environment, health and safety (EHS) manager based in Russellville. “There aren’t many businesses in our industry that can make that claim. This accomplishment is not just a milestone for our facility, but a testament to Cargill’s devotion to the safety of its employees. We follow strict guidelines companywide, and firmly believe in the value of providing safety training and resources to all of our employees.”
“The landscape of the world around us was much different when we opened our doors. As the world continues to evolve, so do our safety practices,” stated Bud Akers, Cargill Pork's London feed mill manager. “We want to make sure that we continue to take the steps to not only minimize risks for our employees, but also for the contractors that come to our facility and the community around us. This commitment has allowed us to achieve more than 12,700 days without a lost time accident.”
The facility makes and delivers hog feed for nearly 100 contracted farms in the region, as well as the company-owned Sandy River sow farm, and processes more than 76,000 tons, or 152 million pounds, of feed annually. Jobs include grinding, mixing and pelleting feed, as well as lifting and handling several tons of feed daily and delivering the loads to farms. These tasks often require the use of heavy-duty equipment. The safety program is employee-led and supported by management. Employees accept the responsibility of recognizing safety hazards committed by each other, or by outside contractors, and preventing incidents from occurring. Monthly meetings help address critical tasks and provide time for safety demonstrations.
“We’re in a business with a high demand for physically-intensive labor. We are dedicated to doing what we can to ensure that our employees remain happy and healthy during and after their time at Cargill,” explained Akers. “Our safety program helps employees feel empowered. They know that if they address a safety issue with co-workers, they have the support of management to do so. We understand that with these jobs, your life can change in a matter of seconds. It’s important to emphasize proper use of equipment and safety practices.”

Aviagen and Jamesway host seminar on embryonic heat

Aviagen and Jamesway Incubator Company Inc., two global companies dedicated to servicing and supporting the poultry industry, collaboratively hosted a one-day seminar at the Delta Calgary Airport Hotel in Alberta Canada recently. The topic of the seminar was an important one to the poultry industry – “Managing Embryonic Heat.”
Managing an optimal embryonic temperature is critical to chick quality. In the hatchery, it is crucial to maintain an optimal balance between a bird’s heat production and heat loss. Inadequate embryonic heat management can lead to dehydration and degradation in chick quality. With a topic this important to hatchery managers, it was no surprise that the joint Aviagen-Jamesway seminar drew 30 delegates from across western Canada.
Aviagen Incubationist Dr. Nirada Leksrisompong began the seminar by describing the effect of embryo temperature on broiler performance in her presentation entitled “Embryo Temperature During Incubation and Its Effect on Broiler Performance.” Leksrisompong’s presentation was followed by an exploration into the mechanics of managing embryonic heat in multi-stage incubators by Jerry Garrison, Jamesway Consultant and Technical Advisor. Garrison later described how the same embryonic heat could also be managed in single-stage incubators.
The seminar concluded with Aviagen Incubation Specialist Eddy Van Lierde’s presentation stressing the importance of “The Optimal Egg Pack Delivering a Quality Hatch.”
“The overall feedback from customers was that the seminar was highly relevant, practical and useful,” said Scott Gillingham, Canadian Regional Business Consultant for Aviagen. “Aviagen makes a habit of sharing knowledge and best practices with Jamesway and other key industry allies to the benefit of our customers. That’s why significant emphasis is being placed on the critical topic of embryonic heat management. These regional events provide the opportunity for us to work more closely with customers and focus our attention on their specific needs and questions. We plan to conduct another valuable seminar later in the year at another location.”

Research renders good news about Marek's Disease

USPOULTRY and the USPOULTRY Foundation have announced the completion of a funded research project at the USDA Agriculture Research Service in East Lansing, MI, in which researchers found that the virulence of Marek’s disease virus may have plateaued. 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.
The project summary is as follows:
Project #F051: Pathotyping of Current Marek’s Disease Virus Field Strains and Identification of Sequence Variants to Predict Virulence
(Dr. John Dunn and Dr. Hans Cheng, Avian Disease and Oncology Laboratory, USDA Agricultural Research Service, East Lansing)
Researchers at the USDA Avian Disease and Oncology Laboratory recently completed a project that focused on the continued evolution of Marek’s disease virus (MDV). The disease causes tumors in chickens, has a long history of continuous evolution toward increased virulence in the field, which has required the continued development of more effective vaccines.
Dr. Dunn has completed the first survey of current MDV field viruses since 1997 and found, surprisingly, that the virulence of MDV in the U.S. poultry industry may have plateaued. He was not able to find MDV from current field cases that were any more virulent than viruses from 20 years ago. This is good news for the industry and may indicate that current management and vaccine programs have had a big positive impact.A complete report, along with information on other Association research, may be obtained by going to USPOULTRY’s website, www.uspoultry.org.

USPOULTRY and Foundation approve three new research grants

USPOULTRY and the USPOULTRY Foundation have approved a total of $248,499 for three new research grants at three institutions through the Board Research Initiative program. The research funding was approved by the boards of directors of both organizations, based on recommendations from the Foundation Research Advisory Committee. The committee evaluates research proposals to determine their value to the industry and then makes recommendations to the boards for funding. Committee members are professional specialists from different segments of the poultry and egg industry who represent a variety of disciplines.
The research grants for each institution include:


• Development and Production of Salmonella Multi-serotypic and Multi-subunit Vaccines for HenUSDA ARS (research grant made possible by a gift from Cal-Maine Foods)
• Development of Improved Integrated Pest Management Programs to Control Vectors of Salmonella on Hen Farms
  University of Georgia (research grant made possible by a gift from CCF Brands)
• Evaluation of Risk Factors Associated with Salmonella Contamination in Post-chilled Carcasses and Secondary Processing Products in a Poultry PlanClemson University (research grant made possible by a gift from Perdue Farms)
The USPOULTRY Board Research Initiative was created by the Boards of USPOULTRY and the USPOULTRY Foundation to address current issues facing the poultry industry. The USPOULTRY Board Research Initiative operates alongside the current USPOULTRY research program and augments the great success of the existing program by focusing additional resources toward defined areas of research.

ARREFF Terminals is Organically Certified

Effective 2015, ARREFF Terminals, Portsmouth, VA, has received organic certification from Pennsylvania Certified Organic. Arreff is now a handling operation of organic whole grains, including corn, soy beans and millet.
To be certified organic, a plant must have annual onsite inspections and report any and all chemicals and cleaning solution used and the distance between them and the organic product. This federal law requires all certified organic facilities to meet the same standards and be certified under the same certification process.
Plant Manager Gloria Lambert states: “We are working with several customers in Romania, Brazil and Uruguay which export organic agricultural commodities to America. Arreff receives these containers and unloads them into either hopper trucks or railcars for further delivery. Many of our customers had asked us to become certified, and we did so to be able to offer a broad range of services to grow our business.”

Virginia cooperative building turkey processing facility

Virginia Poultry Growers Cooperative (VPGC) will invest nearly $62 million over the next three years on a new 80,000 square foot turkey processing plant in Hinton, Virginia. The cooperative is also investing in its feed mill in Broadway and its grain elevator in Linville, according to an announcement made July 22 by Gov. Terry McAuliffe.
When completed, the new plant will help VPGC increase its production by more than 45 percent.
“Today’s announcement is an exciting development for Rockingham County, the Shenandoah Valley region, and the Commonwealth’s thriving poultry industry,” said McAuliffe. “The investments being made by the Virginia Poultry Growers Cooperative will not only increase poultry production and create jobs, but help bolster Virginia’s reputation as one of the nation’s leaders in quality poultry.  It also highlights the role that agriculture can and will play in building the new Virginia economy.  I applaud the cooperative’s commitment to growing its business here in Virginia, and I am pleased that the commonwealth could support such an entrepreneurial project.”
John A. King II, general manager of the cooperative, said the expansion will incorporate the very latest technology into its processes.
“We are responding directly to customer demands and growth requirements, while also taking care of our employees through processing modifications,” said King. “Our ongoing commitments to food safety and animal welfare also factor heavily in this expansion.  VPGC has a history of adapting to changing needs in the marketplace and this expansion allows us to further adjust to both customer and consumer desires.  We have spent a great deal of time working with our stakeholders and state and local government leaders to help realize this project.  As a premier supplier, we are excited to expand the influence of our company and the reach of our products.”
VPGC, formed in 2004, is one of the largest suppliers of organic and antibiotic-free meat in the United States.  Over the past decade, the cooperative has expanded significantly now employing nearly 565 people in the region, according to a press release from the governor’s office.  The cooperative slaughtered 250 million pounds of live turkeys in 2014, according to the WATTAgNet Top Poultry Companies Database.

Recent developments in international wheat trade

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  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

Two Brazilian meat and poultry companies are making significant investments in expansion efforts.
Aurora Alimentos recently announced its acquisition of the pork production and slaughter business of Chapecó Companhia Industrial de Alimentos at Chapecó in the state of Santa Catarina. Meanwhile, BRF is investing in its processing plants in Mato Grosso.
Aurora has leased the facility since 2003, and its purchase – for a nominal value of was BRL235 million (US$74 million) -- was made as part of Chapecó’s bankruptcy proceedings.
Assets acquired include around 780 hectares in the pig farms and forested areas. Processing capacity at the plant is 2,700 slaughter pigs per day; it currently processes 2,000 head per day with 1,764 workers.
Aurora’s stated aim is to broaden the product mix to include sausages, smoked sausages, fresh pork sausages, hams, bologna and cuts. In 2014, the plant processed 510,000 pigs and produced 46,500 tons of pork and 80,600 of processed products.
Just prior to Aurora’s announcement, Pedro Taqes, Governor of Mato Grosso, announced that BRF is to invest a further BRR1.1 billion (US$347 million) over three years in its five processing plants in the state.
One plant – at Lucas do Rio Verde – will focus exclusively on exports to Russia. BRL100 million (US$31.5 million) will go to expand the plant at Nova Mutum and Várzea Grande will receive BRL80 million (US$25.2 million). The company also has plants at Nova Marilândia and Campo Verde.
More than 2,000 new jobs will be created, according to Governor Taqes.
According to the recently published OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook 2015-2024 report, by 2024, Brazilian poultry meat production is expected to increase by 2.82 million tons and pork output by more than 830,000 tons.

Jackie Linden is a contributing writer for WATTAgNet.

Angel Yeast makes plans for second overseas plant

Asia's leading yeast manufacturer, Angel Yeast Co., Ltd., has signed an agreement with the state government to invest $75M to build its second overseas yeast plant.
The facility in Lipetsk Oblast, Russia will have a capacity of 20,000 MT annually. Beyond that, it includes projects for sewage treatment, an organic fertilizer and natural gas electricity generation.
The implementation of this program will optimize the layout of Angel’s global yeast production, and improve the internationalization strategy. It will help to extensively expand the yeast market of Commonwealth of Independent States, Middle-East and Africa.
Angel Yeast Co., Ltd. is also planning to open a constituent cooperation in Russia for the plant establishment and sales in Russian area. 

Highly pathogenic avian influenza returns to Germany

After the death of 50 hens at an egg farm in the district of Emsland in the state of Lower Saxony (Niedersachsen) in northwest Germany, and confirmation of the avian flu virus, all 10,000 remaining birds on the farm have been destroyed. Cleaning and disinfection of the premises is now underway.
In the official notification to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), the federal Chief Veterinary Officer reports that the virus involved is the H7N7 variant and it is highly pathogenic.
Following European and federal procedures, the affected farm was immediately placed under veterinary restrictions, and controls in the surrounding area have been put in place, including the pre-emptive culling and disposal of 60 birds from two nearby hobby flocks. No live birds or poultry meat from the affected area are thought to have left the region, and eggs have not been moved outside the state.
A protection zone has been established within 3 kilometers of the farm, surrounded by a 10-kilometer surveillance zone, into or out of which no poultry or poultry products can be moved, according to the ministry of agriculture in Lower Saxony.
The avian influenza virus was last detected in Germany in March 2015. The most recent outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian flu in Lower Saxony were in December 2014, when the cause was the H5N8 subtype of the virus, affecting farm in the regions of Cloppenburg and Emsland. In March and June this year, a low-pathogenic form of the H7N7 caused outbreaks of the disease in the regions of Cuxhaven and Emsland in Lower Saxony, according to the ministry .
Germany’s poultry farmers have been warned to step up biosecurity measures.

Royal De Heus makes strategic entry into the Balkans

Royal De Heus has signed an agreement for the acquisition of 100% of the shares of the Serbian company Proteinka. By means of this acquisition, De Heus is making an entry into the Balkans that is focused on the future. This step is in line with De Heus' aim of further broadening its country portfolio and building up a position in a region where the animal husbandry sector is predicted to develop quickly in the future.
Proteinka, based in Sabac (northwest Serbia), produces mixed feed for cattle, poultry and pigs, and has a production capacity of approximately 80,000 tonnes.
The Serbian market currently consists of numerous smaller animal husbandry farms run as family businesses. The total volume of professionally produced mixed feed is approximately 1.5 million tonnes in a total market of 3.4 million tonnes. Serbia is rich in local raw materials, such as corn, wheat and also soya.
Today, many smaller operations still mix their own local raw materials with concentrates. The expectation is that these small livestock farmers will grow their farms over the years ahead. The need for high-quality mixed feeds, as an additional boost to increased efficiency of production, will rise strongly as a result. De Heus will be able to introduce its knowledge and experience of nutrition, production of mixed feeds, raw materials and farming systems to support Proteinka and its customers in this more professional environment.
Given its strategic location in northwest Serbia, Proteinka is favorably placed geographically, with respect to livestock farming areas as well as commercial opportunities in the neighboring countries such as Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro and Macedonia. Expectations for these countries are that the animal husbandry sector will also develop rapidly.
Koen de Heus, CEO of Royal De Heus, said of the acquisition: “With the purchase of Proteinka we are taking a major step in the Balkan region. Animal husbandry in this region will develop rapidly. Given Proteinka's knowledge of the local market, combined with our worldwide knowledge of nutrition and stable management, we see many opportunities for supporting local livestock farmers in this increasingly professional environment.”
The day-to-day leadership of Proteinka will be in the hands of Serbian manager Neno Cipcija, who has broad experience in the agricultural sector.

Foster Farms launches 1st antibiotic-free turkey product

Foster Farms has introduced its first antibiotic-free turkey product. On July 21, the company announced that Foster Farms Organic Ground Turkey is now available at retailers and Costco locations throughout California and the Pacific Northwest.
The release of the new antibiotic-free, organic turkey product comes less than two months after the company launched its organic fresh chicken line and announced that it would soon be introducing antibiotic-free turkey products.
Foster Farms Organic Ground Turkey is USDA-certified organic, antibiotic free, raised free-range on organic land and is fed an organic vegetarian diet. As with all Foster Farms products, Foster Farms Organic Ground Turkey is 100 percent natural with no added hormones, steroids, salt, chemicals or artificial enhancers.
The product comes in one-pound packages. In the coming months, the company has plans to introduce additional organic turkey products including Foster Farms Organic Whole Turkeys, which will be in California Costco stores in time for Thanksgiving.
"Foster Farms is committed to producing premium turkey products that provide consumers a variety of high-quality, lean protein options," said TJ Johnson, director of marketing for Foster Farms turkey. "We are seeing more consumers using ground turkey as a substitute in recipes to make them leaner and lighter. In line with this trend, the next logical step for Foster Farms was to add an organic option."
Ground turkey sales on the West Coast are up 11 percent from 2014, and organic ground turkey sales are up 76 percent, according to IRI market research. As the demand for organic foods continues to grow, Foster Farms is expanding its offerings to provide consumers a range of options to meet their preferences.
Foster Farms was founded as a backyard turkey ranch in 1939 and has since been producing whole turkeys for West Coast consumers. In 1993, it expanded this production to include a complete line of fresh turkey products ranging from turkey tenderloins to ground turkey. Turkey represents a growing portion of the company's overall business.

WELTEC builds another agricultural biogas plant

WELTEC BIOPOWER, together with German manufacturer Domaix Energie, is setting up a plant with heat source concept in Mirecourt (Lorraine), France. The "Méthavigne" 255-kW biogas project comes with fringe benefits for farmer Nicolas Jacquot and a nearby medical center ("Centre hospitalier Ravenel") of the Département Vosges.
Representatives of the medical center quickly warmed up to the pipeline construction and heat transfer project. "With the exhaust heat from the plant, our institution will be able to cover its entire hot water needs, starting from the commissioning in October 2015," says Hervé Buffe, technical manager of the hospital. The suitability of the location and the short distance of only one kilometer from the biogas CHP plant convinced Buffe and his colleagues of the plant’s advantages. With uninterrupted procurement of green heat, the clinic will save costs and streamline its ecological profile.
When biogas plant operator Jacquot and Martin Nippé, Director of Domaix Energie, contacted the medical center’s representatives, they were aware of the clinic's ecological orientation. Today fulfilment of environmental requirements is a must, and the placement of public orders by the clinic is subject to strict sustainability standards. With their concept, WELTEC and Domaix Energie fulfill these standards. With this in mind Buffe gave his OK: "We were immediately fascinated by the idea ‒ everything was perfect."
In addition to a continually reliable heat supply, the sufficient quantity generated by the biogas plant operation is a big plus. The plant's heat offer is so extensive that it covers the entire hot water supply of the medical center plus the heat needs of the home of the Jacquot family.
For the farmer, the business field "energy" blends in nicely with the overall strategy. The cultivated area of 375 hectares and 850 cattle allow the Jacquot family to produce all the raw materials they need for the energy generation. The 2,226-m³ stainless-steel digester will be fed with a feedstock mix of cattle manure, maize silage, crop dust, straw, grass, fruit pomace, flotation grease and food leftovers in the amount of 28 t/day.
The new 60-m³ BIG-Mix dosing feeder serves as an input system. The benefit is its ability to process long-fiber substrates such as solid manure or grass in an energy-saving manner with the individually driven push strips. A vertical mixing screw then passes on the material to the second input level, the MULTIMix, mashes it with liquid manure and introduces it to the digester. After the fermentation process, a CHP plant transforms the biogas to power, which is fed into the public grid and heat. Moreover, the digestate is stored in a 5,007-m³ stainless-steel tank and can be used on the farmer's own fields as an effective low-odor fertilizer.
These technical details are also relevant for Buffe, as the clinic's continuous supply and economic reliability depends on them. "This partnership between a public hospital and a private farm is probably one of the first of this type in Lorraine or even in all of France. A key aspect for us is that this concept enables us to cut our total gas consumption by 7 percent," he says.

Cargill, Naturisa to build shrimp feed facility in Ecuador

Driven by a historical shift in food production with farmed fish surpassing global beef production for the first time in modern history, Cargill has formed a joint venture with Naturisa to build a $30 million shrimp feed facility near Guayaquil, Ecuador. The transaction involves the construction of a new world-class shrimp feed mill that will produce 130,000 metric tons annually and employ 260 people when the facility is fully operational in 2017.
Cargill will own 75 percent and have managerial control of the day-to-day operation, while Naturisa will retain 25 percent in the joint venture. The investment creates a unique opportunity for Cargill to grow in aquaculture in Ecuador and opens the door to future investment opportunities for other commodities in the market. Through its Americus Marketing Group, Cargill has imported agricultural commodities into Ecuador for several years. Naturisa, Ecuador’s second largest shrimp producer and the fourth largest exporter in the country, is a leader in the aquaculture industry.
“This joint venture with Naturisa positions us to become one of the largest producers of shrimp feed in Latin America,” said Sarena Lin, president of Cargill’s animal feed and nutrition business. “It creates new opportunities for both organizations’ customers and stakeholders. Combining Cargill’s vast resources and global reach with Naturisa’s expertise will allow the new organization to provide the best solutions to our customers and ultimately support the growth of Ecuador.”
The transaction is aligned with Cargill’s animal nutrition business’ growth strategy. The new state-of-the-art facility will combine the latest feed safety technology and product quality capabilities. The Guayaquil facility positions Cargill to achieve its growth plans through increased production capacity and flexibility in product manufacturing, formulation, packaging and logistics for competitive offerings in both Ecuador and Peru. The facility will produce shrimp feed for animal producers marketed under the Purina brand throughout the Latin American region. 
“Naturisa and Cargill share a commitment to high-quality products and services, sustainable, responsible business practices, and both organizations have strong visions for future growth and aspire to be leaders in the aquaculture industry, which makes this partnership an ideal fit,” added Ricardo Sola, general manager of Naturisa.

EU outlook positive for pork, poultry markets

A report on the short-term market outlook for EU arable, dairy and meat markets has been published by the European Commission. The report shows favorable conditions for both the poultry and pork sectors. Pig meat production is expected to increase further in 2015, driven by low feed prices and a slightly higher breeding sow herd.
Poultry meat production continues its steady development. Throughout 2015, the increase in poultry meat production could reach around 2 percent or 240,000 metric tons more compared to 2014 and the increase could continue into 2016 as well, provided that no major market disturbances – such as diseases or higher feed costs -- would occur.


EU grains
For grains, after the 2014 record crop (329 million metric tons of cereals – some 14 percent above average), exports are estimated close to 60 percent above average. Moreover this year's grain harvest is forecast to be higher than average levels for the third year in a row.


Other proteins
Beef production is also likely to rise in 2015, boosted by cow herd developments and export opportunities. Relatively good prices and favourable forage conditions support an increasing herd and production in the sheep sector. This extra meat on the market translates in an average 1.4 percent (1 kilogram) increase in per capita consumption this year, after the strong recovery already observed in 2014.


EU dairy outlook
EU dairy deliveries are expected to finish the calendar year just 1 percent higher than in 2014, despite the end of dairy quotas at the start of April. With the continuation of the Russian import ban, more milk is likely to be channelled into SMP and butter and less in cheese.

Accreditation available to New Zealand feed manufacturers

New Zealand animal feed manufacturers now have a quality of production accreditation.
FeedSafeNZ is a new accreditation available to New Zealand Feed Manufacturers Association (NZFMA) members who pass independent audit standards as to quality of feed production. The FeedSafeNZ accreditation has two main aims: to provide safe feed for animals and thereby to protect the safety of human food.
Michael Brooks, NZFMA executive director says, "High-quality feed is vital not only for the health and well-being of animals but also for humans, so it's imperative that feed is manufactured to strict guidelines and is packed and stored correctly to ensure its quality is maintained.
"New Zealand has an enviable reputation when it comes to locally manufactured feed, and with the FeedSafeNZ accreditation farmers can be even more reassured that the feed they are purchasing is manufactured to the highest possible standard."
FeedSafeNZ audits are carried out annually by AsureQuality, a company that provides food safety and biosecurity services to the food and primary production sectors worldwide. Manufacturers undergo a stringent testing regime that involves a thorough on-site audit of their plant and storage facilities and operations. Only FeedSafeNZ-accredited sites are permitted to use the FeedSafeNZ logo on their packaging and other materials.
Michael Brooks says that with the growing emphasis and awareness of food safety among consumers, the introduction of the FeedSafeNZ accreditation is timely.
"The FeedSafeNZ accreditation will help maintain the high quality of feed sold to farmers and eliminate product that can lead to poor animal growth and production, as well as reducing cross-contamination of ingredients from storage or processing,” he says.
The NZFMA is encouraging its members to achieve the FeedSafeNZ accreditation, which in time will become compulsory for NZFMA members. Fourteen feed manufacturing sites have achieved accreditation, including Advanced Feed Methven, Farmlands Nutrition Winton, Farmlands Nutrition Rolleston, George Weston Foods Rangiora, Inghams Enterprises Hamilton, Inghams Enterprises Mount Maunganui, Mainfeeds Levin, Mainfeeds Wiri, Mainfeeds Waikouaiti, Takanini Feeds Ltd., Tegel Auckland, Tegel Christchurch, Sgt. Dan Stockfood Ltd., Gore, and Seales Winslow Whanganui. More are expected to come on board over the coming months.

Rabobank forecasts boost to global pig meat trade

During the second quarter of 2015, there were signs of recovery in the global pork market, according to the latest quarterly report on the state of the industry from Rabobank.
The recovery was attributed to upwards movement in prices in most of the countries participating in global trade in pork, particularly in the U.S., Canada and China, as the result of a limited increase in supply.
As its domestic pig population has been declining recently, Chinese demand from imported pork is expected to expand during the rest of this year and on into 2016.
“The main questions are when Chinese import growth will start, how much volume growth there will be and what the support for pork prices will be across the globe,” commented Albert Vernooij, Rabobank’s animal protein analyst.
There is some doubt over the prospects for the U.S., according to the report. If significant growth can be achieved in exports to China for the rest of this year, the improvement in margins during the second quarter of 2015 could continue despite the up-tick in production.
Lower production resulting from recent disease outbreaks in Mexico and South Korea are forecast to fuel further global pork trade.
By contrast to the other regions, pig meat production is flat in the European Union and Japan, according to Rabobank, which highlights the opportunities for improved prices and margins for the European pig sector.


Role of China in global pig meat supply
With China accounting for around half of the world’s pigs, it is no surprise that developments in the sector there have huge implications for the global picture.
Recently published, the OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook 2015-2024 report projects that total meat production is projected to expand around 51 million tons by the end of the outlook period, and that Brazil and China will be the main contributors to this increase. 
For pork, China easily heads the league table with an expected increase in output of more than 6.3 million tons by 2024 from the base level in 2012-14., while second placed U.S. increases production by 1.26 million tons. These are followed by the Russian Federation, Brazil and Vietnam, each expected to boost output by between 800,000 and 900,000 tons over the same period.

Jackie Linden is a contributing writer for WATTAgNet.

Need for avian flu action in West Africa urgent

Fears are growing that without timely intervention to stem outbreaks of highly virulent H5N1 avian influenza virus across West Africa, further spread across the region and beyond is inevitable, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has warned.
To this end, it is calling for US$20 million for prevention and response activities.
The call comes in response to outbreaks of the virus in poultry farms, markets and family holdings in Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Niger, Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana.


Disease re-emergence
While the first incursion of H5N1 in West Africa occurred in 2006 it was eliminated in 2008. In late 2014, however, the virus was re-introduced in Nigeria, where it spread rapidly over the following months. To date, more than 1.6 million birds have been culled or have died of the virus.
“Urgent action is needed to strengthen veterinary investigation and reporting systems in the region and tackle the disease at the root, before there is a spillover to humans,” said Juan Lubroth, chief of FAO’s Animal Health Service Division.
The FAO’s appeal for US$20 million for prevention and response foresees bolstering weak veterinary systems, improving the capabilities of local laboratories and putting FAO specialists on the ground in affected and at-risk countries.


Lack of proper controls
Poultry production has grown steadily in West Africa over the last decade with some countries, such as Cote d’Ivoire, seeing production increase by 60 percent since 2006.
However, regulatory systems have not grown to deal effectively with this increase in production, and there is an acute need to make the market chains safer – from production to transporter to seller. At a regional level, these value chains can be across borders and so require stronger customs controls and greater compliance with product safety norms.
“We’re looking at a disease – H5N1 – that has already spread to five countries in six months. We have to make a concerted effort to stop it in its tracks and we have to do it now,” said Lubroth.

Hendrix Genetics nearing the goal line

The mission of ISA-Hendrix Genetics is to breed and sell layers that are capable of laying 500 top quality eggs per hen housed without compromising on egg quality. To achieve its breeding goal, the company continuously improves the lay persistence for a prolonged production cycle of a large pure line gene pool of Hisex, Bovans, Dekalb, Isa, Shaver and Babcock. The company’s advancements lead to higher earnings, as more eggs per flock are produced and flocks are replaced less often.
Hendrix reports it is seeing longer laying cycles for layer parent stock and commercial layers. During the last few decades the genetic improvement for egg production has been significant. In layer parent stock the genetic improvement was 0.5 to 1.0 day old chicks per breeder per year. This is a combination of genetic improvement and a longer laying cycle, increasing from 64 to 68 weeks and resulting in an improvement of 15 – 20 day old chicks per breeder female since the 1980s.
For the commercial layers, the genetic improvement is approximately 2.5 eggs per year. Together with the extension of the laying cycle from 68 to 75 weeks of age, the results are 70 more eggs in the last two decades. The increase is realized by a combination of improved genetics, management, nutrition and disease prevention. For the next 5 years ISA expects more genetic improvement and longer production cycles. Around 2020 the parent stock will produce about 120 day old chicks and the commercial layers will produce about 500 first quality eggs in a production cycle of 100 weeks without molting. Hendrix already see flocks that reach 500 eggs in aviary systems. 
Hendrix Genetics scores well in RST
The results of the first cycle of the 39th North Carolina Random Sample Test (RST) have been published recently. The company reports that the data shows “we are on the right track." The conclusions of the USA Layer Performance and Management Test demonstrate excellent performance and competitiveness of Hendrix Genetics layer products, both technical and economical.
In the technical comparison, many commercial white and brown breeds were compared. The breeding companies delivered hatching eggs from their Parent Stock flocks on the same day to the Piedmont, NC, research institute. All breeds were hatched and reared together under the same conditions, and later housed under comparable circumstances with the same management. The important technical and economic data was collected per breed and per housing system. The report summarized the first cycle until 69 weeks of age for the traditional cages. The comparison was made between Hendrix Genetics and non-Hendrix Genetics breeds, both for white and brown products. For white breeds there were 5 Hendrix products against 7 competitors, and for brown breeds 2 Hendrix products against 6 competitors.
The Hendrix Genetics White products produced on average 9.3 eggs per hen housed more, with a 1.8% better livability. The Hendrix products were most efficient in feed conversion, on average 4 points better, and its white products have a +$ 1.00 egg income minus feed costs. This is an extremely substantial number, considering the current big flock sizes.
The Hendrix Genetics Brown products produced an average 5 eggs per hen housed more, with a 0.4% better livability. The similar feed intake and the bigger egg size resulted in a much better feed conversion for the Hendrix products: FCR 2.00 versus 2.08. The economical calculation, egg income minus feed costs was $ 1.18 per bird better for the Brown breeds of Hendrix Genetics.
Hendrix Genetics considers the results of the 39^th North Carolina RST very promising.

H.J. Baker to build new facility in Kansas

Global agriculture company, H.J. Baker, is excited to announce the expansion of its Animal Health and Nutrition division with the groundbreaking of a new multimillion dollar facility in Emporia, KS.
H.J. Baker’s new encapsulation facility will be built on 15 acres in Industrial Park III and will begin production as early as March 2016. The 13,000 square foot facility will include offices, warehouse and processing floor, which will include state of the art equipment that has been designed and built in the USA.
“The new facility will allow H.J. Baker to create new local jobs as well as a strong opportunity for us to continue innovating within our industry,” H.J. Baker President and CEO Christopher Smith said. “We’re very excited to join the growing number of businesses in Emporia. The city has been welcoming and we look forward to working with them in the future.”
“We welcome H.J. Baker to Emporia,” said Kent Heermann, President of the Regional Development Association of East Central Kansas. “Our conversations with H.J. Baker began in early February 2015 as a direct result of proactive marketing efforts. Another great company joins our growing and diversified animal nutrition cluster.”
“Kansas has become a leader in the animal healthcare and nutrition sector thanks to the investment and expertise of businesses such as H.J. Baker,” said Kansas Commerce Secretary Pat George. “The company’s facility in Emporia will support the continued growth of this important industry.”
H.J. Baker has been pioneering the Animal Health industry using amino acid feed ingredients since the late 1980s. The company’s METABOLYS® and METABOMET® technologies deliver critical amino acids to dairy cows and gives dairymen increased benefits in milk volume and richer milk components.
“H.J. Baker has been expanding globally in recent years, and it’s a pleasure to continue that expansion inside the United States adding skilled American jobs,” Smith added. “The encapsulated amino acid market is growing nationally and globally and with our new Emporia facility we anticipate being able to cater to that growth.”

OIE: H7N7 avian influenza case in Netherlands resolved

A case of low pathogenic H7N7 avian influenza that affected more than 26,000 birds at a Dutch layer farm has been resolved, according to a report from the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).
The outbreak was first reported by the OIE on March 11. At that time, the presence of the low pathogenic virus had been detected in a layer flock near Barneveld in the province of Gelderland. While no chickens died as a result of contracting the virus, 26,573 birds on the property were susceptible. All of those birds were euthanized.
Disinfection of the affected premises was completed on April 16. At that time, a 1-kilometer surveillance zone around the affected farm was also lifted. There were 17 other premises within the surveillance zone that were also screened, according to an OIE report.
Since three months have now passed since the disinfection and there have been no new cases of low pathogenic H7N7 avian influenza cases detected within that surveillance zone, OIE considers the case to be resolved and will no longer submit reports concerning the avian influenza case.
Bookmark the WATTAgNet avian influenza update page for current news and analysis concerning the avian influenza virus and its impact on the global poultry industry.

Cobb-Vantress hosts first National Hatchery Conference

More than 100 delegates including 75 hatchery managers from across the United States and Canada took part in the first national hatchery conference hosted by Cobb in Memphis, TN.
During the two-day event there were presentations on 20 different aspects of hatchery management with speakers from 16 organizations, enabling delegates to learn and share with each other in the unique, cross-industry event.
“Instead of just focusing on a couple of topics, we set out to cover areas that everyone is interested in and curious about. You could really tell how engaged our customers were by the number of questions that they asked and the interesting discussions held after each presentation," said Scott Martin, hatchery specialist in the Cobb World Technical Support Team.
In addition to hearing presentations covering topics from sanitation, maintenance and importance of vaccination to industry trends and animal welfare, delegates were able to visit the booths of 11 different vendors, which included: Jamesway, Merial, Smithway, Zoetis, Clearview, KL Automation, Ivesco, Incubation Systems, Chickmaster, Hatchery Planning and CID Lines.
“The event was a huge success for everyone with a classroom setting to share experiences and put questions to Cobb personnel, industry vendors and other hatchery managers,” said Ben Green, hatchery specialist in the Cobb World Technical Support Team. 

Researchers develop new Ammonia-Oxygen Monitoring System

USPOULTRY and the USPOULTRY Foundation announce the completion of a funded research project at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, in which researchers developed a new ammonia-oxygen monitoring system for poultry 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 #F055: Develop and Test Ammonia – Oxygen Monitoring System for Poultry Houses
(Dr. Sanjay Shah, Dr. Lingjuan Wang-Li, Edgar Oviedo-Rondón, Biological and Agricultural Engineering Department and Prestage Department of Poultry Science, NCSU)
Led by Dr. Shah, researchers recently completed a project, which resulted in a new system for monitoring ammonia and oxygen levels inside poultry houses. The new ammonia-oxygen monitoring system is portable, weighs less than three pounds and will be relatively inexpensive.
The system functions well in the poultry house environment and provides accurate measurements regardless of relative humidity and temperature. This important new tool will help poultry companies and poultry farm managers to continue to improve the environment in poultry houses. For a detailed summary, click here.

China broiler companies face losses in 2015 first half

Three of China’s four big listed broiler companies — Fujian Sunner Development, Yisheng Livestock & Poultry Breeding, and Shandong Minhe Animal Husbandry -- recently released their performance report for the first half in 2015. The reports showed that the entire chain of the Chinese broiler industry is facing a major loss.
Amid the slowdown of the industry, however, the expansion of productivity among some companies caused an even greater loss.
Due to the weakness of demand, chicken meat prices fell to a nine-year low. Sunner Development announced that in the first half of 2015 it had fallen into the deepest loss of the past few years, expected to lose US$54.77 to US$58 million, while the gain in 2014 was US$7.01 million. Shandong Minhe is the biggest caged parent stock company in China. It confronted a deeper loss in the second quarter of 2015 with an estimated loss of the first half being about US$ 20.94 to US$22.55 million.
The biggest grandparent stock company — Yisheng Livestock& Poultry Breeding -- increased its productivity in 2014, with the launch of the Jiangsu Yitai project of 900 thousand parent stock, as well as the renting of COFCO Suqian Boriler Farm. But in the first half of 2015, Yisheng Livestock & Poultry Breeding was expected to lose from US$29.8 to US$31.41 million, with the net profit falling by as much as 200.99 percent when compared with the year earlier.

Minnesota slowly recovering after avian flu infections

Minnesota’s poultry industry is beginning to recover from the avian influenza outbreak, with control zones being lifted and some of the farms starting to repopulate.
Between March 4 and June 5, the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) reported 105 confirmed cases of avian influenza, affecting just short of 8 million birds in 22 counties. Most of those cases were in commercial turkey flocks.


Avian influenza quarantines released
Kandiyohi County was the county hardest hit by the virus, with 38 confirmed cases. However, Minnesota animal health officials have released the farms in the county from its avian influenza quarantine. Seventeen other counties have had their quarantines lifted as well, according to a report from the Star Tribune.


Farms affected by avian flu beginning to repopulate
The Minnesota Board of Animal Health stated that 37 of the farms affected by avian influenza have started to rebuild their flocks. The first farm to start to repopulate was also the first one in the state to be infected. That farm, located in Pope County, was home to a flock of about 44,000 birds that were affected by highly pathogenic H5N2 avian influenza.
Minnesota had more farms affected by avian influenza than any other state, but it ranks second to Iowa in terms of the number of birds affected. An estimated 31.7 million birds were susceptible to avian influenza at 75 farms in Iowa.
Bookmark the WATTAgNet avian influenza update page for current news and analysis concerning avian influenza and its impact on the global poultry industry.