Andrea GantzSeaboard Foods has terminated 7 employees after animal abuse was caught on film at a company pig farm in Colorado.From WATTAgNet:
Seaboard Foods has fired seven employees at a pig farm in Phillips County, Colorado, after an undercover video released by animal rights group Mercy for Animals depicted animal cruelty at the facility.
The video, which showed workers hitting animals with boards and cans, was turned into the Phillips County Sheriff’s Office. The law enforcement agency then started an investigation and contacted the company, which is headquartered in Shawnee Mission, Kansas.
“In the limited undercover video made available to us, we identified instances that depict improper handling while loading pigs on trucks, which does not adhere to Seaboard Foods’ training and best practices for moving pigs and ensuring they are comfortable and healthy so we can deliver safe, nutritious and delicious pork to our customers. As seen in the undercover video, the handling is unacceptable and inexcusable,” the company said in a statement.
At the time the company’s statement was released, Seaboard Foods officials had not seen the entire video.
While Seaboard Foods deplored the actions shown by its former employees, it was also critical of the tactics Mercy for Animals used.
“We are disappointed the organization that made the complaint and took the undercover video, which purports to be concerned about animal welfare, did not report the allegations to us directly through our toll-free hotline as is required by any employee, especially after acknowledging Seaboard Foods’ comprehensive animal care program and commitment to the proper and humane treatment of animals and our zero-tolerance policy in the complaint to the Sheriff’s Office,” the company stated.
Of the seven people terminated, two were management supervisors.
Showing posts with label pig slaughter. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pig slaughter. Show all posts
Thursday, May 14, 2015
Pig abuse video prompts firing of Seaboard Foods workers
Tuesday, March 31, 2015
Danish Crown reducing pig slaughter at Ringsted facility
After several years of slow slaughter pig production in Denmark, Danish Crown is adjusting the slaughtering capacity at its facility in Ringsted, on the Danish island of Zealand. The Board of Directors of DC Pork on March 13 recommended that much of the slaughtering capacity at the slaughterhouse in Ringsted be closed down over the summer of 2015.
The plan is that capacity at the slaughterhouse be reduced by approximately 15,000 slaughter pigs a week, an adjustment that will affect about 280 employees.
“For some time now, we have been transporting slaughter pigs across Denmark to utilize capacity in Ringsted, which is not a sensible solution. Basically, not enough pigs are being produced on Zealand at the moment to warrant a slaughterhouse of this size,” explained Søren F. Eriksen, Danish Crown vice president, production.
Danish slaughter pig production is continuing to fall, which translates into surplus capacity at Danish Crown’s slaughterhouses in Denmark.
“The only sensible way of cutting capacity is by closing down whole units, and in fact this is the first time that we are closing down half a slaughterhouse. However, the Ringsted facility is designed in such a way that it now runs more slaughter lines than other slaughterhouses. Therefore it is possible to physically remove two of the slaughter lines and thereby also realize savings related to maintenance and other overheads. At the end of the day, it is all about ensuring that the owners are paid the best possible price for their pigs so that we can continue to slaughter pigs in Denmark,” said Eriksen.
Closing the two slaughter lines will be a two-step process – the first step being taken in mid-June, and the second in mid-September. Should slaughter pig production start growing again on Zealand, this solution will make it possible to increase capacity at the slaughterhouse – possibly by introducing an evening shift.
In accordance with the agreements in connection with job cuts, a job bank will be established and social plans drawn up for each employee affected by the closure.
Friday, January 3, 2014
Pig slaughter declines in France during first 10 months of 2013
Pig slaughter in France declined during the first ten months of 2013, both in terms of the number of heads slaughtered and in terms of total weight. According to the most recent data released by the French Agricultural Statistics Service (AGRESTE), the number of heads slaughtered during the first ten months of 2013 declined by 1.7 percent, while the total weight of pigs slaughtered has declined 1.1 percent.
AGRESTE also reported that during the first ten months of 2013, French pig meat exports increased by nearly 7,000 metric tons, a 14 percent uptick. Pig meat imports into France dropped about 600 metric tones, a 1.2 percent decrease.
AGRESTE also reported that during the first ten months of 2013, French pig meat exports increased by nearly 7,000 metric tons, a 14 percent uptick. Pig meat imports into France dropped about 600 metric tones, a 1.2 percent decrease.
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
EU pig slaughterings down in May
EU pig slaughterings for May 2013 were down 2 percent as compared to last year, According to Eurostat. Throughputs totaled 20.4 million head, nearly half a million fewer pigs than a year earlier. The number of pigs killed across the EU in the first five months of the year was down by 1 percent at 102.9 million head. With carcase weights slightly higher, pig meat production across the year to date was marginally down on a year earlier at 9.28 million tons.
Despite the overall downward movement in May, there were contrasting trends in different member states. Large decreases were recorded in Spain and the Netherlands (both down 8 percent). This might be partly due to increased exports of live pigs leaving fewer for slaughter domestically. In contrast, throughputs were higher on the year in Germany, Belgium and Italy, among others. However, the sharpest rise was in Denmark, where the May slaughter numbers was up 11 percent.
Despite the overall downward movement in May, there were contrasting trends in different member states. Large decreases were recorded in Spain and the Netherlands (both down 8 percent). This might be partly due to increased exports of live pigs leaving fewer for slaughter domestically. In contrast, throughputs were higher on the year in Germany, Belgium and Italy, among others. However, the sharpest rise was in Denmark, where the May slaughter numbers was up 11 percent.
JSR Genetics new sire lines lower production costs
The pig production arm of the JSR Farming Group, a 4,000 sow operation producing 2,000 pigs per week, has increased the dead weight of its slaughter pigs and cut its overall cost of production by 2.5 percent by switching to two new sire lines developed by JSR Genetics.
Against a backdrop of rapidly rising feed prices (up by 40 percent in the last three years) James Christian, Chief Operating Officer at JSR and his team were looking very closely at the performance of their four breeding sites and 12 finishing units. The search was on to find new ways to maximize output and minimize cost.
Faster growing pigs, which can be taken to heavier weights within their production time frame, could provide the answer. Of course, it would need to do that efficiently, with no negative impact on feed conversion ratios. And the resulting quality, measured against a comprehensive set of metrics including back fat ratios, would have to be equal or better than that which was currently being achieved. Last but not least, the new pigs would need to be sufficiently robust to thrive in any one of JSR's production units, which are located in areas of varying disease challenge.
"We discussed our ideas with JSR Genetics and challenged them to develop new sire lines for our business which could produce rapidly growing, high quality, robust pigs without compromising feed efficiency, quality or resilience," says Christian.
Twelve months ago, JSR identified the importance of increasing the slaughter weights of their pigs and during the last year have increased the carcass weight by 3kg. JSR now has contracts in place which will allow them to work towards a target slaughter weight in excess of 83kg. The pigs are also delivering good carcass yields whilst maintaining low back fat levels of an average of 10.2mm. This suggests of course that heavier weights can be achieved with these sire lines without compromising quality. The new pigs are also proving to be robust and easy to manage.
In terms of their growth they are, on average, gaining an additional 122g per day from 30kg to slaughter. However they are also making exceptional progress in the critical, early stages of their development, increasing JSR's average weaning weight by an average of 0.75kg. This, together with enhanced natural resistance to a range of widespread diseases including scour, is helping the business to achieve impressive low mortality and high average weaning rates. These are currently running at over 11.5 per litter, right across the business.
"We have made good progress in our efforts to take our pigs to heavier weights, without compromising quality or efficiency and we've reduced our overall cost of production by 2.5 percent, he says. "This is great news for our business and we will continue to increase slaughter weights up to 90kg."
Against a backdrop of rapidly rising feed prices (up by 40 percent in the last three years) James Christian, Chief Operating Officer at JSR and his team were looking very closely at the performance of their four breeding sites and 12 finishing units. The search was on to find new ways to maximize output and minimize cost.
Faster growing pigs, which can be taken to heavier weights within their production time frame, could provide the answer. Of course, it would need to do that efficiently, with no negative impact on feed conversion ratios. And the resulting quality, measured against a comprehensive set of metrics including back fat ratios, would have to be equal or better than that which was currently being achieved. Last but not least, the new pigs would need to be sufficiently robust to thrive in any one of JSR's production units, which are located in areas of varying disease challenge.
"We discussed our ideas with JSR Genetics and challenged them to develop new sire lines for our business which could produce rapidly growing, high quality, robust pigs without compromising feed efficiency, quality or resilience," says Christian.
Twelve months ago, JSR identified the importance of increasing the slaughter weights of their pigs and during the last year have increased the carcass weight by 3kg. JSR now has contracts in place which will allow them to work towards a target slaughter weight in excess of 83kg. The pigs are also delivering good carcass yields whilst maintaining low back fat levels of an average of 10.2mm. This suggests of course that heavier weights can be achieved with these sire lines without compromising quality. The new pigs are also proving to be robust and easy to manage.
In terms of their growth they are, on average, gaining an additional 122g per day from 30kg to slaughter. However they are also making exceptional progress in the critical, early stages of their development, increasing JSR's average weaning weight by an average of 0.75kg. This, together with enhanced natural resistance to a range of widespread diseases including scour, is helping the business to achieve impressive low mortality and high average weaning rates. These are currently running at over 11.5 per litter, right across the business.
"We have made good progress in our efforts to take our pigs to heavier weights, without compromising quality or efficiency and we've reduced our overall cost of production by 2.5 percent, he says. "This is great news for our business and we will continue to increase slaughter weights up to 90kg."
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
American Meat Institute releases pork plant video
American Meat Institute has released a video tour of a pork slaughter plant hosted by leading animal welfare expert Temple Grandin, Ph.D., professor of animal science at Colorado State University. The video is available on the Institute's dedicated animal welfare website.
Also released with the video was a print companion brochure that may be downloaded from AnimalHandling.org. Single copies also are available upon request from the AMI. The pork plant video tour and brochure augment the beef plant video tour, also hosted by Grandin, which was released in August 2012. Since its release, the beef plant video has been viewed nearly 50,000 times on line and in countless classrooms and other settings.
The latest pork video tour starts on the farm in a finishing barn, depicts pig loading on trailers, unloading at the plant, stunning of pigs to make them insensible to pain, which is required by law, the bleeding process, carcass chilling and fabrication of carcasses into cuts that consumers eat. The video details the widespread use of the American Meat Institute animal welfare audit, developed by Grandin for the industry in 1997, and now a global standard.
Grandin selected the two plants that are featured in the video as representative of typical beef and pork slaughter plants. She was on-site for the taping and narrated the videos in her own words.
"I'm really pleased the American Meat Institute is working on putting these videos out because I think we need to show people what's done in the industry when it's just done right in a typical large plant," Grandin says in the introduction to the video. The brochure also includes a series of commonly asked questions about animal welfare with answers provided by Dr. Grandin.
"We recognize that many consumers want more information about how livestock are handled and processed in U.S. meat and poultry plants. Our Glass Walls Project is an effort to increase transparency," said American Meat Institute Senior Vice President of Public Affairs and Member Services Janet Riley, who also serves at liaison to the Institute's Animal Welfare Committee. "We were fortunate that Dr. Grandin, a leading expert on animal handling and welfare in meat plants, agreed to host the video tours and played such a pivotal role in their production. We are proud to offer an honest look inside our plants and to show the public our long-standing commitment to ensuring optimal livestock welfare."
Also released with the video was a print companion brochure that may be downloaded from AnimalHandling.org. Single copies also are available upon request from the AMI. The pork plant video tour and brochure augment the beef plant video tour, also hosted by Grandin, which was released in August 2012. Since its release, the beef plant video has been viewed nearly 50,000 times on line and in countless classrooms and other settings.
The latest pork video tour starts on the farm in a finishing barn, depicts pig loading on trailers, unloading at the plant, stunning of pigs to make them insensible to pain, which is required by law, the bleeding process, carcass chilling and fabrication of carcasses into cuts that consumers eat. The video details the widespread use of the American Meat Institute animal welfare audit, developed by Grandin for the industry in 1997, and now a global standard.
Grandin selected the two plants that are featured in the video as representative of typical beef and pork slaughter plants. She was on-site for the taping and narrated the videos in her own words.
"I'm really pleased the American Meat Institute is working on putting these videos out because I think we need to show people what's done in the industry when it's just done right in a typical large plant," Grandin says in the introduction to the video. The brochure also includes a series of commonly asked questions about animal welfare with answers provided by Dr. Grandin.
"We recognize that many consumers want more information about how livestock are handled and processed in U.S. meat and poultry plants. Our Glass Walls Project is an effort to increase transparency," said American Meat Institute Senior Vice President of Public Affairs and Member Services Janet Riley, who also serves at liaison to the Institute's Animal Welfare Committee. "We were fortunate that Dr. Grandin, a leading expert on animal handling and welfare in meat plants, agreed to host the video tours and played such a pivotal role in their production. We are proud to offer an honest look inside our plants and to show the public our long-standing commitment to ensuring optimal livestock welfare."
Friday, February 15, 2013
US pig producers profit margins to exceed European counterparts in 2013
Projections for the U.S. average margin per pig produced to slaughter weight show a recovery from recent losses back to profitability by April 2013. After that, the U.S. margin is projected to rise above US$20 by June and to peak at almost US$27.50 in August, although a late slide down to the US$6-10 range by year-end is thought likely.
The signs in the European Union in 2013 are less positive, said speakers at the Outlook 2013 meeting organized by British agricultural development board AHDB. The average EU-27 pig price may fail to reach a general breakeven level of 2 Euros per kilogram deadweight even at the mid-year peak, despite expectations of a 1.5-2.0 percent decrease in slaughtering taking the annual total below 245 million pigs.
The main problem in Europe will be a relatively flat domestic demand combining with difficulties in competing with Brazil and the United States for valuable export sales. While European pig supplies are likely to be tight, therefore, this may not be reflected in a sufficiently large increase in the pig price to cover rising feed costs.
This year, animal feed prices have already seen another rise in the average British pig production cost so it was up to GBP 1.67 per kilogram in January 2013, according to AHDB-BPEX calculations, whereas the price received by producers in Britain had slipped back from the GBP 1.61/kg reached at the end of 2012.
The continuing lack of profitability is eroding UK sow numbers. A further 4 percent reduction, equivalent to about 20,000 sows, is believed to be occurring in the national herd inventory currently. The cutback will outweigh gains in productivity, bringing a predicted 2 percent fall in pigs marketed for slaughter by British producers in 2013. It may be December 2014 before the inventory is restored to the 425,000 sows recorded in June 2012.
The signs in the European Union in 2013 are less positive, said speakers at the Outlook 2013 meeting organized by British agricultural development board AHDB. The average EU-27 pig price may fail to reach a general breakeven level of 2 Euros per kilogram deadweight even at the mid-year peak, despite expectations of a 1.5-2.0 percent decrease in slaughtering taking the annual total below 245 million pigs.
The main problem in Europe will be a relatively flat domestic demand combining with difficulties in competing with Brazil and the United States for valuable export sales. While European pig supplies are likely to be tight, therefore, this may not be reflected in a sufficiently large increase in the pig price to cover rising feed costs.
This year, animal feed prices have already seen another rise in the average British pig production cost so it was up to GBP 1.67 per kilogram in January 2013, according to AHDB-BPEX calculations, whereas the price received by producers in Britain had slipped back from the GBP 1.61/kg reached at the end of 2012.
The continuing lack of profitability is eroding UK sow numbers. A further 4 percent reduction, equivalent to about 20,000 sows, is believed to be occurring in the national herd inventory currently. The cutback will outweigh gains in productivity, bringing a predicted 2 percent fall in pigs marketed for slaughter by British producers in 2013. It may be December 2014 before the inventory is restored to the 425,000 sows recorded in June 2012.
Friday, February 1, 2013
Hog carcass valuations shifting to include fifth quarter products
Over the last few years, the valuation of hog and animal carcasses has shifted from prime cuts to processing cuts and fifth quarter products.
This trend is driven by changing consumer preference for processed products, fast rising economic welfare and preference for animal byproducts in Asia, new applications for animal byproducts and lower availability of sow meat. According to Rabobank, this trend will be permanent and will impact the business models of almost all players in the global meat industry.
The value of the animal carcass is the combined sales price of all meat cuts and fifth quarter products, most of which have different markets with their own characteristics. The challenge for a slaughterhouse is to optimize the value of all different products, while the importance of the prime cuts and processing cuts and fifth quarter products may differ from country-to-country depending on traditions, culture, religion and wealth creating trading arbitrage opportunities.
Despite prime meat cuts typically having the highest sales prices and value, the rising price of processing cuts and byproducts of cattle and hogs show that the animal carcass valuation has been shifting since 2009. This is due to five main developments:
1. Growing economies in developing countries including the opening of the Chinese market for imports;
2. The economic crisis which has caused consumers to trade down to cheaper products;
3. The growth of convenience products with more women entering the workforce, consumers having less time to cook, and increased grazing;
4. The growing number of applications for animal byproducts in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries;
5. The decline in the sow herd in both the United States and the EU has resulted in processed meat producers increasingly sourcing their raw material from market hogs.
The further processing industry could be forced to change their raw material sourcing to other products or enter into long-term supplier contracts to safeguard supply. For the dedicated processors of byproducts competition will increase, which might urge these players to strengthen their positions in the value chain.
This trend is driven by changing consumer preference for processed products, fast rising economic welfare and preference for animal byproducts in Asia, new applications for animal byproducts and lower availability of sow meat. According to Rabobank, this trend will be permanent and will impact the business models of almost all players in the global meat industry.
The value of the animal carcass is the combined sales price of all meat cuts and fifth quarter products, most of which have different markets with their own characteristics. The challenge for a slaughterhouse is to optimize the value of all different products, while the importance of the prime cuts and processing cuts and fifth quarter products may differ from country-to-country depending on traditions, culture, religion and wealth creating trading arbitrage opportunities.
Despite prime meat cuts typically having the highest sales prices and value, the rising price of processing cuts and byproducts of cattle and hogs show that the animal carcass valuation has been shifting since 2009. This is due to five main developments:
1. Growing economies in developing countries including the opening of the Chinese market for imports;
2. The economic crisis which has caused consumers to trade down to cheaper products;
3. The growth of convenience products with more women entering the workforce, consumers having less time to cook, and increased grazing;
4. The growing number of applications for animal byproducts in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries;
5. The decline in the sow herd in both the United States and the EU has resulted in processed meat producers increasingly sourcing their raw material from market hogs.
The further processing industry could be forced to change their raw material sourcing to other products or enter into long-term supplier contracts to safeguard supply. For the dedicated processors of byproducts competition will increase, which might urge these players to strengthen their positions in the value chain.
Friday, January 18, 2013
Spain slaughters 2 percent more pigs in 2012
During the first nine months of 2012 Spain increased its slaughter of animals and production of pig meat 2.04 percent or 2,615,136 tons compared to the same time period in 2011 of 2,562,840 tons, according to the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture.
The number of animals slaughtered in the first nine months 2012 is 31,473,289 tons, a 2.08 percent increase compared to the same time period in 2011 of 30,832,878 animals slaughtered.
The number of animals slaughtered in the first nine months 2012 is 31,473,289 tons, a 2.08 percent increase compared to the same time period in 2011 of 30,832,878 animals slaughtered.
Monday, January 14, 2013
Danish Crown offers pig housing aid to increase production
Danish pig producers raising pigs for slaughter has been in a decline in recent years. To help increase the number of pigs raised to be slaughtered, Danish Crown is offering subsidies for building new pig housing units and converting old sow stalls.
Danish Crown has set a goal of increasing total production by 10,000 pigs a week or 520,000 more pigs for slaughter a year. Under the plan, financial support is offered for two types of initiatives: for brand new buildings and for converting sow stalls.
New pig buildings subsidy
The subsidy is given for the construction of new housing units for pigs for slaughter.
The subsidy provides for a maximum of 8,000 pig produced for slaughter per facility and per cooperative member.
The subsidy will be disbursed as DKK 0.15/kg for a period of 5 years.
The subsidy program for new buildings can cover production facilities corresponding to a maximum of 260,000 pig for slaughter per year.
The subsidies will be granted to cooperative members on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Conversion subsidy
The subsidy for conversion will be given to pig producers who convert piglet production units into production units for pigs for slaughter. It is a precondition that a minimum of DKK 500 is invested per pen place.
The subsidy will be paid for a maximum of 8,000 pig produced for slaughter per converted production facility and per cooperative owner.
The subsidy program for converting pig buildings can cover production facilities corresponding to a maximum of 260,000 pigs produced for slaughter a year.
The subsidy will be disbursed as DKK 0.075/kg for a period of 5 years.
The subsidies will be granted to the cooperative members on a first-come, first-serve basis.
“We find that politicians are becoming more aware of the fact that the production of pigs for slaughter makes a significant contribution to the Danish economy,” says Erik Bredholt, chairman of Danish Crown. “And if we, as a company, can help to optimize this situation – and correct a buckling trend – then it obviously makes sense to do so.”
Danish Crown has set a goal of increasing total production by 10,000 pigs a week or 520,000 more pigs for slaughter a year. Under the plan, financial support is offered for two types of initiatives: for brand new buildings and for converting sow stalls.
New pig buildings subsidy
The subsidy is given for the construction of new housing units for pigs for slaughter.
The subsidy provides for a maximum of 8,000 pig produced for slaughter per facility and per cooperative member.
The subsidy will be disbursed as DKK 0.15/kg for a period of 5 years.
The subsidy program for new buildings can cover production facilities corresponding to a maximum of 260,000 pig for slaughter per year.
The subsidies will be granted to cooperative members on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Conversion subsidy
The subsidy for conversion will be given to pig producers who convert piglet production units into production units for pigs for slaughter. It is a precondition that a minimum of DKK 500 is invested per pen place.
The subsidy will be paid for a maximum of 8,000 pig produced for slaughter per converted production facility and per cooperative owner.
The subsidy program for converting pig buildings can cover production facilities corresponding to a maximum of 260,000 pigs produced for slaughter a year.
The subsidy will be disbursed as DKK 0.075/kg for a period of 5 years.
The subsidies will be granted to the cooperative members on a first-come, first-serve basis.
“We find that politicians are becoming more aware of the fact that the production of pigs for slaughter makes a significant contribution to the Danish economy,” says Erik Bredholt, chairman of Danish Crown. “And if we, as a company, can help to optimize this situation – and correct a buckling trend – then it obviously makes sense to do so.”
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
UK pig slaughterings reach 10 million milestone
The confidence of Britain’s pig producers towards investing in improving performance has resulted in increased production, which is expected to hit a record high of 10 million slaughterings by the end of 2012, according to the latest forecasts from the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board's Market Intelligence division for the British Pig Executive.
But, said a BPEX spokesman, the significant rise in feed costs leading to mounting losses is expected to undermine further investment and expansion, which will in turn hit the total amount of pig meat produced in the UK in 2013. “This is the first time that milestone has been reached since 2002, when the sow herd was 130,000 more than it is today," said the spokesman. "However, the latest forecasts also show production is likely to fall by almost 2 percent in 2013."
The situation of tightening supplies is not just something affecting the UK. "The rising feed costs are a global problem and will have a global impact," said senior analyst Stephen Howarth. "On top of that, within the EU, new welfare rules next year will also lead to a reduction in the sow herd."
But, said a BPEX spokesman, the significant rise in feed costs leading to mounting losses is expected to undermine further investment and expansion, which will in turn hit the total amount of pig meat produced in the UK in 2013. “This is the first time that milestone has been reached since 2002, when the sow herd was 130,000 more than it is today," said the spokesman. "However, the latest forecasts also show production is likely to fall by almost 2 percent in 2013."
The situation of tightening supplies is not just something affecting the UK. "The rising feed costs are a global problem and will have a global impact," said senior analyst Stephen Howarth. "On top of that, within the EU, new welfare rules next year will also lead to a reduction in the sow herd."
Monday, October 29, 2012
Danish pig producers sign accord to boost slaughter pig production
Danish pig producers joined together with leaders of the allied industries and processing sector, as well as the Food Trade Union, to sign an agreement to increase the number of slaughter pigs raised and finished Denmark by 2 million within the next two years.
This new Herning Declaration, which was signed at the Danish Pig Conference in Herning on October 23, calls for support from the government and retailers to help producers achieve this increase and reduce the number of piglets exported to Germany. Nicolaj Norgaard, director of Denmark’s Pig Research Institute, said that the Herning Declaration is needed to retain value in the country’s whole supply chain. “Everybody in the industry here is aware that we cannot export all our piglets and that we need a strong finisher sector and slaughter industry to retain strength in the supply chain," said Norgaard.
“Danish farmers have a strong sense of cooperation, and we believe there will be general support among producers for this declaration. However, we will need support from politicians and the government as well as banks, and pig industry leaders are already planning to meet with government officials to discuss the next step.”
Asger Krogsgaard, pig producer and chairman of the pig slaughter forum at the Danish Agriculture & Food Council, said he believes the Herning Declaration is the right way forward to secure the future of pig farming in Denmark. He said when Danish producers sell their piglets to Germany, they are only reaching European markets, whereas if they produce slaughter pigs processed in Denmark, they can reach to world’s markets and maintain more stable prices, as well as have more influence in international trade circles.
The new plans will need large investments, but the government will see payback in a stronger economy, with more exports and more jobs in the processing and slaughter sectors. Krogsgaard said that the processors will support the move with new funds to provide producers with free on-farm advice to help them improve production systems and finish their pigs more efficiently.
Asked about his own pig farm, Krogsgaard said he has 1,700 sows and is producing 50,000 piglets. He has been taking 16,000 to slaughter weight and selling the rest to neighbors, but he is now planning to double his slaughter pig production to 32,000 per year. “I have already signed up to the Herning Declaration,” he said.
This year, the annual pig conference is being attended by a record 2,075 delegates and will include more than 50 workshops where pig farm employees will be able to discuss pig production challenges and learn about new developments in the industry.
This new Herning Declaration, which was signed at the Danish Pig Conference in Herning on October 23, calls for support from the government and retailers to help producers achieve this increase and reduce the number of piglets exported to Germany. Nicolaj Norgaard, director of Denmark’s Pig Research Institute, said that the Herning Declaration is needed to retain value in the country’s whole supply chain. “Everybody in the industry here is aware that we cannot export all our piglets and that we need a strong finisher sector and slaughter industry to retain strength in the supply chain," said Norgaard.
“Danish farmers have a strong sense of cooperation, and we believe there will be general support among producers for this declaration. However, we will need support from politicians and the government as well as banks, and pig industry leaders are already planning to meet with government officials to discuss the next step.”
Asger Krogsgaard, pig producer and chairman of the pig slaughter forum at the Danish Agriculture & Food Council, said he believes the Herning Declaration is the right way forward to secure the future of pig farming in Denmark. He said when Danish producers sell their piglets to Germany, they are only reaching European markets, whereas if they produce slaughter pigs processed in Denmark, they can reach to world’s markets and maintain more stable prices, as well as have more influence in international trade circles.
The new plans will need large investments, but the government will see payback in a stronger economy, with more exports and more jobs in the processing and slaughter sectors. Krogsgaard said that the processors will support the move with new funds to provide producers with free on-farm advice to help them improve production systems and finish their pigs more efficiently.
Asked about his own pig farm, Krogsgaard said he has 1,700 sows and is producing 50,000 piglets. He has been taking 16,000 to slaughter weight and selling the rest to neighbors, but he is now planning to double his slaughter pig production to 32,000 per year. “I have already signed up to the Herning Declaration,” he said.
This year, the annual pig conference is being attended by a record 2,075 delegates and will include more than 50 workshops where pig farm employees will be able to discuss pig production challenges and learn about new developments in the industry.
Monday, September 24, 2012
US hog slaughter up in July, August
U.S. hog slaughter in July was 5.7 percent above 2011, though 3.2 percent below the three-year average July sow slaughter and 8.4 percent below the five-year average, suggesting that producers might not be unloading their stock due to feed prices as quickly as analysts had predicted.
Weekly sow slaughter for the weeks ending August 4 through September 1 shows slaughter to be less than 5 percent above comparable weeks in 2011. It is possible, however, that higher sow prices induced larger August slaughter numbers, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. After moving lower through July, sow prices in August may have bottomed out and could be turning upward, averaging $41.78 per cwt. Higher sow prices in August suggest that pressure from large supplies of sows may have eased. If a large-scale liquidation was underway, it is unlikely that prices would have bottomed out as they did in August, said the USDA. Moderate summer sow slaughter suggests a scenario in which, despite record-high prices for corn and soybean meal, the current price environment will persist through only the 2012–2013 crop year.
Fourth-quarter 2012 pork production is expected to be almost 6.3 billion pounds, 1.6 percent greater than in the same period in 2011. Estimated dressed weights in the fourth quarter will likely continue to run just slightly ahead of 2011 weights. In 2013, however, record-high feed costs are expected to gain traction, and pull dressed weights in the first three quarters below those of the same period of 2012, as producers push to minimize feed costs while avoiding packer discounts for low-weight animals, according to the USDA. Prices of live equivalent 51-52 percent lean hogs are expected to average $57–$59 per cwt. in the fourth quarter, more than 10 percent below 2011 numbers, and $60–$66 per cwt. in the first quarter of 2013.
Weekly sow slaughter for the weeks ending August 4 through September 1 shows slaughter to be less than 5 percent above comparable weeks in 2011. It is possible, however, that higher sow prices induced larger August slaughter numbers, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. After moving lower through July, sow prices in August may have bottomed out and could be turning upward, averaging $41.78 per cwt. Higher sow prices in August suggest that pressure from large supplies of sows may have eased. If a large-scale liquidation was underway, it is unlikely that prices would have bottomed out as they did in August, said the USDA. Moderate summer sow slaughter suggests a scenario in which, despite record-high prices for corn and soybean meal, the current price environment will persist through only the 2012–2013 crop year.
Fourth-quarter 2012 pork production is expected to be almost 6.3 billion pounds, 1.6 percent greater than in the same period in 2011. Estimated dressed weights in the fourth quarter will likely continue to run just slightly ahead of 2011 weights. In 2013, however, record-high feed costs are expected to gain traction, and pull dressed weights in the first three quarters below those of the same period of 2012, as producers push to minimize feed costs while avoiding packer discounts for low-weight animals, according to the USDA. Prices of live equivalent 51-52 percent lean hogs are expected to average $57–$59 per cwt. in the fourth quarter, more than 10 percent below 2011 numbers, and $60–$66 per cwt. in the first quarter of 2013.
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Heavy metal contamination in pork offal focus of Thailand event
The theme of “sharing toxicological knowledge for healthy life and environment” was key at the 8th Congress of Toxicology in Developing Countries, held in Bangkok, Thailand, where attendees focused on the risks of heavy metal contamination in pork offal during a presentation given by Animine in association with Mahidol University (Thailand) and the French Institute for the Pig and Pork Industry.
Heavy metals (mainly cadmium, lead and arsenic) in animal feeds can originate either from contaminated feedstuffs or from supplemental sources of additives, especially essential trace minerals like zinc and copper, according to Animine. When contaminated diets are fed to pigs, heavy metals accumulate preferentially in the storage organs. Recent analytical surveys showed that one-fourth of pig kidneys in Thailand were above the regulatory limit in cadmium concentration. The percentage of kidneys unsafe for human consumption could not be solely explained by potential Cd-polluted areas, but may originate from contaminated sources of trace mineral supplements.
Recent analysis with batches of zinc oxide products utilized in pig diets showed very high levels of contaminants. Supplementation of piglet feeds with zinc oxide at pharmacological levels, about 25 times more than the nutritional requirements, is common to secure growth performance and/or reduce post weaning diarrhea of the piglets, said Animine in its presentation. Although the period of supplementation is early in the pig life, the very long biological half-life of heavy metals causes a risk of high Cd levels in the organs at the slaughter.
Heavy metals (mainly cadmium, lead and arsenic) in animal feeds can originate either from contaminated feedstuffs or from supplemental sources of additives, especially essential trace minerals like zinc and copper, according to Animine. When contaminated diets are fed to pigs, heavy metals accumulate preferentially in the storage organs. Recent analytical surveys showed that one-fourth of pig kidneys in Thailand were above the regulatory limit in cadmium concentration. The percentage of kidneys unsafe for human consumption could not be solely explained by potential Cd-polluted areas, but may originate from contaminated sources of trace mineral supplements.
Recent analysis with batches of zinc oxide products utilized in pig diets showed very high levels of contaminants. Supplementation of piglet feeds with zinc oxide at pharmacological levels, about 25 times more than the nutritional requirements, is common to secure growth performance and/or reduce post weaning diarrhea of the piglets, said Animine in its presentation. Although the period of supplementation is early in the pig life, the very long biological half-life of heavy metals causes a risk of high Cd levels in the organs at the slaughter.
Monday, August 20, 2012
COFCO group invests in 3.6 billion RMB pig program
The COFCO group has signed a 3.6-billion-RMB contract with Changling County, Jilin province to build a 2-million-pig industrialized facility.
The group plans to invest 3.6 billion RMB into the Changling plant project, which will cover 1,500 hectares. This project includes the construction of a pig breeding facility, a feed factory, a slaughterhouse, a processing plant and other industrial facilities. After this project reaches its projected scope, it will be able to produce 5 billion RMB worth of pigs; making a profit of 800 million RMB per year and being taxed 35 million RMB per year. This project will add 2,000 more jobs to the local area, bringing an additional 20,000 workers to the county’s pig industry. The county’s pig industry will send 1 million more pigs to the slaughter every year, as well as earning an additional profit of 500 million RMB, according to COFCO.
Changling county and COFCO have been engaged in business talks concerning this project since September 2011. In May 2012, COFCO signed an official agreement with the Songyuan City Government in Beijing, agreeing on the final contract for the project.
The group plans to invest 3.6 billion RMB into the Changling plant project, which will cover 1,500 hectares. This project includes the construction of a pig breeding facility, a feed factory, a slaughterhouse, a processing plant and other industrial facilities. After this project reaches its projected scope, it will be able to produce 5 billion RMB worth of pigs; making a profit of 800 million RMB per year and being taxed 35 million RMB per year. This project will add 2,000 more jobs to the local area, bringing an additional 20,000 workers to the county’s pig industry. The county’s pig industry will send 1 million more pigs to the slaughter every year, as well as earning an additional profit of 500 million RMB, according to COFCO.
Changling county and COFCO have been engaged in business talks concerning this project since September 2011. In May 2012, COFCO signed an official agreement with the Songyuan City Government in Beijing, agreeing on the final contract for the project.
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
US pork production down 4 percent in June
U.S. pork production totaled 1.75 billion pounds in June, down 4 percent from 2011 numbers, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's latest report.
Hog slaughter totaled 8.55 million head, down 4 percent from June 2011. Of this number, 8.209 million were barrows and gilts, 243,000 were sows and 29,000 were boars. Iowa slaughtered the most hogs in June, with 2.287 million. North Carolina and Minnesota rounded out the top three, with 841,300 and 796,800 hogs slaughtered, respectively. The average live weight was up 1 pound, at 274 pounds, according to the USDA.
Hog slaughter totaled 8.55 million head, down 4 percent from June 2011. Of this number, 8.209 million were barrows and gilts, 243,000 were sows and 29,000 were boars. Iowa slaughtered the most hogs in June, with 2.287 million. North Carolina and Minnesota rounded out the top three, with 841,300 and 796,800 hogs slaughtered, respectively. The average live weight was up 1 pound, at 274 pounds, according to the USDA.
Friday, April 13, 2012
Russian Baltic Pork Invest sees 2011 sow herd, production increase
In 2010 and 2011, the sow herd of Kaliningrad-based Russian Baltic Pork Invest increased from 3,100 sows to 6,200
sows, leading to weekly slaughter that grew from 2,000 pigs to 4,000 pigs,
according to the company's latest report.
The company puts a high emphasis on biosecurity, surrounding its farm with high fences and guards 24/7. The structure is based on separated sections for breeding and gestation, farrowing, weaning and slaughter pigs. A quarantine unit for replacement stock is separated from the main herd, and a disinfectant bath is available for incoming vehicles.
During 2011, an average 32.3 piglets were weaned per sow. There was a low mortality and high growth rate among growers and slaughter pigs. There are plans to expand business with at least ten new farms in Russia in the coming years, according to the company.
The company puts a high emphasis on biosecurity, surrounding its farm with high fences and guards 24/7. The structure is based on separated sections for breeding and gestation, farrowing, weaning and slaughter pigs. A quarantine unit for replacement stock is separated from the main herd, and a disinfectant bath is available for incoming vehicles.
During 2011, an average 32.3 piglets were weaned per sow. There was a low mortality and high growth rate among growers and slaughter pigs. There are plans to expand business with at least ten new farms in Russia in the coming years, according to the company.
Monday, December 5, 2011
US hogs slaughtered up in October over 2010 numbers
U.S. hog slaughter totaled 9.91 million head, up 2% from October 2010 numbers, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's latest report.
Iowa led the numbers of hogs slaughtered in October, with 2.64 million head, up from 2.6 million head slaughtered in 2010. Illinois and Minnesota came in second and third, with 946,200 and 945,100 head slaughtered, respectively. Illinois numbers were up significantly, from 863,300 head in October 2010.
Pig meat production totaled 2.03 billion pounds, up 2% from 2010, while the average live weight was down 1%, at 275 pounds
Iowa led the numbers of hogs slaughtered in October, with 2.64 million head, up from 2.6 million head slaughtered in 2010. Illinois and Minnesota came in second and third, with 946,200 and 945,100 head slaughtered, respectively. Illinois numbers were up significantly, from 863,300 head in October 2010.
Pig meat production totaled 2.03 billion pounds, up 2% from 2010, while the average live weight was down 1%, at 275 pounds
Monday, October 10, 2011
EFSA completes first stage in modernizing pig meat inspections
The European Food Safety Authority has completed the first stage of a major piece of work that will provide the scientific basis for the modernization of meat and pig meat inspection across the EU.
In May 2010, the European Commission asked the EFSA to deliver a series of scientific opinions on public health hazards — biological and chemical — to be addressed by meat inspection. The EFSA also was requested to provide a summary of comparable data on specific food-borne hazards in the Member States that would enable risk managers to adapt meat inspection procedures to national requirements.
As well as identifying and ranking the main risks for public health, scientific experts were asked to assess the strengths and weaknesses of the current inspection methodology; recommend methods that take into account the hazards not addressed by current meat inspection; and recommend adaptations of methods and/or frequency of inspections based on the hazard rankings and harmonized epidemiological indicators.
In the area of biological hazards, food-borne hazards Salmonella, Yersinia enterocolitica, Toxoplasma gondii and Trichinella were identified as priority targets in the inspection of pig meat at the abattoir level, due to their prevalence and impact on human health. It was concluded that current inspection methods do not enable the early detection of the first three of these hazards and do not differentiate food safety aspects from meat quality aspects, prevention of animal diseases or occupational hazards.
The main recommendations on biological hazards are to:
The necessity of meat inspection, both ante- and post-mortem — as shown in the 2001 UK Foot-and-Mouth Disease outbreak — in the overall surveillance system for pig health and welfare, was also highlighted. However, the experts recognized that surveillance information is currently underutilized. In the area of contaminants, dioxins, dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls and the antibiotic chloramphenicol were identified as chemical substances of high potential concern in pork, based on pre-defined criteria. However, it was concluded that chemical substances at the concentrations found in swine meat are unlikely to pose an immediate or short-term health risk for consumers.
The experts recommend:
The five remaining sets of opinions and reports will cover poultry, bovine animals over six weeks old, bovine animals under six weeks old, domestic sheep and goats, farmed game and domestic solipeds. Harmonized epidemiological indicators relate to the number of cases in a given group at a given time (prevalence) or the likelihood of being exposed to (incidence) a hazard at a certain stage of the food chain that correlates to a human health risk caused by the hazard.
In May 2010, the European Commission asked the EFSA to deliver a series of scientific opinions on public health hazards — biological and chemical — to be addressed by meat inspection. The EFSA also was requested to provide a summary of comparable data on specific food-borne hazards in the Member States that would enable risk managers to adapt meat inspection procedures to national requirements.
As well as identifying and ranking the main risks for public health, scientific experts were asked to assess the strengths and weaknesses of the current inspection methodology; recommend methods that take into account the hazards not addressed by current meat inspection; and recommend adaptations of methods and/or frequency of inspections based on the hazard rankings and harmonized epidemiological indicators.
In the area of biological hazards, food-borne hazards Salmonella, Yersinia enterocolitica, Toxoplasma gondii and Trichinella were identified as priority targets in the inspection of pig meat at the abattoir level, due to their prevalence and impact on human health. It was concluded that current inspection methods do not enable the early detection of the first three of these hazards and do not differentiate food safety aspects from meat quality aspects, prevention of animal diseases or occupational hazards.
The main recommendations on biological hazards are to:
- Omit the use of palpation and/or incision techniques in post-mortem inspection of pigs subject to routine slaughter because of the risk of bacterial cross-contamination.
- Introduce a comprehensive pork carcass safety assurance framework, combining a range of preventive measures applied on-farm and at-abattoir in an integrated way as this is the only means to ensure an effective control of the main hazards.
- Collect and analyze food chain information (FCI) at herd and abattoir levels to enable a more location-specific assessment of risk.
The necessity of meat inspection, both ante- and post-mortem — as shown in the 2001 UK Foot-and-Mouth Disease outbreak — in the overall surveillance system for pig health and welfare, was also highlighted. However, the experts recognized that surveillance information is currently underutilized. In the area of contaminants, dioxins, dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls and the antibiotic chloramphenicol were identified as chemical substances of high potential concern in pork, based on pre-defined criteria. However, it was concluded that chemical substances at the concentrations found in swine meat are unlikely to pose an immediate or short-term health risk for consumers.
The experts recommend:
- The development of risk-based sampling strategies that differentiate between farms producing pigs under conditions of fully implemented HACCP-based protocols and with complete FCI, and farms with less stringent quality control procedures.
- The encouragement of ad hoc amendments to sampling plans to take account of emerging substances in the food chain.
- The inclusion of ante- and post-mortem inspection criteria to identify illicit use of substances and encourage analysis at farm level.
The five remaining sets of opinions and reports will cover poultry, bovine animals over six weeks old, bovine animals under six weeks old, domestic sheep and goats, farmed game and domestic solipeds. Harmonized epidemiological indicators relate to the number of cases in a given group at a given time (prevalence) or the likelihood of being exposed to (incidence) a hazard at a certain stage of the food chain that correlates to a human health risk caused by the hazard.
Friday, October 7, 2011
Brazil second quarter poultry, pig slaughter numbers break records
The number of poultry slaughtered in Brazil during the second quarter of 2011 broke records for the second time, reports the IBGE, the country’s geography and statistics institute.
At 1.31 billion head, the figure was 6% higher than that recorded in the second quarter of 2010 and 0.2% higher than the first quarter of 2011. Over the first six months, the total number of poultry slaughtered rose by 5.8% in comparison with the same period the year before.
Total carcass weight during the second quarter reached 1.852 million tons, 6.8% higher than in the second quarter of 2010 and 2.7% higher than in the first quarter of 2011. According to IBGE, 421 respondents took part in the second quarter poultry slaughter survey, four fewer than in the previous period. Brazil’s three southern states continue to be ranked among the main players for poultry slaughter, accounting for 58.6% of the total volume slaughtered. The southeast was ranked second, accounting for 23%.
The number of poultry slaughtered in the south remained practically unchanged across the first two quarters. However, while numbers were lower in the state of Parana, they were higher in Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul.
Of the 74 million additional head of poultry slaughtered during the second quarter, when compared to the second quarter of 2010, almost half were slaughtered in the states of Sao Paulo and Santa Catarina.
Pig production sharing in success
The slaughter of pigs in Brazil during the second quarter of 2011 reached the highest level since IBGE started collecting data in 1997. The second quarter saw the number of pigs slaughtered reach 8.6 million, an increase of 5.3% when compared with the first quarter of the year. Compared with the corresponding quarter in 2010, the increase was 6.7%. For the first six months, the number of animals slaughtered rose by 5.8% when compared to the first half of 2010.
Total carcass weight reached 824,200 tons, 3.7% higher than the previous quarter and 7.3% higher than in the corresponding 2010 period.
This most recent swine slaughter survey comprised 878 respondents during the second quarter. The southern region of the country accounted for 65.8% of the total number of pigs slaughtered nationwide, with Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul accounting for 26.2% and 21.4%, respectively, and Parana for 18.2%.
At 1.31 billion head, the figure was 6% higher than that recorded in the second quarter of 2010 and 0.2% higher than the first quarter of 2011. Over the first six months, the total number of poultry slaughtered rose by 5.8% in comparison with the same period the year before.
Total carcass weight during the second quarter reached 1.852 million tons, 6.8% higher than in the second quarter of 2010 and 2.7% higher than in the first quarter of 2011. According to IBGE, 421 respondents took part in the second quarter poultry slaughter survey, four fewer than in the previous period. Brazil’s three southern states continue to be ranked among the main players for poultry slaughter, accounting for 58.6% of the total volume slaughtered. The southeast was ranked second, accounting for 23%.
The number of poultry slaughtered in the south remained practically unchanged across the first two quarters. However, while numbers were lower in the state of Parana, they were higher in Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul.
Of the 74 million additional head of poultry slaughtered during the second quarter, when compared to the second quarter of 2010, almost half were slaughtered in the states of Sao Paulo and Santa Catarina.
Pig production sharing in success
The slaughter of pigs in Brazil during the second quarter of 2011 reached the highest level since IBGE started collecting data in 1997. The second quarter saw the number of pigs slaughtered reach 8.6 million, an increase of 5.3% when compared with the first quarter of the year. Compared with the corresponding quarter in 2010, the increase was 6.7%. For the first six months, the number of animals slaughtered rose by 5.8% when compared to the first half of 2010.
Total carcass weight reached 824,200 tons, 3.7% higher than the previous quarter and 7.3% higher than in the corresponding 2010 period.
This most recent swine slaughter survey comprised 878 respondents during the second quarter. The southern region of the country accounted for 65.8% of the total number of pigs slaughtered nationwide, with Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul accounting for 26.2% and 21.4%, respectively, and Parana for 18.2%.
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