A collaborative heat recovery ventilation study aims to provide broiler farmers with a more energy-efficient way to heat their broiler houses in the winter months.
The study focuses on heat loss through broiler house fan ventilation systems and the potential ways of recovering that heat and using it to complement the existing systems. It is spearheaded by the Crowder College Missouri Alternative and Renewable Energy Technology Center and was taken on as a result of rising fuel costs and farmers' desires to find an alternative heating fuel to propane. As an added benefit, a successful solution would reduce broiler farms' carbon footprints, according to those involved in the study.
The project began in October 2010, and the first trial ran from January through March 2011. The second trial began in March and is expected to end in May.
Evaluation of the data and findings will be submitted for publication after the completion of the second trial.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Canada hog inventories up for April 2011
Canadian farmers had 11.8 million hogs on their farms as of April 1, up 1.4% from the same date in 2010, despite a 3.5% reduction in the number of hog operations, according to Statistics Canada.
Sow inventories remained unchanged from April 1, 2010, at 1.3 million head. In addition, farmers anticipated no significant changes in the number of sows expected to farrow during the second and third quarters of 2011.
Approximately 5.5 million hogs were slaughtered during the first quarter, down 2.8% from a year earlier, and 1.4 million hogs were exported, down 3.6% from the same period in 2010.
Sow inventories remained unchanged from April 1, 2010, at 1.3 million head. In addition, farmers anticipated no significant changes in the number of sows expected to farrow during the second and third quarters of 2011.
Approximately 5.5 million hogs were slaughtered during the first quarter, down 2.8% from a year earlier, and 1.4 million hogs were exported, down 3.6% from the same period in 2010.
Monday, May 2, 2011
25 percent of Alabama poultry houses destroyed, damaged in storms
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| Thousands of chickens have been lost in the recent Alabama tornadoes, and numbers could grow as the damage is fully assessed, according to state officials. |
“Thousands of chickens have been lost in the tornadoes, and these numbers could grow as we continue to assess the damage,” said McMillan. “Power outages and loss of drinking water could worsen an already critical situation for poultry producers and meat processors.” Alabama is the third-largest poultry producer in the U.S., according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, behind Georgia and Arkansas.
State officials are continuing to monitor the situation and provide assistance to those affected. “We have deployed our field inspectors to the hard-hit areas of North Alabama to assist state emergency management efforts,” said McMillan.
Rising US pork, beef costs will contribute to 2011 food inflation
Rising pork and beef costs will continue to contribute to U.S. food inflation, which according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture will rise 3% to 4% in 2011, the most since 2008.
Pork prices may now rise 7.5%, increased 1% from March estimates. Beef estimates have been increased 2.5% from March, to 8%.
“I suspect when December arrives we will see increases of 4% to 6%” for the year in overall prices, said Bill Lapp, the president of agriculture-research company Advanced Economic Solutions. “The pressure on food prices is clearly on the upside." According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, food costs rose 0.7% in March, capping a 2% gain for the first quarter of 2011.
Hog futures increased 25% for the year as of April 21, on rising export demand, while cattle futures were up 6.3%.
Pork prices may now rise 7.5%, increased 1% from March estimates. Beef estimates have been increased 2.5% from March, to 8%.
“I suspect when December arrives we will see increases of 4% to 6%” for the year in overall prices, said Bill Lapp, the president of agriculture-research company Advanced Economic Solutions. “The pressure on food prices is clearly on the upside." According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, food costs rose 0.7% in March, capping a 2% gain for the first quarter of 2011.
Hog futures increased 25% for the year as of April 21, on rising export demand, while cattle futures were up 6.3%.
UK Pig farmers face negative margins as sow herds set to fall in 2011
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| The average producer of finishing pigs in Britain at present is losing around UK£18 (US$29.96) per pig sent to market, despite a slight easing of production costs during March and April 2011 to around UK£1.60 (US$2.66) per kilogram carcass weight. |
UK sow numbers have already been hit by a 15% increase in slaughtering of sows in the first three months of 2011, although this had been expected after more gilts were added as breeding herd candidates in 2010. The debate among observers is whether extra productivity will allow pork supplies to be maintained, even with a projected decline in the population of sows in 2011.
The average producer of finishing pigs in Britain at present is losing around UK£18 (US$29.96) per pig sent to market, despite a slight easing of production costs during March and April 2011 to around UK£1.60 (US$2.66) per kilogram carcass weight. This follows annual averages of -UK£11 (US$-18.31) per pig in 2007 and -UK£8 (US$13.31) per pig in 2008, although there was a short-lived recovery to a profit of UK£11 (US$18.31) per pig in 2009 before negative margins returned with higher feed costs towards the end of 2010.
Calculations by the British Pig Executive showed losses averaging UK£22 (US$36.61) per pig in January 2011, rising to UK£25 (US$41.61) in February and UK£26 (US$43.27) in March before easing slightly to an estimated UK£19 (US$31.62) in April and UK£18 (US$29.96) in May.
On the basis of new forecasts for feed grain supplies and prices, industry representatives now think that production costs will not drop until at least the last quarter of 2011, while the average pig price paid to producers shows little sign of giving them a profit.
Animal Feed Forum webinars available free on-demand
As of April 20, 2011, more than 1,300 professionals from around the world registered to attend Online Animal Forum: Feeding the Globe. Sign up or sign in to take advantage of the following
informative, focused sessions:
Innovations from R&D in animal agriculture by Dr. Leo den Hartog, Director R&D and Quality Affairs, Nutreco, Netherlands
What animal breeding can contribute by Dr. Pieter Knap, Manager of Genetic Strategy, Genus/PIC International, Germany
Directions to better feed utilization by Stefaan Van Dyck, Director of Research and Development, Kemin AgriFoods, Worldwide
World feed ingredients outlook - impacts of China, Energy (Ethanol) and Speculation by Tim Brusnahan, Richard A. Brock & Associates, Inc., USA
The Role of Eggs in Meeting World Food Needs by Dr. Simon Shane, Editor, Egg Industry, USA
Still unfamiliar with what a “virtual forum” is? Click here for a three-minute tour of WATT’s virtual event platform.
Don’t miss out on this valuable e-learning opportunity. Sign up or sign in now to view the five educational presentations — available online, on-demand through July 6, 2011
China poultry, fish feed producer reports 36% net income growth in 2010
China animal feed producer Guangdong Haid Group reported a net income growth of 36%, to 210 million Yuan (US$32.2 million), for 2010.
Haid sold 2.38 million tons of animal feed in 2010, including 1.32 million tons of poultry feed and 1.06 million tons of fish feed. In addition, said Haid, company revenue from southern China rose 34.74%, accounting for 68.93% of Haid Group’s total revenue in 2010. Revenue from eastern and central China rose 87.7% and 78.81%, respectively.
The company's future plans include increasing annual feed production capacity by 1 million tons in order to expand its market share.
Haid sold 2.38 million tons of animal feed in 2010, including 1.32 million tons of poultry feed and 1.06 million tons of fish feed. In addition, said Haid, company revenue from southern China rose 34.74%, accounting for 68.93% of Haid Group’s total revenue in 2010. Revenue from eastern and central China rose 87.7% and 78.81%, respectively.
The company's future plans include increasing annual feed production capacity by 1 million tons in order to expand its market share.
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