EuroTier will include the World Poultry Show

EuroTier, the world’s leading trade fair for animal production, will once again include the World Poultry Show in 2016. This means next year’s EuroTier will be the only international exhibition for animal producers to include all livestock sectors – poultry, pigs, beef cattle, dairy, sheep and aquaculture – in such a comprehensive fashion. The event will take place from Nov. 15 – 18 at the Hanover Exhibitions Grounds.
EuroTier will also include exhibition areas for EnergyDecentral, German Biogas and Veterinary Medicine. Scheduled meetings are the BIOGAS Convention and the Congress of The Federal Association of Practising Veterinary Surgeons (BPT).
EuroTier 2014 set a new benchmark for the fair, with 156,500 visitors – 30,000 of whom came from outside Germany. Solutions and products were displayed by 2,368 exhibitors, and 1,145 of these were also based outside the host nation.
Decision makers with investment intentions from agribusinesses made up the majority of visitors, but purchasing specialists, consultants, dealers, veterinarians and professionals from research and development organizations were also among the key visitors at EuroTier.

156,000 attended EuroTier in Germany

EuroTier 2014, which took place in Hanover, Germany, from November 11 to 14, attracted 156,000 trade professionals, around 30,000 of whom came from outside Germany.


• 2,360 exhibitors from 49 countries presented a comprehensive range of products and services to the animal husbandry sector.
• EuroTier welcomed around 30,000 visitors from abroad. The Netherlands (3,800) provided the highest number of international visitors, followed by Austria (2,000), Finland (1,300), Switzerland (1,200), Poland (1,200), the U.K. (1,100), France (1,100), Denmark (1,000), Belgium (950) and Russia (900).
• Among the highlights of the event were the international events for the dairy and pig farmers and the International Poultry Day, which was held the day before EuroTier started. These were attended by around 1,000 industry professionals from all over the world. The conferences and forums also offered opportunities for sharing views and best practice.
• The changing needs of society are having a huge impact on the development strategies pursued by livestock farmers. The numerous information events at EuroTier provided a platform for the industry to discuss a variety of perspectives on modern productive animal husbandry with groups representing different areas of society.
• The “Young Farmers Day” on Thursday was attended by thousands of young farmers, schoolchildren and students from Germany and abroad, who took advantage of the various events on offer at EuroTier. EuroTier's “Young Farmers Party” was attended by around 2,500 people.
The next EuroTier will take place from November 15-18, 2016, in Hanover.

Attendee numbers continue to rise as end of EuroTier approaches

EuroTier 2014’s visitor numbers were up at the midway point of the exhibition, and those numbers are forecast to exceed those of the previous edition of EuroTier.
At the half way stage, visitors to Germany’s livestock production event had reached 75,000 attendees, roughly equivalent to the number of visitors at the same stage in 2012, the last time the event was held. The event’s organizers note that particularly high numbers of attendees had come over the opening days from Eastern Europe, North Central and South America.
During the final days of the show, visitor numbers are thought to have risen, suggesting that attendance this year will be higher than the last time the show took place, report the exhibition’s organizers, the Deutsche Landwirtschafts-Gesellschaft (DLG).

Jules Tournot Probiotics prize awarded at EuroTier

Work on The Evolution of Host Specificity in the Vertebrate Gut Symbiont, Lactobacillus reuteri was awarded the Jules Tournot Probiotics Prize 2014 by the European Probiotics Association at 2014 EuroTier.
Steven A. Frese, of the University of California, was present to receive the award and talked attendees through his work.
Lactobacillus reuteri is commonly found in the gastrointestinal tract of poultry, pigs, and rats, among other species, he explained. The organism has evolved to be host specific and different strains have different qualities. For example, strains found in the gastrointestinal tract of chickens tend to have greater antimicrobial qualities, while the strain more commonly found in the human gastrointestinal tract has greater anti-inflammatory qualities.
The study was the first time that host-specificity had been demonstrated, and the importance of the study is that using the approach followed by Frese in the study could allow the more careful of selection of bacteria for use in future probiotic products.
Growing interest
This year saw a higher number of submissions than the last time the award was made in 2012. Of the 19 entries, 12 were selected for further consideration. Applications came from 10 countries ranging from Chile to China and the UK to the U.S. Target animals in the studies included poultry, fish and cattle, with end points ranging from protection against disease, rumen fermentation, and immune-regulation.
Interest in research into probiotics is growing year by year, and more bacteria strains were considered in this year’s submissions than ever before.
During the presentation of the award, it was noted that the European regulatory framework for probiotics used in production animals needs to change, as there are claims that cannot be made commercially, despite work having done to support such claims.
The organizers further noted that when interest in use of probiotics in animal agriculture first emerged, their use and perception primarily followed the model of growth promoters. Thinking since then, however, has evolved as the potential role for their use in livestock production continues to grow.

EuroTier 2014 offers strong commercial showing

EuroTier 2014 has opened its doors to the public. The German animal production trade fair is playing host to in excess of 2,300 exhibitors this week from around the world.
Parallel to the commercial exhibition, technical forums dedicated to poultry, pigs, cattle and aquaculture are taking place with topics ranging from welfare, sustainability, use of antibiotics and general production outlooks.
Organizers Deutsche Landwirtschafts-Gesellschaft (DLG) note that Europe’s farmers are currently focusing on innovations in data processing and animal welfare and that, despite Europe’s current economic difficulties, there is still a willingness to invest in Germany, Poland, and the United Kingdom, even if some caution remains. Investments in France, however, are declining.
The DLG highlights that, investment intentions in the UK are up a staggering 24 percent up on the level reported in its autumn 2013 survey, with 55 percent of farmers intending to invest over the next 12 months. In Germany, investment intentions are stable in comparison to the autumn 2013 survey.

Microbiota plays major role in long-term animal health

On the eve of Eurotier, speakers at Nukamel’s Intestinal Health roadshow focused on the importance of developing animal immunity and gut health early in life to ensure its long-term performance.
Regardless of species, there are many environmental and physiological influencing an animal’s ability to fight off disease; however, specialized feeding solutions can pay off in strengthening its immunity to pathogens and ultimately increasing its output. 
Early microbiota cultivation supports immunity
Microbiota prevents the penetration of pathogens under the epithelial layer of the gut; it also aids in producing the preferred and appropriate immune response. The panel of four researchers from Europe and the United States agreed that the manipulation of the gut’s microbial composition during the first days of life will produce either beneficial or detrimental outcomes for the animal further down the road. 
For example, if antibiotics are introduced too early, it will have a negative effect on the development of the microbiota well beyond initial the exposure. According to Dr. Robert Corbett, president of Dairy Health Consultation, the microflora of young animals exposed to antibiotics takes longer to replenish and actually delays the animal’s recovery.
Similarly, the swine industry has neglected to pay attention to the critical pre-weaning stage to develop the strength of a piglet’s digestive tract.
“The gut is very complex and serves a variety of functions,” says Dr. Alfons Jansman, senior scientist – animal nutrition, Wageningen UR Livestock Research. “We need more fundamental knowledge of these systems and should shape intestinal microbiota and microflora prior to weaning in suckling piglets – which would be new way of thinking.”
In Jansman’s opinion, producers must support the various aspect of the immune system, such as its barrier function to prevent allergic reactions and other inclement conditions, suggesting that producers not downgrade the importance of immunity to improve FCR and growth. 
As such, the immune system must be ready to react if needed, so “it’s important to improve the nutrition status of the animal and meet its requirements in volume and nutrient composition.” 
Leaky gut poses major challenge
According to Professor Richard Ducatelle from the University of Ghent, today’s animals have the genetic capacity to achieve a high-level of performance, but “the challenge lies with nutrition, which needs to catch up and to get the best out of the animals.” 
This can be achieved with a diet that meets the animal’s demands, but this strategy can backfire if the animal is ill. Leaky gut, for example, will be one of the biggest challenges for poultry producers in the years to come.
Leaky gut, a condition where body fluids leak into lumen and make feces more liquid, “must be avoided by all means.”
“The thickness of the intestinal wall is determined by thickness of intestinal layer,” he says. “It should be thick because the mucosa should have a contractual power – if it’s weak, digestion is less effective. There are more immune cells in the gut than any other portion of the body. Immune suppression or immune stimulation is a controversial topic.”
In his opinion, the nutritionist should aim to move from a reactive position -- from a state of defense to one of absorption -- by improving the animal’s oral tolerance through proper nutrition.
Additives influence health
Antioxidants play an important role in reducing inflammation, which is one of the leading causes of death in animals.
“We can help the animal though nutrients, but also by giving it anti-oxidative power,” Ducatelle suggests.
Depending on the maturation of the mucosa, overdosing organic acids can have a detrimental effect on the intestinal health of a young animal. In addition, high-quality colostrum also affects an animal’s gene expression and plays an important role in building the health of young animals.
“Environment and nutrition play an important role in how the animal develops, but there are other influences which influence its genetic disposition for disease,” Jansman notes, pointing to gut health as the source of prolonged health and performance. 
According to Nukamel’s managing director Jan Druyts, the proper nutrition of young animals favors a gradual building up of the microbial population of the gut: “In commercial husbandry, animals are fed intensively and perform at the maximum of their potential. The balance between oral tolerance and immune stimulation – and overstimulation – is of utmost importance. The base for this is established in the gut in the early stages of life; therefore, investing in high-quality feeding of young animals pays off in the later stages of life.”
Hanover was the third and final stop on Nukamel’s Intestinal Health World Tour. Two additional events, one on Chile and the other in Bangkok, were held earlier this year. 2014 marks the company’s 60^th anniversary. 
Eurotier will be held in Hanover, Germany, on November 11-14.

EuroTier 2014 to feature Eastern Europe and Central Asia series

EuroTier 2014, taking place November 11-14 in Hanover, Germany, will feature an event series “Animal Production in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. This will be the first time the series will be a part of EuroTier.
The event series will not only focus on the countries of Eastern Europe, but also those of Central Asia, covering Ukraine, Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan.
Participation in the series is free of charge for EuroTier 2014, but for organizational reasons, registration is required by November 5.
Billed as the world’s leading trade fair for animal production, an estimated 2,300 exhibitors from 50 countries are expected to attend EuroTier.

EuroTier 2014 to offer agriculture solutions for the future

The world’s leading trade fair for animal husbandry professionals, EuroTier, will be presenting solutions for the future of agriculture at the Fairgrounds in Hanover from Nov. 11-14. This is evident from the 270 innovations that exhibitors have submitted to the organizer DLG. On the one hand innovations that sustainably increase and secure the operating profit will be shown. On the other hand the solutions contribute to matching the constantly widening target corridors in animal farming between keeping conditions in line with animal welfare and environmental conservation and working conditions in line with human needs. Moreover global expertise from industry, agriculture, science and research and consultancy is available at EuroTier. With its unique information program, EuroTier offers orientation and solutions for mastering present and future tasks in animal farming. This makes the trade fair the most important impulse provider for individual farmers as well as the entire sector. 
2,300 exhibitors from 50 countries will be showing a complete program for animal husbandry professionals. The stand booking figures are slightly below the record result of two years ago. Despite the fact that the World Poultry Show will only be represented at EuroTier again in 2016, the exhibitor participation is outstanding with further growth in the program for professional animal farmers.


International participation
Nearly one in two exhibitors comes from abroad, with the largest contingent coming from the Netherlands (180 companies). There are also large numbers of exhibitors from France (133), China (119), Italy (91), Denmark (80), Spain (62), Austria (52), the United Kingdom (49), Belgium (47), Turkey (46) and Poland (41). DLG sees the high international participation as a clear indication of the continued global orientation of companies and agribusiness with its worldwide interrelations. The companies want to use the EuroTier platform specifically to develop new markets.


High demand for information among animal farmers
Animal farmers have an undiminished need for information. The farm managers and herd managers on the farms need the most modern and professional concepts possible in order to line up their farms for the future. This applies for all questions of animal breeding, feeding, keeping, management, logistics, and in particular questions of animal health and animal welfare. The latest findings and approaches to this will be discussed every day at EuroTier in a large number of expert lectures and discussion panels. As the Federal Association of Practising Veterinarians (Bundesverband Praktizierender Tierärzte / bpt) is again holding its annual congress overlapping with EuroTier at the Fairgrounds in Hanover, there will be an intensive exchange of opinions and experiences between veterinarians and farmers from all over the world on questions of animal health. 


Global prospects
The more dynamic development of the global economy is driving the demand for meat. In 2014, a rise of 1.5 percent is expected in the global demand for meat. Demand is thus growing more strongly than in 2013, which showed an increase of 0.7 percent. Globally, the record harvests of grain and oilseeds are leading to falling prices for feed. This leads to better cost-efficiency in animal husbandry and gives producers leeway for investments. As a consequence, the quantities produced will increase. In the case of pork, the drivers of production are South America with a growth rate of 2.1 percent, compared to the year 2013, sub-Saharan Africa with 2.0 percent, and Oceania (Australia and New Zealand) with 2.9 percent. Brazil is strengthening its slaughtering capacities with a view to improve its competitive position on the international markets too. As a result of the improved access to international markets, it can be expected that Brazil’s meat production will grow further. Production growth will be limited by the sustained logistical difficulties and by the growing shortage of labor. The latter problem is boosting demand for automation machinery and equipment in animal husbandry. 


Russia-Ukraine conflict
Following Russia’s import ban, goods from the EU as well as from North America and Australia will have to seek new markets at short notice. This can lead to a higher supply level and pressure on producer prices. Long-term effects will depend on the duration of the import ban and the possibilities of developing new markets quickly.


DLG Trendmonitor Europe:


• According to thepreliminary results of the current DLG Trendmonitor Europe, the presentbusiness situation in Germany is stable with a score of 2.6 points (comparedwith 2.5 points in autumn 2013) and continues to reflect satisfaction. Themarket crop producers assess their situation as good as ever with a scoreof 1.8 points (compared with 2.3 in spring 2014) – the commercially betterthan average recent years have led to a high satisfaction level. Thesituation for dairy farmers is stable (2.4 points). The decline in milkvolumes delivered in the summer ensured stable producer prices. Pigfarmers are less satisfied with the current business situation. Althoughthe ban on pork imports for Russia has been in place already since spring2014, and following the price collapse in February, prices have recovereddistinctly and are currently at a stable level of around EUR€1.65. Theseframework conditions have cemented the present price level and are checkingupward trends. The expectations of business development in Germany haveclouded over. The current difficult market environment – low grain prices,import ban, high milk supplies and loss of the important business with Russia– is leading farmers to look at business development in the coming 12months more sceptically.
• Farmers in theUK and Poland consider their present business situation to be stable.The farmers rely less on exports of their products and are correspondinglyless strongly affected by Russia’s import ban. The trouble-free harvest in2014 has also ensured that the farmers in both countries assess theeconomic situation as stable. Expectations of business development byfarmers in the UK and Poland are also stable. The farmers inboth countries are less strongly affected by the difficult situation onthe export markets. The relief on the cost side due to sinking feed pricesis leading to farmers being cautiously optimistic about businessdevelopment in the coming 12 months.
• According to thepreliminary results of the current DLG Trendmonitor, farmers in France areagain less satisfied with their current business situation. The difficultharvest conditions have led to partly poor grain qualities. Consequentlythe grain can only be marketed as feed grain. The grain producers are thuscut off from export business and surcharges for better qualities. Althoughthe animal farmers are benefiting from lower prices for feed, French pigfarmers have been badly hit by Russia’s import ban. The business prospectsof farmers in France have also clouded over considerably. The price levelfor feed grain, which has been harvested in larger quantities, does notallow cost-covering prices. Buyers are already seeking grain of a betterquality abroad. Furthermore, the sustained high backlog of modernizationin France’s meat processing industry has led to losses on internationalmarkets and thus lower sales opportunities.


Strong readiness to invest in Germany, Poland and UK
Despite the difficult market environment, the farmers surveyed are going to invest. Fifty percent of the farmers in Germany and in Poland state that they are planning investments in the coming 12 months. Animal farmers in Germany too remain willing to invest. Forty-seven percent of the pig farmers and 55 percent of the dairy farmers have investment plans for the coming 12 months. In the UK, 54 percent of the farmers questioned plan to invest. This represents a growth rate of 23 percent by comparison with the survey in autumn 2013. The farmers in these three countries are thus pursuing their strategy of farm development even in the more difficult market environment. According to the preliminary results, investment willingness of farmers in France has dropped. Their readiness to invest has plummeted from 28 percent in autumn 2013 to only 10 percent in the current survey. France’s farmers traditionally react more fiercely to uncertainties caused by policy-making.
The main target of investments by farmers in Germany and the UK is to optimize ongoing production. By contrast, farmers in Poland are growth-oriented. They want to expand the capacities of existing production. Farmers in France want to reduce costs via investments in cooperation with other farmers. 
Farmers in Germany aim to channel 42 percent of the planned investments into farm operations, 50 percent into field operations and 8 percent into renewable energies. Farmers in France are increasingly planning investments in farm operations. 38 percent of their planned investments are to flow into this area (compared with 23 percent in autumn 2013). Around one-third of investments in Poland and the UK will target farm operations.


Social environment plays increasingly significant role 
Alongside the market frameworks oriented to supply and demand, the social environment of animal production is playing an increasingly more important role in the development and implementation of operating strategies for animal farmers. According to the latest figures of the DLG Trendmonitor Europe for autumn 2014, for farm managers in Germany, Poland and the UK the focus is on improving animal welfare in keeping systems. Around 60 percent of the farmers questioned state that innovations in this field are particularly important. Innovations concerning data management for more efficient herd management are also important for farmers. The trends in machinery and equipment expected by farmers thus directed more to animal welfare and improved herd management. 


EnergyDecentral 2014
Around 350 specialist exhibitors will be taking part in EnergyDecentral 2014, the international trade fair for innovative energy supply. This corresponds to a slight reduction by comparison with 2012. The stand booking results are understandable as a consequence of the amendment of the Renewable Energy Act with its negative effects for manufacturers and users. Policymakers are called upon here to create an entrepreneurial environment that does not impede the innovative thrust of an entire industry, but instead promotes it sustainably.
Operators of biogas plants have to optimize their systems in the currently difficult framework conditions in order to secure their cost-efficiency. EnergyDecentral will thus be providing a comprehensive program of information on plant optimizing and offer solutions for plant operators.


High visitor numbers expected
The framework conditions for animal production and the positioning of EuroTier as the world’s leading trade fair lead to strong interest on the part of visitors from both home and abroad. This year DLG expects similar visitor levels as in 2010, when around 145,000 specialists came to EuroTier.

EuroTier panel to address TTIP concerns

Experts from the European Union, the United States and Germany will address the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) and its implications for poultry and livestock production at lecture and discussion event at EuroTier 2014. The EuroTier TTIP event will be held at 4 p.m. November 12 in Hanover, Germany.
The pending TTIP between the European Union and the United States is currently the subject of lively debates with many questions remaining to be answered. The panel of speakers will address concerns such as the current stage of the negotiations and what EU and U.S. livestock and poultry producers can expect from a TTIP agreement.
Slated to speak are Carl-Albrecht Bartmer, president of DLG (Deutsche Landwirtschafts-Gesellschaft – German Agricultural Society);Jean-Marc Trarieux, head of unit, The Americas, DG Agriculture and Rural Development, European Commission; Dr. Martin Banse, Thünen-Institute; Gina Tumbarello, director of international policy and trade, American Feed Industry Association; and Dietrich Holler, head of communications, DLG e.V, Frankfurt am Main.
The EuroTier presentations will be made in English. All EuroTier ticket holders can attend the TTIP event, but registration is required. DLG and the International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE) are sponsors for the event.
EuroTier 2014 will begin on November 11 and will run through November 14.

Danisco demonstrates enzyme innovations at Eurotier

Danisco Animal Nutrition focused on the rising costs of raw feed materials, particularly vegetable proteins like soybean meal, while exhibiting at EuroTier 2012. Feed industry visitors saw enzyme combinations like the Avizyme 1500 series, with effects of protease on protein digestibility, beyond the release of energy by xylanase and amylase.
While at the exposition, Danisco hosted a technical seminar that provided a forum for customers and scientists to share the latest knowledge of gut health in monogastric animals. The seminar attracted a large audience that was addressed by international speakers including Richard Ducatelle from Ghent University, who shared the latest research on factors influencing poultry gut health, and Jaap van Milgen from INRA, France, on precision feeding for sustainable livestock production.
Eurotier was Danisco's first event in Europe to exhibit as a business unit of DuPont and promote its brands like Avizyme, Porzyme, Phyzyme XP and Betafin under the DuPont name.
"Our mission is to exploit the strength of DuPont in agriculture and market-driven science and to build on our expertise in enzymes, betaine and probiotics, with a pipeline of new solutions, for example, Axtra XB, a feed enzyme launched recently in the EU and approved for use in mixed grain diests for all species," said Danisco regional director Jose Manuel de la Fuente.
DuPont acquired Danisco Animal Nutrition in May 2011.

EuroTier 2012 hits record attendance numbers

With 2,445 exhibitors and around 160,000 visitors, including 38,000 international visitors, EuroTier 2012 reached new record levels, according to Dr. Reinhard Grandke, CEO of show organizer DLG (Deutsche Landwirtschafts-Gesellschaft – German Agricultural Society). The show ran November 13–16, in Hanover, Germany.
"With this result EuroTier has impressively demonstrated its great pulling power for animal husbandry farmers and experts from all over the world, and further consolidated its leading position as the world’s top event for professional animal husbandry," said Grandke. The number of exhibitors at the 2012 show increased by 25 percent compared with 2010. Altogether, 2,445 direct exhibitors and 41 additionally represented firms from a total of 51 countries presented their goods and services. Around half of the exhibitors (1,151) came from outside Germany, representing a 40 percent increase over 2010.
"EuroTier is more international than ever before," said DLG. "38,000 farmers, investors and expert visitors came to the Exhibition Grounds in Hanover to gather information. This corresponds to an increase of over 50 percent by comparison with the previous maximum level. The largest contingents of international visitors came from the Netherlands, Austria, Denmark, France, Poland, Spain and the United Kingdom. Nearly 3,000 investors and persons in charge of large-scale farms from Eastern Europe came to Hanover to see what is available on the market. The high numbers of visitors from the Near, Middle and Far East, as well as from Central and South America, also deserve mention. Over 7,000 visitors from these regions were registered." The numbers from Germany remained steady at 122,000.
The programs at the show were well-attended, said show organizers. The technical program was of particular interest to attendees, and the international events for the dairy and pig farmers, as well as the International Poultry Day immediately preceding EuroTier, have become established highlights for farmers and related specialists from all over Europe. All in all, they attracted around 1,300 international experts. The "Young Farmers Day" brought over 5,000 young farmers and students from Germany and abroad attended the various events offered at EuroTier. BioEnergy Decentral reported a constant number of around 42,000 visitors, and the share of international visitors increased by twelve percent compared with 2010, said DLG.
The next EuroTier, including BioEnergy Decentral, will be held in Hanover, Germany, November 11–14, 2014.

Poultry product innovation receives recognition at EuroTier

Amongst winners for use in poultry production were: Aeroscalder from Marel Stork Processing, Galli-Luxmeter from Hato BV Lighting, Automatic Dung Belt Control from Big Dutchman International, and Anta Phyt BLT from Dr. Eckel.

More than 300 submissions across sectors were made for this year’s EuroTier innovation awards, originating from 182 exhibitors from 23 countries — an all-time high for the event. The winning entries were judged by an independent panel, which awarded five gold medals and 19 silver medals. Among winners for use in poultry production were:


• Gold. Aeroscalder, from Marel Stork Processing. The Aeroscalder bypasses the problem of high water and power use associated with traditional methods of scalding. The Aeroscalder passes water enriched with hot air at high speed over carcasses. This results in savings of up to 75 percent for water and 40 percent for power. The air/water mixture is generated directly next to the spray chamber so that the overall system requires less space than previous equipment and machinery. Scalding conditions are monitored by sensors, and as the carcasses have no direct contact each other via the water, cross contamination is eliminated.
• Silver. Galli-Luxmeter, from Hato BV Lighting. Poultry’s vision is different to that of humans, notably perception of light intensity at various wavelengths. This is particularly important given the new light sources that are being adopted. Traditional bulbs have emitted light primarily in the red to infrared range; however, the main spectrum for new light sources is largely in the green to ultraviolet range. The setting and checking of light intensity in poultry houses using normal lux meters does not correspond to birds’ light sensitivity. The Galli-Luxmeter measures according to the sensitivity of poultry, contributing substantially to achieving the correct lighting in line with welfare requirements.
• Silver. Automatic Dung Belt Control, Big Dutchman International. Dung belts run inconsistently when loaded unevenly, making correction of pre-tension necessary to stop the belts from tearing as a result of rubbing against the guides. In modern systems, belt repair or replacement is labor-intensive, and so in practice it is common to adjust them manually via a set screw when running is inconsistent. However, this is often forgotten, and the result is damage to the belt. Moreover, inconsistent running has tended to increase with newer ways of keeping layers, and so automatic correction via the dung belt control should help to keep this problem to a minimum.
• Silver. Anta Phyt BLT, from Dr. Eckel, is a feed additive based on phytogenic substances and carriers with prebiotic action, which has been developed with scientific research. The product has been subjected to a rigorous licensing procedure and offers the promise of action against pathogens, so lessening the need for antibiotics. Not only does it improve animal health, but helps to protect the environment. Although developed for poultry, with modification, it can be used in other species.

Jules Tournut Probiotics Prize awarded at EuroTier 2012

Peter de Schryver is this year’s recipient of the Jules Tournut Probiotics Prize. Awarded at the trade show EuroTier, the prize recognized his work in evaluating a new microbial-based approach to improve aquaculture practices.
His study looked at applying poly-B-hydroxybutyrate, or PHB, as a feed supplement in aquaculture. At levels of 2 percent and 5 percent in the diet, PHB seemed to significantly enhance the growth performance of juvenile European sea bass with a factor of 2.4 and 2.7, respectively. The richness and genetic diversity of the intestinal microbial community in terms of the range-weighted richness seemed to be closely correlated with the growth performance of the fish, suggesting a host-microbial interaction that was steered by the presence of PHB.
Supplementation with PHB had a steering effect in juvenile sea bass, resulting in converging microbial community similarities between treated fish. PHB induced more equal abundances between the various bacterial species, and higher PHB levels resulted in a higher degree of evenness.
To increase the efficiency of PHB treatment, PHB depolymerising probiotics were isolated for the first time from the intestinal environment of juvenile sea bass, sturgeon and giant river prawns. These were combined with PHB in a symbiotic strategy. This approach increased the survival of Artemia franciscana nauplii with a factor of 2 to 3 when challenged with a pathogenic Vibrio strain, compared to an approach with PHB or the isolates alone.

Pig house of the future main attraction at EuroTier

The Big Dutchman-designed concept details how pig farms could look and operate in the future.

A new concept detailing how pig farms could look and operate in the future is attracting more than 20,000 visitors a day at the 2012 EuroTier livestock production show in Hanover, Germany.
Designed and staged by Big Dutchman, the fully automated futuristic display includes a revolving system that checks if the sows are pregnant and separates those that are not, leading them directly to a special insemination area. There are also special waiting areas, meeting areas, farrowing pens, exercise areas and rearing-finishing areas in a system that is designed to meet future environmental and health regulations, as well as consumer demands for pig welfare.
“The main idea behind this vision for the future is that the animals are free all the time from farrowing through to finishing, and it allows people to see how the animals are treated through all the production stages,” said Project Manager Daniel Holling. The concept includes a number of revolutionary ideas, some of which are already on their way to the market, some of which are still going through trials and even some that might never actually meet market requirements. Some of those ideas include a dry feeding system, an automatic manure scraper and special systems to collect a range of different statistics and other data.
“We wanted to show people that Big Dutchman is thinking ahead and provide them with an idea of what the future might look like,” said Holling. He said that the system had already been through a series of promising practical trials on a small pig farm (with 60 sows) in north Germany, which showed that everything worked properly, although he said he expected it would be some time before it was all commercially available. “The ultimate goal is a professional and profitable pig management system, without restriction for the pigs,” he said. “We hope this pig house of the future will provide people with a practical basis for discussion and encourage producers to get more actively involved in the further development of livestock farming.”
Holling said he was sure the company would get a lot of feedback from many of the people who had been through the huge, walk-in working display at EuroTier.

WATT presents award of distinction to Giordano Poultry Plast

WATT presented an award to Giordano Poultry Plast for 50 years of service to the industry. From left, Enrico Giordano, production manager; Michael van den Dries, WATT international sales manager; Oscar Giordano, managing director; and Greg Watt, president/CEO of WATT. 

WATT staff members presented a special award of distinction to Giordano Poultry Plast at EuroTier in Hanover, Germany, in recognition of its 50 years of service to the poultry industry.
“Fifty years in the poultry industry is a tremendous milestone and Giordano’s accomplishments and influence over the last half-century do not go unnoticed,” said Greg Watt, President/CEO. “I can’t think of a better place to recognize our long-standing, valued partnership with Giordano Poultry Plast than here at EuroTier, Europe’s largest display of agribusiness technology and innovation.”
Giordano Poultry Plast is a family owned global company based in Caraglio, Cuneo, Italy, and produces a wide variety of molded plastic products including: poultry transport crates, drinkers and feeders, chick boxes, egg trays and containers, poultry and pig slats, and more. Established in 1962, the company officially celebrated its 50th anniversary in July.

Watch video reports from EuroTier 2012

Our editors are at EuroTier 2012 in Hanover, Germany, the week of November 12, filing up-to-the minute video reports using Tout.
Tout is a social media platform that allows users to shoot 15-second video status updates via smartphones and webcams. Touts are shared in real time and posted on the WATTAgNet Home, Poultry and Feed pages and via our Twitter feed @wattpoultry.
Watch for constant updates this week.
We hope you enjoy these short videos from the show.
Feel free to comment on these videos, share them or give us your opinion.

State of German egg market scrutinized at EuroTier Poultry Forum

The German egg industry has recovered swiftly from the downturn in production caused by the switch out of conventional cages. This was among the messages to emerge from an examination of the German egg market held as part of the EuroTier Poultry Forum.
The signals from the German market are positive with not only an increase in egg consumption but also an increase in the number of egg farms. Some egg farms closed as part of the transition, but some farmers have switched into egg production resulting in an increase in the total number of producers. For 2012, per capita egg production is estimated to stand at 214.
Almost two-thirds of German layers are now reared in barn systems, and this has been the favored option for those switching out of conventional cages. Prices paid to producers rose in 2011, following declines in the previous couple of years, and this increase is expected to continue into 2013. However, profitability has been affected by high feed prices.
Some 50 percent of eggs consumed in Germany are purchased by consumers, with the remainder going to caterers and processors, and while sales of organic eggs are increasing, the most profitable method of production remains barn rearing.
Despite the difficulties of the switch out of conventional cages now behind the industry and the expectation of price increases continuing, there remain challenges for the industry, in particular, welfare issues.
Germany is not self-sufficient in eggs; producers are expected to concentrate on supplying the home market rather than looking beyond Germany’s borders.
Half of those eggs purchased by consumers are sold by large discounters, such as Aldi and Lidl, which have gained market share over recent years.

EuroTier Poultry Forum examines European cage ban one year on

The impact of the switch out of conventional cages in the European Union was amongst the topics discussed at the Poultry Forum, held as part of EuroTier 2012. Despite not all the countries meeting the January 1 deadline, and significant declines in some European Member States, the European Commission forecasts that European egg production will be higher in 2013.
2012 will end with total European egg production slightly lower, largely as a result of the switch out of conventional cages but also, to a lesser degree, as a result of a decline in per-capita consumption. However, the region remains self-sufficient in eggs, and the often-predicted collapse in the industry has not occurred.
Yet the changeover has not been without its problems. As recently as 2010, 45.5 percent of the region’s layers were still housed in conventional cages. Many countries failed to meet the January 2012 deadline for full compliance, resulting in the European Commission issuing proceedings against 10 member states.
This was enough to spur most into action and, by mid-year, all but three countries were compliant. Yet, in this last-minute dash to comply some countries saw their output decline significantly. Spain, for example, is expected to end the year producing 15 percent fewer eggs.
Greece, Cyprus and Italy have yet to comply with the cage ban, according to the most recent European Commission documents. While the number of layers kept in conventional cages has declined in Italy over recent years, at mid-year, some 17 million birds were still housed this way.
Compliant ahead of deadline, Germany saw a decline in egg production in 2009 and 2010, while in 2011 and 2012 there was a recovery. A slight increase in output is forecast for 2013.
This variation in compliance has caused some to be upset with producers who have complied and so, while not legally binding, a gentleman’s agreement has been adopted by Europe’s Member States under which eggs from non-compliant farms can only be used for processing, and only in the country where they were produced. This has, however, resulted in some distortion of trade.
Despite these difficulties, the European egg market is expected to be well supplied in 2013. 

Canadians look for business in East European pig markets

A Canadian pig business, BMR Genetics International, which is opening its first nucleus unit in the Ukraine in December, is exhibiting at the international EuroTier event in Hanover, Germany, in the hope of winning even more new business in Eastern Europe.
Richard Stein, president of Stein BMR Genetics International, said he hoped his company could help countries in the region, including Russia and the Ukraine, to improve production and reduce their high mortality rates, for example, with new genetics and modern management expertise, as well as better housing, improved veterinary treatment and nutrition.
Although he has been to EuroTier before, he believes the opportunity to attract interest from pig business in the former Communist countries is better now as they start to expand their pig farming activities.
“We are working with partners in the Ukraine at the moment, and I will be managing the new herd as well as setting up new distribution links so that I can eventually sell the genetics across the country.
“The country has great potential to expand its pig industry, with its current crop production, plenty of labor at reasonable costs and an abundance of land – and I am sure there are similar business opportunities available in other Eastern European countries, such as the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Poland.
“It’s an exciting time, especially for me, because I have been involved in genetics in Canada since 1966, and this is a great new challenge.” 

China pig producers discuss scientific advancements at EuroTier Europe-China summit

Chinese pig producers are looking to raise the scientific level of their systems and accelerate production — and they are ready to work with their colleagues in Europe in a joint effort to do this and improve the world-wide industry.
The deputy secretary general of the China Animal Agricultural Association, Gong Guifen, spoke at EuroTier 2012 in Hanover, Germany, on November 12, at the Europe-China Pig Summit. “China is a huge pig producer and consumer, while Europe has state-of-the-art technology and has played a substantial role in the successful development of the global industry," she said. “Together they could achieve great things. So, I hope this meeting provide for a profitable exchange between the two regions.”
Helmut Ehlen, the president of ZDS, the umbrella organization of pig production in Germany, opened the conference, which was organized by the European Pig Producers. “China is important as a producer and an important partner in the international market," said Ehlen. “There is a growing need and demand for meat across the world, with different eating habits leading to new markets, and I am optimistic for the future for pig meat, which already enjoys the lion’s share of the meat market.”
Dr. Mike Varley of the Pig Technology Company, who has been working in south and south east Asia for the past 25 years, said he agreed that the future looked optimistic and that rapid improvements in Asia opened up the door for European and U.S. companies to help Asian producers continue to grow. This included providing:


• Systems that offer better biosecurity
• Technology to improve food safety
• New animal welfare techniques
• Better genetics
• Medication and skills to help the Asian industry combat disease and improve their health status

“There are also export opportunities, especially to China now, but I think in the future they may do it all themselves, so Europeans should get in now to help them build up their industry and pig production companies," said Varley. He also said that Asian pig producers were quick to take up new technology, quick to learn and worked well together. They also saved to invest for the future, which he said was vital to ensure a successful future for the whole pig industry.
EuroTier 2012 will take place November 13–16, in Hanover, Germany.