Germany animal feed industry to stabilize in 2013

Germany's animal feed industry is expected to stabilize in 2013, and a large summer European harvest will lower grain prices, according to the industry.
The German Farm Cooperatives Association has forecast Germany's 2013 grain crop of all types at 44.39 million metric tons against 45.17 million metric tons harvested in 2012 and 45.22 million metric tons forecast in March. German feed producers are also expecting overall stable demand from livestock farmers. Sales of feed for poultry and beef production are expected to rise in 2013 and compensate for expected lower sales of pig feed.
Germany's feed industry is mostly only buying feed grain supplies for nearby delivery dates on belief prices will fall as big harvests in 2013 are likely, said Heinz Daske, head of the north-east German section of German feed industry association DVT. "The industry is expecting a good harvest in Europe this summer and so falling prices. This means the industry is not buying forward supply cover. I think the harvest prospects are still good despite the long winter." Germany and much of west Europe suffered a long winter with frosts and cold weather well into the normal spring period, which hindered crop growth.

Dioxin found in German farm eggs

The chemical dioxin has been found in above-acceptable levels in the eggs of another German farm near Aurich in the state of Lower Saxony, according to the Lower Saxony state agriculture ministry.
The discovery is the latest in a string of eight other farms since April, where dioxin has been found in Lower Saxony and the neighboring state of North Rhine Westphalia. The cause of some of the outbreaks is thought to be free-range chickens living on earth contaminated by construction materials.
The currently contaminated farm holds 1,000 free-range hens. It has been sealed off while investigations are underway and its eggs cannot be sold, said authorities. The ministry has said there is no danger to public health.

Dioxin found in eggs from German farms

The chemical dioxin has been found in above-permitted levels in eggs from five farms in the central German state of North Rhine Westphalia, according to the state agriculture ministry.
The first three farms had levels of dioxin three to six times permitted levels, and all farms have been sealed off and are not permitted to sell any more eggs. How the chemical got into the eggs is unclear, as the animal feed samples from the farms have shown no contamination.
In January 2011, an EU-wide health alert started when German officials said animal feed tainted with dioxin had been fed to hens and pigs, contaminating eggs, poultry meat and pig meat at the affected farms. Germany then introduced a series of new measures including restrictions on animal feed ingredients and more rigorous routine food testing.

Germany poultry production up 2.5 percent in 2011

Germany's poultry production increased by 2.5 percent in 2011, to 1.66 million metric tons, according to the country's Food and Agriculture Ministry.
Poultry output included 1.19 million metric tons of chicken, 401,000 metric tons of turkey meat, 63,000 metric tons of duck and 4,500 metric tons of geese. Germany's poultry imports rose 26 percent to 98,300 metric tons, and exports increased 5.4 percent to 312,700 tons, according to the ministry. National per-capita poultry consumption rose 0.2 kilogram (0.4 pound) to 18.9 kilograms as eating of chicken meat on average climbed 0.4 kilogram to 11.8 kilograms.

German poultry processors to merge

German poultry processor Stolle Group is in the process of merging with Germany-based poultry processor Friki Geflugel GmbH, part of Netherlands-based Plukon Royale Group BV.
According to the companies, the deal will help them achieve a significant market position in the German poultry meat sector. Together, the group generates roughly €1.1 billion in turnover, with more than 4,000 employees and 13 product locations. The two companies collectively slaughter and process approximately 6.5 million chickens and turkeys per week.

Germany introduces 'without gene technology' logo

The minister for agriculture of the Federal Republic of Germany has introduced a standard logo to be applied to foods free of GMO ingredients, according to a news report.
The intent of the logo is to create "more freedom of choice and enhancement of transparency." It may be difficult to use in practice and will have limited application.
Currently, a label "without gene technology" is applied to food products which were produced only with conventional GMO corn or soy but incorporate vitamins, enzymes or other additives possibly derived from genetically modified organisms.
The present "without gene technology" label is seldom used as it is virtually impossible for a manufacturer to confirm that all the ingredients used to produce a livestock-derived product are free of any GMO component.