Defra confirms UK duck farm infected with H5N8 avian influenza

The outbreak of avian influenza that infected ducks at a U.K. farm has been confirmed to be of the H5N8 serotype, the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) reported on November 18.
The outbreak was first reported by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) on November 11. Of a total 6,000 susceptible ducks at the farm in Yorkshire, 338 had died from an apparent infection of avian influenza. However, until Defra made its announcement, the exact serotype of the virus had not yet been determined.
The UK farm had noticed a drop in egg production from the ducks leading up to the confirmation of H5N8 avian influenza. Underlying bacterial/fungal infections likely preceded the avian influenza infections, reported OIE.
H5N8 avian influenza has also infected flocks at other farms in Europe in recent weeks. The H5N8 strain was first detected at a fattening turkey holding in Germany and reported by OIE on November 6.  An estimated 1,880 birds died, with culling efforts following for other susceptible birds.
OIE on November 16 reported another outbreak of H5N8 avian influenza, this time in The Netherlands. About 1,000 layer and breeding hens were found dead, with an additional 149,000 susceptible birds destroyed.
Defra advised that H5N8 avian influenza is a very low risk to human health and does not threaten the food chain.

Guangdong China detects H5N1 virus in ducks

The H5N1 avian influenza virus has infected 14,050 ducks in the city of Zhanjiang in south China's Guangdong province, according to reports, leading to 6,300 deaths since September 11 directly due to the disease.
Local authorities have since culled 67,500 birds in the area as a precaution against spreading the disease, according to the World Organisation for Animal Health. So far, no vaccinations or other treatments are planned, but the area has been quarantines and is being monitored.

Anhui Poultry net income down over 2010 numbers

Chinese duck breeder and processor Anhui Taiyang Poultry Co. Inc. reported a net income of $1.7 million for the nine months ending September 30, 2011, down 60.5% from 2010's $4.4 million, according to the company's latest financial report.
Part of the drop in income, according to Anhui, can be attributed to one-time gains in the sale of a fertilizer plant and the collection of a previously written-off account receivable in 2010. In addition, bad debt charges and increased income tax expenses affected 2011's net income.
Anhui's breeding unit saw a 57.3% increase in revenue in the first nine months of 2011 over 2010 numbers, bringing in $12.2 million compared to $7.7 million. The feed and food units saw 54% and 50.6% drops in revenue, respectively, coming in at $4.3 million and $6.8 million compared to 2010's $9.4 million and $13.7 million.

US poultry certified wholesome down in September

Poultry certified wholesome during September 2011 (ready-to-cook weight) totaled 3.71 billion pounds, down 1% from the amount certified in September 2010, according to the latest report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The August 2011 revised certified total came in at 3.90 billion pounds, up 4% from August 2010. The August revision represented an increase of 57.4 million pounds from the preliminary pounds certified.
The preliminary total live weight of all federally inspected poultry during September 2011 was 4.92 billion pounds, down 2% from 5 billion pounds in 2010. Young chickens inspected totaled 4.24 billion pounds, down 2% from September 2010. Mature chickens, at 73.8 million pounds, were up 2% from 2010 numbers. Turkey inspections totaled 594 million pounds, up 2%, while ducks totaled 13.1 million pounds, down 9% from 2010.
Young chickens slaughtered during September 2011 averaged 5.86 pounds per bird, up 2% from September 2010. The average live weight of mature chickens was 5.78 pounds per bird, up 1% from the same time in 2010. Turkeys slaughtered during September 2011 averaged 29.1 pounds per bird, up 2% from September 2010.
For more U.S. poultry information and statistics, see www.wattagnet.com/marketdata.html.

Food show Anuga bans foie gras products

Products that stem from foie gras production have been banned from German food exhibition Anuga, due to take place in October.
Production of foie gras is banned in some countries and now Anuga and its host, Kolnmesse, have decided that foie gras and meat from force-fed geese and ducks will not be shown at the exhibition.
The decision comes following pressure from international animal welfare organization Four Paws. “This is a very important symbol and shows that Anuga takes both animal and consumer protection seriously," said Marcus Muller, head of the Four Paws foie gras campaign. "Now we can call off our planned protest around the exhibition.”

China duck breeder increases net income by 73% in 2010

China duck breeder Anhui Taiyang Poultry Co. Inc. has reported a 73% increase in net income ($4.3 million) for 2010 when compared to 2009 numbers ($2.5 million).
The company's revenue increased 44% from 2009's $28.9 million to 2010's $41.7 million. "Our revenue increase was primarily driven by the increase in our breeding unit revenue by 63% to $12.6 million and revenue in our feed unit to $13.9 million as compared to approximately $51,000 in 2009," said Wu Qiyou, CEO and chairman of the board of directors. "During the third and fourth quarters of 2010, the pricing of ducklings hit a historically high price of...approximately $1.18 per duckling. As a result, we found it more financially beneficial to explore options to sell our ducklings as opposed to raising the ducks to be used for the food unit of our business. Thereby, revenue in our food business was reduced while increasing the revenue generated through our breeding unit."
Anhui Taiyang's adjusted net income (non-GAAP) reached $7.1 million for 2010, adding $2.1 million in one-time stock-based compensation and a limit of $705,000 in professional service expenses related to becoming a publically traded company in November 2010.