Intracare study: Drinking water is major source of common bacteria

Intracare has completed a study that shows drinking water to be one of the major sources of common bacteria like E. coli and salmonella.
The company tested 237 water samples between August 2009 and June 2010. Of those, 47% contained pathogenic microorganisms that could have a major impact on animal health. In fact, according to Dutch Animal Health, 22% of all the water samples they analyze are unfit for drinking. "These figures stand in sharp contrast to the attention that livestock farmers pay to the quality of their drinking water," said Intracare Marketing and Sales Manager Arjan van de Vondervoort. "This should not be the case, given that drinking water is one of the main sources of infectious diseases in animals."
Problems with contamination arise when the concentration of added chlorine or acids drops, such as when medicines, vaccines or liquid food supplements that do not tolerate being mixed with chlorine or acids are provided via the drinking water. "In addition, we have observed that the dead matter arising from the use of acid and chlorine attaches itself to the inside surfaces of the drinking system," said Vondervoort. "It is not removed, so it forms a biofilm."
This biofilm is the perfect breeding ground for bacteria and molds. The key, says the company, is to remove the biofilm and kill off any microorganisms present.

Hillandale Farms establishes bioenergy project to process hen manure

Hillandale Farms' new complex that is expected to recycle 13,000 tons of mineral byproducts annually.

Hillandale Farms of Gettysburg, Penn., and EnergyWorks BioPower have entered into a formal agreement to proceed with the construction of a facility to process manure from up to 5 million hens to generate electrical power. It is calculated that the complex using gasification technology will generate 2.5 megawatts of electricity, recycle 13,000 tons of mineral byproducts annually and reduce farm ammonia emissions by 50%.
The process will eliminate the need to apply manure to 23,000 acres of land and will contribute to the Pennsylvania 2025 goal for reducing nitrogen and phosphorus release to the Chesapeake Bay.

Conflict over beak trimming in the UK

The British Egg Information Council has urged legislators to delay imposing the ban on beak trimming beyond the proposed initiation date of January 1, 2011. Compassion in World Farming is actively lobbying the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs of the UK government (analogous to the USDA) to not to extend the deadline claiming research studies which show both infra-red and hot blade trimming can cause pain.
In turn, DEFRA, supported by the Farm Animal Welfare Council, claims that welfare benefits from the action would be offset by an increase in pecking and cannibalism, especially as confinement of hens in small-group cages will be phased out in 2012.
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, quoting the UK Farmers Weekly, the chief executive of the EIC Mark Williams commented, “In our view, it will not bring welfare benefits to laying hens – indeed, it could have quite the contrary effect.”

Poultry study: No general consensus demonstrating the superiority of one housing system over another

Dr. Peter Holt will publish a white paper in an upcoming edition of Poultry Science entitled “The Impact of Different Housing Systems on Egg Safety and Quality.” Co-authors include Dr. R. H. Davies, of the Veterinary Laboratory Agency Weybridge in the UK; Dr. J. Dewulf, of the University of Ghent in Belgium; Dr. Richard Gast, of the USDA-ARS- SEPRL; Dr. D.R. Jones, of the USDA Egg Safety and Quality Research Unit; Dr. Douglas Waltman, of the Georgia Poultry Laboratory; and Dr. K.L. Willian, of Tuskegee University.
The survey data on the prevalence of SE appears contradictory and inconsistent with differences between results obtained in Europe and the U.S. As previously noted in Egg Industry, adherence to effective egg quality assurance programs and the adoption of vaccination can markedly influence the recovery of SE from the environment of flocks and eggs. The authors concluded that there is no general consensus demonstrating the superiority of one housing system over another with respect to either food safety or quality.
Although minor differences in nutrient content of eggs may be recorded, comparisons between conventionally caged and free-range hens are obscured by lack of details concerning compositions of diets fed to hens which were surveyed. It is known that omega-3 fatty acid content, vitamins A, D and E can be enhanced by appropriate dietary supplementation. With respect to safety, contamination with chemicals and pesticides may be a problem with eggs derived from hens allowed free access to the outside of barns.
The authors concluded, “Many factors besides housing type affect the safety and quality of eggs. These effects need to be taken into account before conclusions can be made regarding the efficacy of different housing systems in relation to egg safety and quality.” The Holt et al. article will not resolve any ongoing debate between the opponents of confined housing and the industry.

Chinese poultry imports from South America increase

During the first seven moths of 2010, China’s total poultry imports from South America showed a marked increase.
China imported 102.1 thousand tons of poultry from Argentina, nearly twice more than last year. In August of 2009, China began importing poultry from Brazil and the numbers have increased monthly. Imports from Brazil reached 157.3 thousand tons in the first seven months of 2010.
Overall, however, China's poultry imports have so far come in at 335.8 thousand tons, a yearly reduction of 20%. In particular, poultry imports from the U.S. reduced 81% to 67.7 thousand tons, causing the imported U.S. poultry coverage in China to reduce to 20% from last year’s 85%.

African Swine Fever's spread out of Russia must be prevented

Brussels must do more to stop African Swine Fever spreading from Russia into the European Union, says Lithuania.
The country has a considerable trade with Russia in live pigs and pig products and it has asked the EU to carry out an analysis into the status of the disease in the Russian Federation and offer technical support to the relevant Russian authorities. 

Pfizer announces 3 finalists for Pig Trainee of the Year awards

Pfizer Animal Health has announced the three finalists for its annual Pig Trainee of the Year award.
Kate Munro-Ashman, the manager of a 900-sow outdoor unit producing weaners; Peter Hunt, who works with an outdoor pig herd at LB & HE Bowker at Cotley Farm; and Helen Hooks, who manages a 540-sow indoor unit producing weaners and was a runner-up for the 2008 award, have been chosen. The award, which includes a training grant and a cash prize worth a combined total of £2500, will be presented Nov. 1 at a House of Commons ceremony for both the pig and poultry sectors.