Novus partners with Kenya's Egerton University to help develop local capacity, support local feed economy

Novus International Inc.'s Novus Scholars program has partnered with Kenya's Egerton University.
The partnership will allow Novus to assist the school in developing its local capacity and support the local feed economy by providing equipment and training. "We have established a repeatable model with our Novus Scholars program that benefits students, professors and our employees," said Dr. Giovanni Gasperoni, executive vice president for marketing and sales. "I have witnessed the growth of these programs. They are encouraging knowledge transfer and developing real employment opportunities for graduates."
The program works with universities around the world to award professors and students who are, or will be, industry leaders in agriculture with scholarships and fellowships.

Register for free webinar roundtable on managing mycotoxins

In the feed industry, finding an effective solution to manage and control mycotoxins is vital to the success of your operation.
Join industry panelists Michael Officer, Managing Director of Feed Quality Products for Novus; Dr. Duarte Diaz, Product Manager and Feed Quality Champion; and Vice Presidents Bruce Malone and Carrie Maune of Trilogy Labs as they discuss managing mycotoxins in feeds during a roundtable webinar discussion on December 7, 2010, at 10 a.m. CST.  
In this online presentation, moderator Gary Thornton, Content Director for WATT PoultryUSA, will lead the panelists in a discussion about important mycotoxin issues such as:

·         Sampling feed and ingredients for reliable results

·         Interpreting test results...what do they mean?

·         Mycotoxin symptoms and the effects on production, health and profitability

·         Choosing the right solution for the situation

·         Mycotoxin prevalence past and future

The formal roundtable discussion will be followed by a Q & A session, giving attendees the opportunity to call in and ask questions of the panel.

Click Here to register online and reserve your seat now.

Cornell stages cage-free debate, takes on HSUS

In a recent debate entitled, “Cage-Free verses Conventional Eggs,” Professor Joe Regenstein, of the Cornell University Department of Food Science, faced Josh Balk, outreach director of the Humane Society of the United Sates. The event was held in front of an audience of students and faculty comprising the academic community of the Ivy. The debate was sponsored by the Students’ Assemblies Dining Committee and comprised a 10-minute presentation followed by discussion and interchanges.
Balk presented a video documenting five farms with cages “that were not well maintained but remained approved by the United Egg Producers.” The opponent of cage systems also invoked the alleged higher prevalence rate of salmonella infection in caged hens compared to floor housing.
Gail Finan, director of Cornell Dining, noted that the university had recently switched back to conventional from cage-free based on the significant expense. She added that students have not shown much interest in the issue. Other concerns such as local foods and cost were more important factors than housing of hens in purchase decisions.

United Egg Producers address SE crisis, animal welfare

The annual board meeting and executive conference of the United Egg Producers (UEP) held recently in Williamsburg, Va., was detailed in the organization newsletter United Voices. The following initiatives will be implemented.

• The UEP has established a Food Safety Scientific Advisory Council comprising eleven scientific experts to improve industry safety programs.

• The UEP will update the 5-Star Total Quality Assurance Food Safety Program to be presented to the FDA and the FMI for their consideration.

• Funding of approximately $2.7 million will be required for the Michigan State University and the Midwest Universities Consortium to evaluate alternative caged systems, including enriched colony modules.

• Animal welfare guidelines have been established for hatcheries producing pullet chicks, following a 2009 incident involving alleged improper disposal of cockerels.

• The Egg Pack Committee reported contributions for the current year, which exceeded the goal.

• Mark Oldenkemp, of Valley Fresh Foods, was honored as the UEP’s Egg Producer of the Year.

• Howard Helmer received the President’s Award for his long service promoting eggs.

Guest speakers at the conference included Robert Kohlhagn of Diverse Ctiversey Inc. on sustainability. Chuck Conner, president of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, addressed issues relating to cooperatives and activities of the USDA and the Department of Justice. Dr. Cora Morgan of the Food and Drug Administration provided a review on performance measures to access SE reduction and Marie Fenn President, of the National Peanut Board, discussed the salmonella crisis in 2009 affecting peanut products.

University of Georgia to hold international poultry course Jan. 30-Feb. 3

The University of Georgia will hold an international poultry course from Jan. 30 through Feb. 3, 2010.
This three-day course was designed by the Department of Poultry Science and covers a broad range of topics of interest to individuals new to the poultry industry, as well as experienced professionals. In addition to formal instruction, demonstrations in various areas of poultry science will be conducted at the University research facility in Athens. Participants will have the opportunity to interact with experts in many areas. 
The course will immediately follow the International Poultry Exposition in Atlanta. Tuition is $800 and includes all luncheons and basic materials for the course. Other meals, lodging or transportation are not included.
The following topics will be covered:
Advances in layer management, intervention strategies to control salmonella, broiler management, disease control, genetic improvement, breeder performance tips, nutrition, environmental control, processing, hatchery problem solving and others.

Hillandale’s Iowa facility to resume shipping eggs

The Food and Drug Administration informed Hillandale Farms that the Hampton, Iowa, facility could resume shipping table eggs from specific houses based on corrective action and negative environmental assays. Based on positive assays from four houses, egg pool testing will continue before a decision is made concerning the marketability of product from these flocks. Two houses are undergoing decontamination following depletion. In a letter dated October 15, the FDA commented that corrective action to remedy “objectionable conditions noted during the August inspection have been resolved.”
In a separate letter to Mr. Jack Austin DeCoster, the FDA noted that the biosecurity problems and deviations from acceptable standards, as documented during previous inspections, have not been rectified and the company was warned to “take prompt and aggressive action to eliminate salmonella contamination and defects in biosecurity.”
The FDA warned that failure to take prompt action would result in regulatory penalties including seizure of product and injunctions. The warning letter cited deviations from regulations concerning safety of shell eggs with specific reference to rodent control and biosecurity. The recipient of the FDA letter was advised to respond indicating “prompt and aggressive action” to the district director.

EuroTier visitors have opportunity to tour biogas, wood heating plants

EuroTier and BioEnergy Decentral are offering tours of biogas and wood heating plants during EuroTier 2010.
Four separate excursions involving four biogas plants and two wood heating plants are planned. Visitors will obtain practical information on energy timber production directly from the source. All plant tours will be conducted in English.