UK egg producers disappointed by government cage stance

The UK’s National Farmers Union has expressed its disappointment that the government has not been able to adopt stronger measures to protect egg producers from illegal eggs (laid by caged hens) potentially entering the UK beginning in 2012.
Farming minister Jim Paice has announced that the UK food industry will have to reach a voluntary consensus that it will not use eggs produced by hens in conventional cages, although manufacturers will still be allowed to use the same eggs for their products.
NFU poultry board chairman Charles Bourns said: “We welcome the enforcement measures being taken by the government, but our members will certainly be bitterly disappointed that it has not been possible to take tougher action.
“We are concerned that, although the government has repeatedly pledged its support for the industry, it cannot prohibit the use of illegal egg products and food manufactured from such products. Although we are pleased to see the support of some UK retailers and food manufacturers on this, there are still a number of companies who have yet to make this commitment.
"Further to this, we would like to see retailers and food manufacturers showing their support for the whole of the British egg industry by offering a fair price for all legal eggs and egg products to recognise the investment that has been made in all production systems in readiness for January 1.
“The UK egg industry should not be disadvantaged for embracing new higher welfare systems, and the government’s announcement is not what UK egg producers needed after they have invested so heavily and met the requirements of the law.”
Some 13 European member states are not expected to be compliant with the cage ban come January 1, 2012.

India bans Nepal poultry imports on bird flu concerns

India has banned poultry imports from Nepal after Nepal declared one of its districts an emergency area and put another 26 districts on high alert due to an outbreak of H5N1 avian influenza.
Over 500 chickens and ducks have already been culled in Nepal, and dozens of eggs and several kilos of poultry feed have been destroyed as part of efforts to contain the outbreak, according to officials. “Though there has been no case of bird flu in the region so far, directives have been received from the authorities to take all necessary precautions," said India district veterinary officer Mohammed Ahmed. "The locals have also been asked not to hunt migratory birds." 

Kenya poultry farmers struggling with high production costs

Kenya's poultry farmers are struggling with high production costs, including a 50% increase in chicken feed and erratic electricity and fuel costs, according to the Kenya Broiler Breeders Association. The numbers are leading to a drop in profits that is pushing some farmers out of business.
A shortage in day-old chicks is further complicating issues, as farmers must place orders and wait up to six months for deliveries. “This is a crisis," said Muiruri Mbuthi, KBBA coordinator. "There is an acute shortage and when available, the chicks are going for as much as Sh90 (US$1.00) as opposed to Sh50 (US$0.56) six months ago, forcing farmers to import from Uganda."
According to the Kenyan government, inflation has hit the poultry sector, and the national cost of production is now at Sh4.3 billion (US$48 million), up from a three-year average of Sh1.9 billion (US$21.2 million). The Ministry of Livestock Development said the government is trying to come up with a poultry policy that will address subsidies, standardization mechanisms, treatment and market structures to curb losses and exploitation. In the meantime, the government is urging Kenya to increase domestic poultry consumption to create a ready local market for breeders.

Venezuela, Philippines renew poultry trade with Brazil

Inspectors from Venezuela and the Philippines have been visiting a number of Brazil’s poultry processing and beef and pork processing plants with a view to renewing export licenses and expanding trade.
Venezuela is the largest American importer of Brazilian poultry meat, purchasing 164,400 tons in 2010 with a value of US$282.2 million, and the inspection team has been visiting some 40 establishments in Paraná, Santa Catarina, Mato Grosso do Sul and Goias, Brazil. Brazil’s poultry producers believe that, as well as maintaining current trade levels between the two countries, there is an opportunity to expand exports of poultry meat and fertile eggs to Venezuela.
In 2010, The Philippines imported 18,800 tons of Brazilian poultry meat with a value of US$10.5 million. The Filipino mission visited ports in Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina and São Paulo, Brazil.

AFIA to host feed industry Purchasing and Ingredient Suppliers Conference

The American Feed Industry Association will hold its annual Purchasing and Ingredient Suppliers Conference at Omni ChampionsGate in Orlando, Fla., March 14-16, 2012. More than 450 buyers and sellers of feed and pet food ingredients are expected to attend the event.
The AFIA Nutrition Committee will host a pre-conference nutrition symposium, "Feeding More People with Fewer Resources and Less Impact: Delivering the Message of a Sustainable Future for Animal Agriculture," on March 13, 2012. The program is open to all PISC and Spring Committee meeting attendees, but has an additional fee of $100.
Attendees can also participate in the golf outing at the ChampionsGate Golf Club on the hotel’s property. The golf fee includes breakfast, a boxed lunch, two drink tickets and an awards ceremony. The deadline to request a golf-pairing is Feb. 27, 2012.
The early bird rate for conference registration before Feb. 10, 2012, is $599 for members, $2,025 for non-members and $165 for spouses.

University of Georgia receives $16,334 USPOULTRY Foundation grant

The University of Georgia poultry science department recently received a $16,334 student recruiting grant from the USPOULTRY Foundation.
The department uses funds from the Foundation to attract students to its majors through summer programs, which introduce high school students to the field of poultry science, according to Dr. Mike Lacy, professor and head of the department. "Funds are also used to create recruiting materials to help students who already attending UGA, but are not familiar with the poultry science department, become aware of the tremendous number and diversity of career opportunities available in the poultry industry," said Lacey.
The USPOULTRY Foundation board recently approved student recruiting grants totaling more than $180,000 to six U.S. universities with poultry science departments and 14 other institutions with poultry programs. The Foundation provides annual recruiting funds to colleges and universities to attract students to their poultry programs.

Tyson donates 20,000 pounds of chicken to Los Angeles veterans

Tyson Foods Inc. donated 20,000 pounds of chicken to the Veterans' Holiday Celebration and Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, contributing 80,000 meals as part of an effort to feed people in need and show its commitment for hiring military veterans, reservists and their family members.
On the first Sunday of every December, the VA of Greater Los Angeles, VA Voluntary Service, more than 100 restaurants, local businesses and the community at large hold an event with the objective of providing a memorable meal, gifts and entertainment for the area's military veterans. In addition, the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank distributes more than 62 million pounds of food annually throughout its service area. One million Los Angeles residents, including children and seniors, receive emergency food assistance each year from the food bank and its 900 member agencies. "This is a very generous donation from Tyson," said Michael Flood, president and CEO of the food bank. "High-quality proteins, especially chicken, are an important nutritional component for our inventory and are in high demand by our agencies and clients.