Egypt reports fifth bird flu death in 2012

A Giza governorate has become the fifth bird flu death in Egypt in 2012, according to the World Health Organization.
The 26-year-old woman developed symptoms of H5N1 on April 1 and was admitted to the hospital on April 7, dying on the same day, according to reports. She had exposure to backyard poultry.
Egypt is second in the world in bird flu cases, after Indonesia, and third in the world in H5N1 deaths, well behind Indonesia and just one case behind Vietnam. So far in 2012, Egypt has had the most bird flu cases, with nine.

Brazil pig meat exports continue higher in March

The volume of pig meat exported by Brazil in March rose by 6.93 percent, while the value of exports was 3.02 percent higher in comparison to March of 2011, according to data released by the country's pig meat and producers association, Abipecs.
Over the first quarter of 2012, exports rose 3.45 percent by volume and 0.73 percent in value. In March alone, the country exported 47,367 tons, with a value of US$121.01 million. From January to March, figures stand at 122,249 tons and US$313.36 million.
Hong Kong remains the principal destination for Brazilian pig meat exports, accounting for 30 percent of exports so far in 2012. Ukraine has been the second most important market, followed by Russia, Angola and Singapore. “While Russia may have resumed purchasing from four Brazilian facilities, the country is still performing poorly as an export market," said Pedro de Camargo Neto, president of Abipecs.

India egg prices decreased to raise consumption

India's National Egg Coordination Committee in the Namakkal zone has effected a 15-paise cut in egg prices, from the already decreased April 2–6 price of Rs 2.30 (US$0.04) per egg, to encourage domestic consumption and to normalize an overflow of stock resulting from an Oman-imposed ban on the import of poultry products from the country.
Oman imports one-third of India's poultry exports, and the industry has resorted to price slashing to avoid building up inventories over the summer. Namakkal accounts for nearly 95 percent of India's egg exports. A drop in egg prices is not entirely unexpected approaching the summer months, as an increase in temperature usually results in decreased consumption in the country, according to P. Selvaraj, chairman of the National Egg Coordination Committee.

FDA finalizes plan for limiting antibiotics in animal feed

The Food and Drug Administration has finalized a plan for asking drug companies to voluntarily limit the use of certain antibiotics in animal feed, in the wake of a U.S. federal judge's decision that their overuse is endangering human health by promoting the development of antibiotic-resistant superbugs.
The FDA is asking drugmakers to stop using 200 products for growth promotion and instead use them just to treat and prevent diseases. Companies that opt to do so will be required to revise their product labels to reflect the change, and once the antibiotics are relabeled they will no longer be available to farmers over the counter. “It is critical that we take action to protect public health,” said FDA Commissioner Margaret A. Hamburg, M.D. “The new strategy will ensure farmers and veterinarians can care for animals while ensuring the medicines people need remain safe and effective. We are also reaching out to animal producers who operate on a smaller scale or in remote locations to help ensure the drugs they need to protect the health of their animals are still available.”
The FDA has issued three documents to help veterinarians, farmers and animals producers use medically important antibiotics judiciously in food-producing animals by targeting their use to only address diseases and health problems:

• A final guidance for industry, The Judicious Use of Medically Important Antimicrobial Drugs in Food-Producing Animals, that recommends phasing out the agricultural production use of medically important drugs and phasing in veterinary oversight of therapeutic uses of these drugs.
• A draft guidance, open for public comment, which will assist drug companies in voluntarily removing production uses of antibiotics from their FDA-approved product labels; adding, where appropriate, scientifically-supported disease prevention, control, and treatment uses; and changing the marketing status to include veterinary oversight.
• A draft proposed Veterinary Feed Directive regulation, open for public comment, that outlines ways that veterinarians can authorize the use of certain animal drugs in feed, which is important to make the needed veterinary oversight feasible and efficient.
The industry is now turning its attention to the details of how the plan will be put in place, particularly to the role veterinarians will play.

EU allows 5 percent non-organic protein in organic poultry feed

The EU has published a new regulation that gives producers of monogastric animals, such as poultry, a 5 percent allowance of non-organic protein in their organic feed until the end of 2014.
There had been concerns that original proposals for a 100 percent organic diet beginning January 1 would leave producers short of the raw ingredients needed to meet the nutritional requirements their birds would need, according to the UK's National Farmers Union, which lobbied for the regulation change. “I am pleased that the EU has come to a decision that gives organic poultry producers the scope to continue with high levels of nutrition that provide birds with good welfare," said Martin Humphrey, NFU organic poultry representative. “In addition, we are able to continue to access the necessary ingredients required to ensure that the bird meets all their requirements."
Another change to the regulation involves the requirement that producers will now be required to source a percentage of feed on a regional basis. Twenty percent of monogastric feed must be "produced in the same region in cooperation with other organic farms or feed business operators," and 60 percent of feed for herbivores must be sourced from either on-farm or from the region.

Canada invests $600,000 in poultry feed, health research

The government of Canada has given more than $600,000 to the Atlantic Poultry Research Institute to conduct feed and health research, investing in six different projects that focus on better nutrients and improved disease resistance for the Atlantic region's poultry sector while benefitting consumers across the country.
The funding includes support for projects that will identify ways to increase omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants in chickens and eggs, as well as assess ways to improve flock health and reduce disease. "Our government's top priority remains the economy, and the Atlantic region's poultry sector is an important contributor to keeping our economy strong," said Member of Parliament Scott Armstrong. "This investment in research will keep our poultry producers competitive by ensuring they continue to improve upon their quality products in order to meet the demands of today's health conscious consumer."
The six projects benefitting from the investment, being delivered through the Canadian Agricultural Adaptation Program, are:

• Nutritive evaluation of cold-pressed meals for broiler chickens ($191,743)
• Utilization of crab meal to optimize long chain moega-3 fatty acid enrichment of eggs from hens of different genetic background ($52,000)
• The efficacy of lysozyme as an alternative to antibiotics for broiler chickens ($148,314)
• Evaluation of simple sugars and short chain fatty acids on early chick growth and intestinal development ($72,509)
• Vaccination response in layers fed omega-3 fatty acids from marine sources ($15,000)

US poultry industry supports Savannah Harbor expansion project

The final documents for the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project in Georgia have been released for review by state and federal agencies, and the USA Poultry & Egg Export Council is among those showing its support for the $652 million project.
According to the study, the expansion, which involves deepening the harbor by an additional five feet to 47 feet at mean low water, will provide $174 million in annual net benefits to the nation. “It’s no coincidence that Savannah is America’s single largest gateway for poultry exports and that Georgia is the nation’s leading producer of chicken," said James H. Sumner, president of the USA Poultry & Egg Export Council. "The strategic location of the Georgia ports has helped to empower Georgia to be one of the largest exporters of poultry, benefiting the entire U.S. industry."
The project is currently on schedule for expansion by 2014. "As we often explain, 96 percent of our consumers live outside the United States," said Sumner. "To miss this opportunity would be unthinkable.”