US poultry certified wholesome up in June

Mature chickens slaughtered in June averaged 6.03 pounds per bird.

Poultry certified wholesome during June 2011 (ready-to-cook weight) totaled 3.86 billion pounds, up 5% from the amount certified in June 2010, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's latest report.
The May 2011 revised certified total at 3.79 billion pounds, was up 8% from May 2010. The May revision represented an increase of 10.0 million pounds from the previous month's preliminary pounds
certified.
The preliminary total live weight of all federally inspected poultry during June 2011 was 5.11 billion pounds, up 5% from 4.88 billion pounds in 2010. Young chickens inspected totaled 4.37 billion pounds, up 4% from June 2010. Mature chickens, at 79.0 million pounds, were up 12% from 2010 numbers. Turkey inspections totaled 650 million pounds, up 7%. Ducks totaled 14.0 million pounds, up 3% from 2010.
Young chickens slaughtered during June 2011 averaged 5.81 pounds per bird, up 3% from June 2010. The average live weight of mature chickens was 6.03 pounds per bird, up 5% compared to 2010 numbers. Turkeys slaughtered during June 2011 averaged 29.3 pounds per bird, up 1% from June 2010.

Resistant bacteria breakthrough could benefit poultry, pig producers

Staff at independent Dutch research organization TNO have identified natural ingredients capable of eradicating bacteria that have developed resistance to antibiotics. The discovery has been tested on ESBL bacterial but can also be used to combat EHEC E. coli, with possible uses in both the poultry and pig industries.
“This breakthrough is vital to the future of public health," said Dr. Jan Pieter van der Lugt, director of food and nutrition at TNO. "There are countless bacteria out there capable of mutating into equally dangerous counterparts of the EHEC bacteria. For instance, 94% of the chicken in our supermarkets is infected with ESBL bacteria which have also become resistant to antibiotics. The excessive use of antibiotics in the veterinary sector means that more and more of these substances are finding their way into our food. Eventually, bacteria get so used to them that they become resistant.
According to van der Lugt, it is only logical that livestock farmers want to keep their cows, pigs, chicken and calves healthy, but indiscriminate antibiotic use can create "a ticking time bomb. Eventually, it will work against us," he said. "We are, therefore, going in search of ingredients already found in the natural world which can kill harmful bacteria.” 

China releases stored pig meat to cut prices

China has announced plans to release supplies of stored pork on to the market to help cut prices, according to the latest issue of the British Pig Executive’s Export Bulletin.
The country also said it was planning to build up its reserves of the meat, as the price of pork has jumped by 57.1%, pushing the rate of inflation to a three-year high. The Chinese Ministry of Commerce has said that there were 200,000 metric tons of pork in reserves which would be released into the market. Analysts have said that the current reserves of pork are equal to one or two days’ worth of China's total pork consumption.

UK to monitor pig movements with electronic recording

Electronic recording of pig movements will become law in the UK in October 2011, with the existing Pigs, Records, Identification and Movements Order 2007 amended by the government to reflect the need for pre-notification of movements.
The new system is expected to provide the industry with a realistic herd register containing accurate and timely information to enable better communication and control in the event of disease outbreak. In addition, when pigs are sent to slaughter, the system will combine the movement licence and Food Chain Information form in one and save producers time.  
There will be a transitional period of six months for the phasing out of the paper-based AML2 forms from October 1 to give producers and businesses the opportunity to adjust to the change in process. “From April 2012 the AML2 paper forms will cease to be a valid method of reporting movements," said Dorothea Schiemann of the British Pig Executive. "Pig movements will either have to be reported using the free eAML2 online service or the free eAML2 bureau service. There will also be third-party agents, such as marketing groups or the British Pig Association."

Record Texas drought raising livestock feed cost

A record drought in Texas is affecting an already small hay crop, causing prices of varieties like alfalfa to jump 51% (to $186 per short ton) in the last year, according to government data. This, in turn, is causing livestock feed prices to rise for dairy farmers and beef producers from California to Maryland.
Drought problems are compounding a hay shortage caused by farmers using land for more profitable crops like corn, say farmers. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, retail meat prices may increase in response to the rise in feed costs by as much as 7% by the end of 2011, while dairy products jump 6% — more than the food inflation rate of 3% to 4%.

EU soymeal imports rise as rapemeal supplies drop

European Union imports of soymeal are expected to rise 10% to 24.4 million metric tons by the end of the marketing year (September 30) as grain prices continue to rise and rapemeal supplies decline, reaching second-highest levels ever, according to reports.
Argentina’s soymeal exports to the EU will rise 13% to 13.3 million metric tons and Brazilian shipments are expected to rise 17% to 10.3 million metric tons. India will ship 300,000 metric tons, up from 39,000 tons in 2010, according to reports.

WATT to display rare poultry breed portraits at Rockford Art Museum

Jersey White Giants by L. Stahmer (1931)

Experience a piece of agricultural history during a select showing of pieces from the WATT collection of poultry breed paintings (1926-1950), the largest single collection of rare poultry breed portraits worldwide. Hatching History: A WATT collection of rare poultry breed portraits will be on display at the Rockford Art Museum’s Art Annex from August 19 through November 20.
The complete collection is comprised of 57 framed oil paintings created by three American artists, A.O. Schilling, L. Stahmer and F.L. Sewell, and was commissioned by J.W. Watt, founder of Watt Publishing Company in the mid-1920s. Approximately 15 of these paintings will be on display at Rockford Art Museum.
With its corporate headquarters based in Rockford, Ill., WATT invites the community to appreciate the beauty of the artists’ interpretations of rare poultry breeds and learn about the company’s rich history and its contributions to the poultry industry over the past 94 years.