Brasil Foods buys stake in Argentina poultry suppliers

Poultry exporter Brasil Foods has bought the controlling stake of Argentina food group Danica and has acquired a share in Argentina poultry producer and exporter Avex.
The value of the deal includes a project to expand both Avex's and Danica's production units, as well as their distribution capacity, according to BRF. "This decision represents a unique opportunity...to create a big exporting basis in Argentina," said BRF President Jose Antonio Fay. BRF's acquisitions totaled roughly $150 million. 

Pilgrim's loses El Dorado poultry grower lawsuit

Roughly $25 million in damages has been awarded to El Dorado, Ark., poultry growers who supplied stock to Pilgrim's and sued the company in 2009 claiming violation of contracts.
Pilgrim's closed its El Dorado processing plant and two others — one in Douglas, Ga., and one in Farmerville, La. — in mid-2009 after filing for bankruptcy protection in 2008. The judge who heard the case ruled that Pilgrim's was trying to manipulate the price of chicken by closing the processing plants.
The same judge will now hear the part of the lawsuit involving poultry growers connected to the Farmerville plant.  

Taiwan to purchase corn, soybean crops from US over next two years

Members of the Taiwan Agricultural Trade Goodwill Mission have agreed to purchase between $4.1 billion and $5.12 billion worth of crops from six U.S. states over the next two years.
The deal calls for Taiwan to buy locally grown corn and soybeans from Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Ohio and Virginia, in an effort to strengthen import and export relations between Taiwan and the United States. The group said in its pledge that it needs between 103 million and 110 million bushels of soybeans in 2012-13, with the value expected to range from $1.61 billion to $1.73 billion. The group also intends to purchase between 303 million and 413 million bushels of corn over the same period, as well as up to 750,000 bushels of corn by-products, in a deal worth an estimated $2.5 billion to $3.4 billion.
"Trade agreements like this between Taiwan and Wisconsin are an important part of what both countries must do to remain competitive in our global economy," said Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker. "Taiwan was Wisconsin's largest export market for corn] and fourth largest export market for soybeans last year. It is important to maintain strong relations with our sister state of Taiwan, and I thank members of the delegation for their visit to our great state."

US shell eggs broken up 3% over 2010

U.S. shell eggs broken totaled 182 million dozen during August 2011, up 3% from August 2010 and 1% above the 180 million broken in July, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
During the calendar year 2011 through August, shell eggs broken totaled 1.39 billion dozen, up 2% from the comparable period in 2010. To date, cumulative total edible product from eggs broken in 2011 was 1.8 billion pounds, up 2% from 2010. Of that total, 1.09 billion pounds were whole eggs, 468.3 million pounds were egg whites and 239 million pounds were egg yolks.
For more information on egg prices and production, see http://www.wattagnet.com/marketdata.html.

SAC study links pig agression with carcass value, meat quality

Scottish Agricultural College researchers conducted a study that found pig aggression to be a genetic trait that can impact welfare, carcass value and meat quality.
The SAC-led study was part of the pan-European SABRE project, which focuses on genomics for sustainable animal breeding. The study analyzed tissue from pigs at the commercial farm of pig breeder PIC, to identify genes linked with aggression, stress and meat quality, and how they interact. Researchers from SAC’s Animal and Veterinary Sciences Research Group found that pigs with aggressive personalities cause more fighting and experience more stress when mixed in unfamiliar groups.
“The mixing of pigs into new groups commonly occurs pre-slaughter," said SAC Behavioral Scientist Dr. Rick D’Eath. "Increased fighting presents an obvious welfare concern and can also reduce carcass value when scratched or damaged areas have to be discarded. In addition, the pigs we studied which experienced stress prior to slaughter had less acidic meat post-slaughter, which can reduce its eating quality."
According to D'Eath, reducing pig aggression, particularly pre-slaughter, could bring welfare and financial benefits while reducing waste and improving meat quality. "Producers, hauliers and slaughterhouses could work together to avoid the mixing of pigs in unfamiliar groups before slaughter, such as by ensuring that farm groups of pigs are penned separately on the truck and at lairage," said D'Eath. "In the longer term, the study also opens the way for tackling the issue of pig aggression using genetic selection.”

Europe seeks home-grown rule for organic feed production

A proposed change in feed rules for organic livestock production in Europe's EU-27 countries is under consideration by the European Commission's Standing Committee on Organic Farming.
Advocates of the change want to see a minimum percentage placed on the amount of feed given to organically reared animals and poultry grown on the same farm.
They aim for a rule that mandates at least 40% of feed for organic pigs and poultry to be home-produced, rising to 70% in the case of organic herbivores. Moreover, according to this proposal, any feed that is not produced on the livestock or poultry farm should be sourced locally, from the same region or neighboring regions.
Opponents say any substantial minimum for home-grown feed supplies would be impossible for organic meat producers to achieve because many of these farms tend to be unsuitable for growing grain. 

Pas Reform, Russia poultry farm partner for expansion

Hatchery manager Tatyana Lukianova said that for people joining Timashevskaya, this is an opportunity to train and gain experience in a high-growth sector.

Pas Reform has partnered with Russia's Timashevskaya Poultry Farms as the producer expands with a Smart hatchery complex that will have a final capacity of 115 million eggs per year.
Phase one construction, due for completion in 2011, will deliver more than 56 million eggs a year. Installation will include 28 SmartSet 115 setters, 36 SmartHatch hatchers, a hatchery automation system with chick counting and take-off line and basket tipping and washing machines. Climate control with free-cooling system will be implemented through the hatchery. Pas Reform’s project team has worked closely with Timashevskaya’s senior personnel while planning the project, designing not only the systems installation, but also the new hatchery’s product flows, flooring, drainage, ventilation, water, electricity and waste management systems. When completed, the redeveloped complex will include 153 broiler houses, two slaughterhouses with a capacity of 150,000 tons, a waste processing plant and a new feedmill.
According to Timashevskaya’s general director, Andrey Nikolaevich Pivnov, the new hatchery will deliver 90% of the region’s demand for poultry and meat products. “This region currently produces around 40,000 metric tons of poultry meat each year, meeting less than 30% of market demand with local produce and forcing us to import from other regions," said Pivnov. "By addressing this massive shortfall, Timashevskaya will make a significant contribution to strengthening our regional economy. And as the largest farm complex in the region, we are also ideally located to boost employment and create new opportunities for people living here."