Page 870 of articles about news

Switzerland - Meat consumption continues to climb

26-Mar-2009
A total of 417,330 tonnes of meat were consumed in Switzerland in 2008, an equivalent of more than 53kg per inhabitant. The total amount was three per cent higher than in 2007 and increased for the fourth consecutive year, according to Proviande, the Swiss meat association, on Tuesday.

Netherlands - Dutch pig farms are larger

26-Mar-2009
Some 46% (17% in 1995) of Dutch pig farms hold more than 500 sows and a further 41% more than 200 sows, making an average of 333 sows per farm. The average number of pigs per farm has risen from 363 in 1995 to 814 in 2008. Some 40% of Dutch pig farms now hold more than 2,000 pigs.

EU - Towards better protection of and respect for animals

26-Mar-2009
On 23 March 2009, the Agriculture and Fisheries Council adopted conclusions backing international efforts to gain support for a Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare. The Council deems it important to achieve world-wide recognition of the need for animal welfare as an issue of common interest. It invites the member states and the Commission to support the initiative in international fora.

Russia - Meat & Poultry TRQ mechanism announced for 2009

25-Mar-2009
The Russian government issued Resolution #211 on March 10, 2009, establishing the mechanism for calculating 2009 meat and poultry import quota allocations. This mechanism sets specific quota allocations for 2009 based on average imports from 2005-2007 and allocates only a small portion of the quota to companies that imported over quota volumes in 2008.

Brazil - Classical Swine Fever

25-Mar-2009
The OIE has informed about de reoccurrence of classical swine fever (CSF) in a modern pig farm owned by a federal university, located in Mossoró (Rio Grande Do Norte). Quarantine measures are applied on the farm. The outbreak is located outside the area declared as free of classical swine fever. Vaccination remains prohibited in the outbreak area as well as throughout the country.

Korea - More EU frozen pork, cheese to enter Korean market

25-Mar-2009
With free trade talks between Korea and the European Union in their final stages, more EU foodstuffs are expected to appear in Korea due to lower tariffs, likely raising Korea’s food imports from the EU. Korea`s top agricultural import from the EU is frozen pork, with the country buying an average of nearly five billion U.S. dollars annually from the EU. As a major supplier of pork, the EU will likely increase its share in the Korean market once the free trade deal takes effect.

Denmark - Dutch producers introduce weaner passports

25-Mar-2009
Dutch farming organisations have introduced the ‘biggenpas’ - a piglet passport to make trade easier between Holland and Germany. The piglet passport will contain veterinary, feed and management data, even down to stall temperature during the week before transport. The aim is to minimise growth check when the pigs arrive at their destination in Germany. Holland exports circa 5m weaners to Germany every year.

VION changes organisational model

25-Mar-2009
VION will adapt its organisation according to a business model with regional control for two core activities Food and Ingredients. This was occasioned by the acquisition of the Grampian Country Food Group in the UK in August 2008 and the change in the composition of the Executive Board which was announced in November 2008. VION’s new organisation and business model will come into effect on 19 March 2009. This will replace the divisional structure which has been in place since July 2006.

Maple Leaf Foods launches Blog

25-Mar-2009
Maple Leaf is launching an external company blog today at http://blog.mapleleaf.com. The first posting, "The Journey to Food Safety Leadership", is a letter written by President and CEO, Michael McCain and the blog will also feature posts from other leaders at the Company going forward.

It is now possible to differentiate pathogenic and non-pathogenic strains of the bacteria Haemophilus parasuis without challenging animals

24-Mar-2009
A genomic study has demonstrated that pathogenic strains of Haemophilus parasuis (H. parasuis) display a type of proteins which allows the bacteria to adhere to tissues and quickly disseminate in the organism. From this discovery, a simple molecular assay was designed for distinguishing possible pathogenic strains of this bacteria and therefore to develop future vaccines.

UK - Fallen stock could be held on-farm prior to disposal

24-Mar-2009
A major breakthrough in the way farmers may be able to deal with fallen stock has been achieved following successful negotiations in Brussels led by the Welsh Assembly. Changes to the regulations could now see on-farm containment prior to disposal being permissible from the middle of next year.

Japan – Increase in pig meat stocks

24-Mar-2009
The increase in imports in 2008, of approximately 7%, caused meat stocks to rise from 160,000 tonnes in 2007 to 182,600 tonnes at the end of December 2008. (Original in German. Read Google translation here).