Page 912 of articles about news

With the aim of improving veterinary vigilance in the Russian Federation, Rosselkhoznadzor have created a supervision system designed to automate the entry of data, analysis and distribution of importation, exportation and transfer licences for animals and animal products. (Original in Russian. Read Google translation here).

According to the latest swine census taken in November, the number of animals was 26.4 million pigs, which is 2.7% less than for the previous year, with an important decrease in the number of sows, which leads us to expect a decrease in the number of pigs produced in 2009, especially in the second half of the year. (Original in German. Read Google translation here).

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has published its opinion on Control and eradication of Classic Swine Fever in wild boar.

During 2008 a big reduction was seen in most categories of meat consumption in France, except for pig meat, where the level remained stable, and for chicken.

Last year the Dutch slaughterhouse Vion sacrificed approximately 8.2 million pigs, which represents 57% of the country’s pigs, while in 2007 the percentage was 60%. (Original in Durch. Read Google translation here).

Preliminary data indicate a 1% decrease in the production of feed in the EU in 2008, with decreases of 2.1% and 0.7% for pig feed and chicken feed, respectively, and an increase of 1.5% in the case of feed for calves.

The Central Bank of Brazil, is offering lines of credit to meat exporters, in a bid to ease the credit crunch afflicting the countries meat exports.

China's overseas purchases and imports of pork and pork products in calendar year 2008 were unprecedented for any single country in history. Based on import totals from China and Hong Kong, the country imported 1.925 million metric tons (4.2 billion pounds) of pork and pork products last year, including 1.161 million tons (nearly 2.6 billion pounds) of pork variety meats and 764,000 tons (1.7 billion pounds) of pork cuts.

The Government last week submitted its application to the World Organization for Animal Health to remove most parts of Luzon island in the list of areas with foot and mouth disease (FMD), which would effectively facilitate domestic and international livestock trade.

Pig producers have been reminded that swill feeding is banned in Australia. Victorian Department of Primary Industries principal animal health officer Gerry Watt said the department had surveyed over 600 food waste outlets across the state and found most were aware it is an offence to supply food waste containing meat or contaminated by meat to anyone to feed to pigs.

Russia has banned meat imports from some Canadian, American, Uruguayan, Belarusian and Ukrainian enterprises, as Federal Agency for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Supervision of the Russian Federation (Rosselkhoznadzor) reports. The supply is to be suspended from February 6, 2009 in a view of detection of harmful forbidden substances in animal products supplied from the said enterprises.

EFSA’s FEEDAP Panel has adopted an opinion on the consequences for consumers of the use of vitamin A in animal feed, and recommended revised maximum levels in feed intended for the main food producing animals. It also recommended regulating complementary feeds, used in combination with other feed or forages, to avoid excessive levels of vitamin A as well as monitoring vitamin A in foods of concern such as liver, and providing suitable advice to help consumers avoid excessive intakes.

Government subsidies for premiums helped China's agricultural insurance sector more than double last year, the industry regulator said.