By Lisa M. Keefe on 3/24/2008 for Meatingplace.com
Stocks of frozen meat are up overall, according to the monthly cold storage reports produced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, as falling inventories for beef were offset by rapidly growing stocks of pork.
Year-over-year, beef stocks were down 9 percent to 418 million pounds at the end of February. Total pork stocks, meanwhile, at 603 million pounds, were up almost 25 percent in February over the same month a year earlier. Frozen pork belly stocks ballooned 68 percent to 79 million pounds, compared with the same month a year earlier.
Total red meat stocks were up from February 2007 to February 2008, ending the 12-month period up about 9 percent, to just over 1 billion pounds.
Monday, March 24, 2008
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Canada's Olymel merges with poultry production company
By Alicia Karapetian on 3/20/2008 for Meatingplace.com
Canadian poultry and pork processing company Olymel LP has merged with poultry production company Groupe Westco Inc. in an effort to strengthen the poultry industry in the Canadian Maritime provinces, the companies announced on Wednesday.
"In an open market and a very competitive environment, the poultry industry should gain strength from this partnership, which brings together producers and operators with complementary expertise that will make the poultry supply chain for New Brunswick and the entire Maritimes more efficient," Réjean Nadeau, president and CEO of Olymel and Thomas Soucy, president and CEO of Groupe Westco said in a prepared statement. "Producers, poultry industry workers, and consumers in New Brunswick and the entire Maritimes stand to benefit from the synergy created by the partnership between Westco and Olymel LP."
As part of agreement, the two companies will develop and consolidate their poultry production, slaughtering, cutting and deboning activities for the entire Maritimes from New Brunswick.
Canadian poultry and pork processing company Olymel LP has merged with poultry production company Groupe Westco Inc. in an effort to strengthen the poultry industry in the Canadian Maritime provinces, the companies announced on Wednesday.
"In an open market and a very competitive environment, the poultry industry should gain strength from this partnership, which brings together producers and operators with complementary expertise that will make the poultry supply chain for New Brunswick and the entire Maritimes more efficient," Réjean Nadeau, president and CEO of Olymel and Thomas Soucy, president and CEO of Groupe Westco said in a prepared statement. "Producers, poultry industry workers, and consumers in New Brunswick and the entire Maritimes stand to benefit from the synergy created by the partnership between Westco and Olymel LP."
As part of agreement, the two companies will develop and consolidate their poultry production, slaughtering, cutting and deboning activities for the entire Maritimes from New Brunswick.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
HPAI in Indonesia could mutate, create pandemic: FAO
By Alicia Karapetian on 3/19/2008 for Meatingplace.com
The prevalence of avian influenza in Indonesia remains serious despite containment efforts undertaken by national authorities and the international community, and the intense virus circulation could cause the virus to mutate and create a human pandemic, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations warned on Wednesday.
"I am deeply concerned that the high level of virus circulation in birds in the country could create conditions for the virus to mutate and to finally cause a human influenza pandemic," FAO Chief Veterinary Officer Joseph Domenech said in a statement.
Avian influenza has become deeply entrenched in Indonesia with 31 out of 33 provinces infected.
"We have also observed that new H5N1 avian influenza virus strains have recently emerged, creating the possibility that vaccines currently in use may not be fully protecting poultry against the disease," Domenech said.
Major donors, such as the United States, Australia, Japan and the Netherlands, together with FAO, have so far invested more than $25 million in supporting Indonesian control efforts.
The prevalence of avian influenza in Indonesia remains serious despite containment efforts undertaken by national authorities and the international community, and the intense virus circulation could cause the virus to mutate and create a human pandemic, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations warned on Wednesday.
"I am deeply concerned that the high level of virus circulation in birds in the country could create conditions for the virus to mutate and to finally cause a human influenza pandemic," FAO Chief Veterinary Officer Joseph Domenech said in a statement.
Avian influenza has become deeply entrenched in Indonesia with 31 out of 33 provinces infected.
"We have also observed that new H5N1 avian influenza virus strains have recently emerged, creating the possibility that vaccines currently in use may not be fully protecting poultry against the disease," Domenech said.
Major donors, such as the United States, Australia, Japan and the Netherlands, together with FAO, have so far invested more than $25 million in supporting Indonesian control efforts.
Maple Leaf to close Winnipeg plant, expand other facilities
By Tom Johnston on 3/19/2008 for Meatingplace.com
Canadian pork processor Maple Leaf Foods said Tuesday it will close its Warman Road plant in Winnipeg and expand other nearby facilities.
The decision to end operations at Warman Road by the end of September comes as Maple Leaf invests almost $50 million to support the expansion of value-added cut operations and hog slaughter at its Brandon, Man., plant and $25 million to expand its Lagimodiere Road plant in Winnipeg.
The Warman Road plant employs some 650 people, "who will be encouraged to apply for new jobs at the Lagimodiere Road and Brandon plants" and be provided financial and outplacement services, the company said in a news release.
Expansion, consolidation
Expansion of the Brandon plant will begin in June and be completed in September. Hog slaughter will increase to 86,000 hogs per week from 75,000 hogs per week by the end of 2008 as the company consolidates all of its primary pork processing there.
The expansion of Lagimodiere Road represents the company's aim to consolidate its ham boning operations in western Canada into one dedicated facility.
By the end of 2008, Maple Leaf will have created more than 1,100 new jobs at these facilities with support from an investment of $120 million.
"We sincerely regret the impact on our employees at Warman Road, and will proactively support them to secure new employment at other Maple Leaf plants in the local economy," the company said.
Canadian pork processor Maple Leaf Foods said Tuesday it will close its Warman Road plant in Winnipeg and expand other nearby facilities.
The decision to end operations at Warman Road by the end of September comes as Maple Leaf invests almost $50 million to support the expansion of value-added cut operations and hog slaughter at its Brandon, Man., plant and $25 million to expand its Lagimodiere Road plant in Winnipeg.
The Warman Road plant employs some 650 people, "who will be encouraged to apply for new jobs at the Lagimodiere Road and Brandon plants" and be provided financial and outplacement services, the company said in a news release.
Expansion, consolidation
Expansion of the Brandon plant will begin in June and be completed in September. Hog slaughter will increase to 86,000 hogs per week from 75,000 hogs per week by the end of 2008 as the company consolidates all of its primary pork processing there.
The expansion of Lagimodiere Road represents the company's aim to consolidate its ham boning operations in western Canada into one dedicated facility.
By the end of 2008, Maple Leaf will have created more than 1,100 new jobs at these facilities with support from an investment of $120 million.
"We sincerely regret the impact on our employees at Warman Road, and will proactively support them to secure new employment at other Maple Leaf plants in the local economy," the company said.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Canada: Major pork plant construction
The plans to construct a new one million-head-per-year hog slaughtering plant in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada is progressing as planned. Construction is to start this summer.
The Saskatchewan government is supporting the project; however it is not interested in an equity position. The Saskatchewan Hog Slaughter Plant Initiative is a partnership between Fishing Lake First Nation, the Saskatchewan Pork Development Board and Big Sky Farms.
Construction
Jim Ramsay, project consultant for Fishing Lake First Nation and chairman of the project has said, "Originally we were talking about construction starting in June or July of 2008 and we have not moved off of that mark." He added, "We've passed our major milestone, which was the completion of the business development plan and we're currently getting the resources together for the next phase, which is the tendering stage."
Plans to construct follow Maple Leaf’s closure
The planning for the new plant started when Maple Leaf announced in October 2006 that it would shut down its slaughter facility in the city, leaving the province without a hog slaughtering plant. Because of the closing of Maple Leaf’s plant, farmers have had to battle with greater transportation costs as they move their hogs over greater distances.
"This will expand the market and reduce producers' transportation costs, which are significant," said Ramsay.
The Saskatchewan government is supporting the project; however it is not interested in an equity position. The Saskatchewan Hog Slaughter Plant Initiative is a partnership between Fishing Lake First Nation, the Saskatchewan Pork Development Board and Big Sky Farms.
Construction
Jim Ramsay, project consultant for Fishing Lake First Nation and chairman of the project has said, "Originally we were talking about construction starting in June or July of 2008 and we have not moved off of that mark." He added, "We've passed our major milestone, which was the completion of the business development plan and we're currently getting the resources together for the next phase, which is the tendering stage."
Plans to construct follow Maple Leaf’s closure
The planning for the new plant started when Maple Leaf announced in October 2006 that it would shut down its slaughter facility in the city, leaving the province without a hog slaughtering plant. Because of the closing of Maple Leaf’s plant, farmers have had to battle with greater transportation costs as they move their hogs over greater distances.
"This will expand the market and reduce producers' transportation costs, which are significant," said Ramsay.
China to Increase 2008 Pork, Beef Imports
USDA is predicting that China’s pork and beef imports will increase through 2008. According to a USDA agricultural attaché in Beijing, growth in pork and beef consumption in China continue to outstrip the country’s production capacity. In a semi-annual report, the attaché said that increased import projections were due to the worst snowstorms in 50 years during January and February and a slow recovery from porcine blue ear disease, which has hampered production in China.
The attaché forecast an 8 percent rise in China’s 2008 pork imports to 200,000 metric tons, as well as a 6 percent decline in the country's pork exports. The report put China's 2008 domestic pork production at 42 million metric tons, up 1 percent from 2007, but 16 percent below 2005.
The attaché forecast an 8 percent rise in China’s 2008 pork imports to 200,000 metric tons, as well as a 6 percent decline in the country's pork exports. The report put China's 2008 domestic pork production at 42 million metric tons, up 1 percent from 2007, but 16 percent below 2005.
Monday, March 17, 2008
Bird flu outbreak in southern China
Agence France-Presse
First Posted 08:48am (Mla time) 03/17/2008
Phil Daily Inquirer
BEIJING -- Bird flu has broken out in the south of China killing more than 100 poultry, state media reported Sunday, citing the agriculture ministry.
The outbreak occurred in a market in Guangzhou, in Guangdong province on Thursday, and was a "highly pathogenic" subtype of the H5N1 influenza virus, which can be deadly to humans, the report said.
A further 500 birds were culled and the disease was under control after emergency measures were taken, according to Xinhua.
The government in Hong Kong, which borders Guangdong, said in a statement it had been notified of the outbreak.
It was China's fifth bird flu outbreak in poultry this year, the report said.
Three people, including a 44-year-old woman from Guangdong, have died so far this year in China of the disease, previous reports have said.
The latest outbreak comes despite a huge campaign last year to try to contain the disease, during which authorities attempted to vaccinate tens of millions of poultry and stepped up public education efforts.
Bird flu has killed more than 230 people worldwide, according to the World Health Organization.
Scientists fear the virus could eventually mutate into a form that is easily transmissible between humans, triggering a global pandemic.
First Posted 08:48am (Mla time) 03/17/2008
Phil Daily Inquirer
BEIJING -- Bird flu has broken out in the south of China killing more than 100 poultry, state media reported Sunday, citing the agriculture ministry.
The outbreak occurred in a market in Guangzhou, in Guangdong province on Thursday, and was a "highly pathogenic" subtype of the H5N1 influenza virus, which can be deadly to humans, the report said.
A further 500 birds were culled and the disease was under control after emergency measures were taken, according to Xinhua.
The government in Hong Kong, which borders Guangdong, said in a statement it had been notified of the outbreak.
It was China's fifth bird flu outbreak in poultry this year, the report said.
Three people, including a 44-year-old woman from Guangdong, have died so far this year in China of the disease, previous reports have said.
The latest outbreak comes despite a huge campaign last year to try to contain the disease, during which authorities attempted to vaccinate tens of millions of poultry and stepped up public education efforts.
Bird flu has killed more than 230 people worldwide, according to the World Health Organization.
Scientists fear the virus could eventually mutate into a form that is easily transmissible between humans, triggering a global pandemic.
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