Editorial - Enter a New Animal Health Giant

The big news to emerge from poultry industry suppliers this week is the creation of a new global leader in animal health as Merial merges with Intervet/Schering-Plough.

The new joint venture will be equally owned by Merck & Co., Inc. (Intervet/Schering Plough) and sanofi-aventis (Merial). The formation of this new animal health joint venture is subject to execution of final agreements, antitrust review in the United States, Europe and other countries and other customary closing conditions. The completion of the transaction is expected to occur within about 12 months.

There was some excellent news for the egg industry this week. It's official: eggs should be called a 'superfood'. A new study in the UK – to be published later this year – reveals that eggs are one of the most nutrient-dense foods that money can buy and that we should be eating at least one egg a day to get the optimum benefits. In addition, the researchers found that eggs can play an important role in weight management and dieting, and could even help prevent age-related macular degeneration, an eye condition that can lead to blindness, thanks to their content of antioxidants.

And finally, more poultry in Taiwan have been found to be infected with low-pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI), and the virus has been discovered on a farm in Denmark as the result of routine surveillance.

Jackie Linden

This Week's Feature Articles

Company News

Cobb to Exhibit at EuroTier 2010 in Hanover
HANOVER, GERMANY - The Cobb breed will be represented at all the major European shows this year, with Cobb Germany confirming its presence at the EuroTier 2010 exhibition in Hanover from 16-19 November.

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Merial To Merge With Intervet/Schering-Plough
GLOBAL - A global leader in animal health will be created as Merial announces it will merge with Intervet/Schering-Plough.

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Big Dutchman Signs up for VietStock Expo
VIET NAM - Livestock equipment company, Big Dutchman, has confirmed its participation at VietStock '10 Expo && Forum as 'Anchor Exhibitor'.

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Valuable Tips for Successful Broiler Management
IRAN - Broiler production in Iran has developed very fast in the last two decades to become the most important sector in animal production. To provide poultry manager with a comprehensive overview of state-of-the-art equipment Mr Sahvani from the renowned company Fara Gostar Disinfection Co. and the agricultural ministry of Hamedan recently organised a seminar in Hamedan, 300 kilometres south-west of Tehran.

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Online Matchmaking with Suppliers from VNU
NETHERLANDS - With the launch of Animal Protein.net, VNU Exhibitions has introduced online match-making for the worldwide markets for animal production and processing.

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Meriden Enhances its Product Portfolio
UK - Fusion is the next generation of toxin binder that also has great antifungal, ammonia binding properties and is an anti-caking agent.

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Global Poultry Industry News

General

 » BIRD FLU: Denmark Detects LPAI
 » Latin Feed Leaders to Meet at Cancun Congress

United States

 » Very Virulent IBD Virus from California Characterised
 » AMI President Supports Policy to Increase Ag Exports
 » Tyson Donates $250,000 to Haiti Disaster Relief
 » CME: Fate of US Chicken Exports Remains Unknown
 » Weekly Outlook: Value of US Dollar and Corn Prices
 » Ag Secretary Outlines Strategy to Increase Exports
 » International Egg and Poultry Review: US
 » Two-Thirds of Broiler Chickens Contaminated
 » Weekly US Broiler Hatchery Report
 » PSA: Poor Harvest Year May Have Altered Corn Quality

United Kingdom

 » TURKEY CONFERENCE: Strong Scientific Programme Ahead
 » Packed Programme Ahead for WPSA-UK Branch Meeting
 » Prestigious Award for Flockman
 » Encouraging a Career in the Poultry Industry
 » New Research Finds Eggs are a ‘Superfood’
 » FSA Offers Guidance on Feed Hygiene Regulations
 » Half Male and Half Female Chicken Puzzle Solved
 » Global Food Security Programme Launched

Mexico

 » Fruit Extracts Cut Campy Counts on Chicken

Taiwan

 » More Low-Path Bird Flu Found in Taiwan

Thailand

 » Japan Urged to Revoke Ban on Fresh Thai Imports

Canada

 » Canadian Government Invests In Organic Sector
 » Programme Proposed to Insure Cost of Production

Morocco

 » Morocco Tenders 7,000 MT of US Sorghum

China

 » Food Safety Reforms Proposed

Netherlands

 » Veterinarians Stop Use of Cephalosporins in Poultry

Denmark

 » Low-Path Bird Flu Detected in Denmark

Philippines

 » Dry Spell Causes Chicken, Pork Prices to Rise

India

 » Kerala Seeks Help in Egg and Meat Production

Japan

 » Heat Eliminates Campylobacter in Processed Eggs

That's all for this week!

Ed.