ThePoultrySite Newsletter - 21 June 2012

ThePoultrySite Weekly Newsletter

You are receiving this email as you are a subscriber of ThePoultrySite.com
The home of premium international poultry news and information.

Is this email not displaying correctly?
View it in your browser.

Thursday 21st June 2012.

Jackie Linden
Senior Editor

Editorial – Call for EU Welfare Rules to be Simplified

In the EU, the European Commission has reviewed current animal welfare legislation and has called for a simplified EU legislative framework. At the latest Agriculture and Fisheries Council meeting, the Council welcomed the ongoing work by the Commission and supported the need to take a holistic approach in future work on the welfare of animals.

The aim of the strategy for the ‘Protection and Welfare of Animals 2012-2015’ is to simplify animal welfare legislation and ultimately, to facilitate its enforcement.

In addition, the Commission stressed the need to reinforce or make better use of actions which the Commission already performs, including the development of tools to strengthen Member States' compliance with existing legislation, support for international cooperation, the establishment of a level playing field for European producers, and the provision of appropriate information to consumers and the public.

Several Member States have supported the Commission’s considerations over the introduction of a simplified EU legislative framework based on outcome-based animal welfare indicators. At the same time, they stressed that indicators cannot necessarily replace specific resource-based provisions.

Following the European Parliament’s adoption of Written Declaration on animal transportation in March this year, the Council meeting suggested a number of new rules, including those covering internal height, loading densities for different weight categories of pigs and the design of watering and temperature monitoring systems.

Finally, the Council has called on the Commission to strengthen its international strategy on animal welfare in order to increase the value of animal welfare, to limit distortions of competition and to ensure at least equivalence between EU and third-country operators.

Turning to bird flu news, two more ostrich farms in the Western Cape and Eastern Cape Provinces of South Africa have been found to be affected by H7N1 low–pathogenic avian influenza during routine surveillance. Egypt's National Research Centre has announced that the first vaccine against bird flu is to be produced by Egyptian scientists.

ThePoultrySite App is now available on your iPhone.

Get the latest international poultry news, in-depth feature articles, event details and more delivered direct to your mobile device.

This Week's Articles and Analysis

Study Investigates Link between Range Cover and Feather Damage in Free-Range Hens
Providing a minimum of five per cent tree cover offers egg producers a practical way to improve feathering of free-range laying hen flocks, according to new research from the UK.

Evaluation of Phytase Transgenic Corn Compared to Conventional Corn in Roosters
Corn (maize) expressing phytase is as efficacious as equivalent microbial phytase when supplemented in corn-soybean diets for chickens, according to new research from China.

How Effective is Your Cleaning Programme?
Advice on carrying out visual inspections, making agar cultures for non-specific bacteria and specific bacterial and fungal monitoring from Gerd de Lange of Pas Reform.

Antioxidant Effects of Oregano in Laying Hens
Report from Meriden Animal Health of a trial carried out in Egypt showing that one per cent oregano increased egg production by local hens as well as nutritional composition and antioxidant activity to protect the nutritional profile of the ingredients within the eggs.

Assessment of the Threonine-to-Lysine Ratio for Male Broilers
A true digestible threonine–to–lysine ratio of 66 was estimated by a research group based at Mississippi State University to maximise bodyweight gain in male broilers 35 to 49 days of age. They also calculated requirements for true digestible threonine for feed intake, feed efficiency and breast meat weight.

Private Industry Invests Heavily into Agricultural Productivity
Private sector firms are becoming leaders in developing new innovations in agriculture, according to Keith Fuglie, Paul Heisey, John King and David Schimmelpfennig for the USDA Economic Research Service, writing in Amber Waves.

Company News

When Eggs are Stored Too Long
NETHERLANDS - "Last year, I visited a hatchery that was fully dependent on imported hatching eggs. To ensure a constant supply of eggs, the hatchery had an export agreement for 1,600 boxes to be flown in every week. Egg age at setting averaged 7 – 9 days, from which the hatchability of eggs set was 86 per cent," writes Martin 'Tiny' Barten, senior hatchery specialist at Pas Reform.

What Strategies are Used to Counteract Endotoxic Effects in Animals?
GLOBAL - Biomin has released a new technical video answering the question: "What strategies are used to counteract endotoxic effects in animals?"

Good Breeding & Good Manners Focus at Arbor Acres Seminar
NETHERLANDS - Customers from Russia and Kazakhstan had a vital input into the agenda of their annual Arbor Acres meeting in the Netherlands. Following a number of requests breeding was top of the agenda with male management being a key talking point.

Oval Insurance Broking Announces 21st Century Poultry Insurance Policy
UK - Oval Insurance Broking (Oval) has announced a raft of improvements to the specially designed insurance products available for poultry farmers in the UK. The improvements made to the “Poultry Unique” policy, reflects the evolutions being witnessed in the poultry farming industry, whilst delivering a level of comprehensive cover that is tailored to the individual needs of the farmer.

Brazil Sales Conference and Presentation
BRAZIL - Meriden Animal Health recently provided presentations and sales training in Brazil for their flagship product, Orego-Stim. Meriden’s representative, Ivan dos Santos, provided the in-depth training to InovaVet’s sales team, which is composed of veterinarians and technical staff.

Petersime Reports Absolute Sales Record in 2011
BELGIUM - Petersime sales have reached an absolute record in 2011: a growth of just under 80 per cent compared to 2010.

Brazilian Partner Companies Visit Cobb Global HQ
US - Representatives of some of the leading poultry producers from the Brazilian state of Parana enjoyed a high-level visit Cobb headquarters and field operations in Siloam Springs, Arkansas, USA.

Koebrugge Farm Celebrates 25 Years as Ross PS Producers
NETHERLANDS - Aviagen EPI has surprised Ross customers Henny and Marianne Koebrugge-Mulder of Koebrugge Farm with a celebration of 25 years in business together. Based in a small village called Ambt Delden in the eastern part of the Netherlands Koebrugge was one of the first Ross broiler breeder farms in the Netherlands.

Biomin Energizes Phytogenics Business
AUSTRIA & GERMANY - Animal nutrition company, Biomin, has finalised the acquisition and integration of the German-based phytogenic feed additive and feed flavourings company, Micro-Plus.

ORKA Instruments Gain Strong Recognition in China
CHINA - Instruments manufactured by ORKA Food Technology (better known as “EggTester.Com”) are gaining market share and strong recognition in Chinese market based on their versatility, cost and reliability.

Hy-Line Acquires Italian Egg Layer Distributor Valversa
ITALY - Hy-Line International, the world's leading egg layer breeding company, has reached an agreement to purchase its Italian distributor, Valversa. The company will be renamed Hy-Line Italia and will benefit from the support of the Costa family during the entire transition period.

Market Reports

USDA Feed Outlook - June 2012
USDA Turkey Hatchery: Eggs in Incubators on June 1 Up 1 Percent from Last Year
USDA Livestock, Dairy and Poultry Outlook June 2012
International Egg and Poultry Review: North America
USDA Broiler Hatchery: Broiler-Type Eggs Set Down 2 Percent

Global Poultry Industry News