The company estimates that the unit cost per day-old broiler from externally-produced eggs purchased via these contracts will range between RMB 1.80 and RMB 1.90, which is equivalent to the first half 2010 unit cost of the company's day-old broilers that relied on internally-produced eggs. The difference between the cost of broiler eggs and the cost of day-old-broilers comes from hatchery-related expenses.
 
At the time of the contract signings, all of the parent breeders were between two and 39 weeks of age and over 90% of them were in the middle of or close to entering their egg-laying cycle. The total egg-laying capacity of the parent breeders is estimated to be between 55 million and 60 million eggs, with more than 90% of the eggs expected to be produced before May 2011, and the remainder by August 2011.
 
Carefully inspected farms
Yuhe carefully inspected the quality of the breeder farms and the parent breeder stocks before entering into these supply contracts. Each supplier is obligated to continue to comply with Yuhe's quality control criteria on parent breeder mortality, broiler egg fertility, hatchability, and hatched broiler condition throughout its respective contract period.
 
Yuhe expects these supply contracts to benefit its cost structure by locking in favourable prices for external eggs; however, these contracts are not expected to impact the Company's projected broiler volume output. The Company continues to expect to achieve a total 2010 output of 150 million broilers and 2011 output of 250 million broilers.
 
"We believe that entering into these favourable supply contracts is an example of our ability to use our industry expertise to capitalise on opportunities in our market to optimise our input costs," stated Mr. Zhentao Gao, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "As we have previously stated, we believe there will be a supply shortage in our market going forward. We began to see tangible signs of this as our broilers are currently commanding average selling prices that are up significantly from the prices we were seeing in the second quarter of 2010.
 
Given our market outlook we took advantage of a down period in the broiler market to lock-in a steady supply of quality broiler eggs at highly competitive prices via these fixed-price contracts. We entered into these contracts beginning in May of 2010 and finalised the vast majority of them by the end of June, a period of declining prices in the broiler market which led to significant price drops in the market for external eggs.
 
As the price movement of external eggs is positively correlated to that of broilers, we anticipate a substantial unit price increase for external eggs as the broiler market continues to recover. We believe that our strategic decision to fix our external egg supply prices during the broiler market downturn was an important way for us to hedge against future cost increases."


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The news channel reported that Gary Baxter, spokesman French pharmaceutical company CEVA, said that about 125 million of the 218 million egg-laying hens in the US have been vaccinated.

British farmers use a vaccine that goes into the hens’ drinking water. The British government began encouraging, but not requiring, vaccination after a salmonella scare in the late 1980s. According to Amanda Cryer, spokeswoman for the British Egg Information Service, egg sales dropped by 60% overnight.

Currently, about 90% of eggs in the Britain come from vaccinated hens. The remaining 10% come from very small farmers who may have vaccinated chickens but don't sell to major retailers.

ince Britain's vaccinations began, the only salmonella outbreaks in eggs have been linked to those imported from elsewhere in the European Union, Cryer said. Overall salmonella cases in the country dropped by half within three years.

Both of the farms involved in the recent recall vaccinated some of their chickens:

Julie DeYoung, a spokeswoman for Hillandale Farms, said the company began purchasing vaccinated laying hens in September 2009. The company didn't vaccinate older hens but replaced them with vaccinated ones as they went out of production, she said.

"So about 80% of the hens have been vaccinated," DeYoung said.

Wright County Egg has vaccinated some hens since 2009, investing more than $570,000 in the effort, spokeswoman Hinda Mitchell said. She declined to offer details due to an FDA investigation but said young hens were vaccinated "when they are in our care."

Dr. George Boggan, a veterinarian with CEVA, said they aren't always effective. If egg farms are dirty, and there's a lot of contamination, the bacteria can "overwhelm" the protection from the vaccine.

The FDA (US Food & Drug Administration) said last month it doesn't believe mandatory vaccination is necessary, but it supports farmers doing it voluntarily.

Data on the vaccine's effectiveness in field trials conducted in real world conditions "was insufficient to support a mandatory vaccination requirement," the agency said in the text of new rules requiring increased inspections and testing of eggs.

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In his opening speech, President Achille Franchini of the European Federation pinpointed the difficulties that the poultry business is often faced with. He addressed the importance for the industry and research institutions to strongly interact with government organisations and public bodies to make clear the many positive aspects of poultry and to establish dialogues with these organisations.
 
“Close cooperation is needed to respond to criticism and achieve public acceptance and legislation” he stated. According to Franchini, the conference is an excellent opportunity to discuss these issues. Moreover, it is a very good opportunity to exchange knowledge and discuss progress on the various aspects of poultry production.
 
Franchini also mentioned that another aim of WPSA is to share knowledge with the developing world. After all, most
 
President Achille Franchini
of the growth in poultry will be expected in these countries in the coming decades.
 
Increased demand for poultry
This was also confirmed by Nan-Dirk Mulder of Rabobank, who drew a picture about the future of intensive animal production in the coming decades. According to Mulder, it is expected that the demand for meat, food and fuel around the globe will increase by 20% in the next 10 years. Asia will take the lead with an expected growth in meat demand of 70%, whereby poultry will take the lead.
 
The European conference will be held concurrently with meetings of specialist groups and a FAO parallel conference. It will last for three days.

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The three plants are Liha-Saarioinen Oy Valkeakoski (meat products), HK Ruokatalo Oy Mellilä (pork) and Oy Snellman Ab Pietarsaari (pork). The new exporter will be Saarioisten Lihanjalostus Oy Jyväskylä.

Concerning three other meat processing plants (Atria Suomi Oy’s two plants in Nurmo and HK Ruokatalo Oy Forssa), the Russian authorities are examining the additional reports they have received and may check the plants again. Two of the plants have suspended exports to Russia until further notice.

Based on inspections in May targeted at 23 Finnish meat and dairy companies, the Russian Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance imposed temporary export restrictions on 14 Finnish meat and dairy plants. These restrictions entered into force on 23 July 2010. The export restrictions concerning dairy products were lifted on 6 August 2010.

 

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The event's aim is to discuss the impact of proposed changes for the food and farming sectors and wider issues related to the welfare of animals.

The NFU's Vice President, Gwyn Jones will be speaking on Driving Improvements in Sustainable, Safe Animal Health and Welfare.

Dirk Pfeiffer, Professor of Veterinary Epidemiology, Veterinary Clinical Sciences at the Royal Veterinary College will be speaking on Improving Risk Management to Prevent the Spread of Animal Diseases.

And Chief Veterinary Officer, Prof Nigel Gibbens, is also lined up to discuss Improving Animal Health Provision.

Key topics on the day include:

Improving Animal Health Provision

Improving Animal Health and Welfare

Improving Risk Management to Prevent the Spread of Animal Diseases

Responsibility and Cost Sharing on Animal Health

Raising Standards, Leading Change;

Supporting a Sustainable, Profitable Food and Farming Sector

Driving Improvements in Sustainable, Safe Animal Health and Welfare
Delegates will also have the opportunity to ask experts questions and seek advice.

The forum takes place on Tuesday 5 October, 9am, - 2pm in central London. To book, contact Danielle Meiners on 0207 484 5224 or email Danielle.meiners@insidegovernment.co.uk.

 

 

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As one of the HSA's activities to mark its Centenary next year, the aim of this Symposium is to present and discuss recent scientific and technical advances in the humane slaughter of farmed animals, the uptake and application of these advances around the world, and their relevance to current farming methods; to help identify future priorities and consider how these may be tackled; and to provide a forum for sharing information and experiences.

Speakers already committed include Dr Temple Grandin of Colorado State University, Dr Andrea Gavinelli of the European Commission and Jia Zili, Director of the Beijing Chaoyang Anhua Animal Product Safety Research Institute.

The HSA said it would like to hear from those who would like to contribute an oral or poster presentation to the Symposium on any aspect of the humane slaughter of livestock, or who are interested in attending. Details of how to submit a presentation abstract can be seen on the HSA website (www.hsa.org.uk) along with further information about the Symposium, or you can contact Heather Barker at the HSA, email heather@hsa.org.uk.

The symposium will be held on 30 June and 1 July 2011 at the Historic Dockyard, Portsmouth, UK, and is now seeking contributions and expressions of interest in attending.

 

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Hillandale Farms of Iowa is recalling shell eggs as they may be contaminated with Salmonella. Laboratory tests have confirmed infection with Salmonella enteritidis.

A Food and Drug Administration (FDA) spokesperson said the two recalls are related; according to a Hillandale Farms spokesman the farms share a number of common suppliers.

According to a CNN report, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that 1,953 cases of Salmonella enteritidis were recorded from May 1 to July 31. A normal number of cases in that time period would be closer to 700, said Dr. Christopher Braden, acting director of the CDC's division of food-borne, waterborne and environmental diseases. So far, about 1,000 of those cases have been linked to the recalled eggs, and that number is expected to continue growing.

Eggs affected by this recall were packaged under the following brand names:
Hillandale Farms
Sunny Farms
Sunny Meadow.

Loose eggs are packaged under the Wholesome Farms and West Creek brand names in 15 and 30-dozen tray packs. The loose eggs may have been repackaged by customers.

To identify if you have recalled eggs, look for the plant number code and Julian date stamped on the end of the egg carton or printed on the case label.

The only eggs effected by this recall have plant numbers P1860 or P1663 and Julian dates as follows:
P1860 – Julian dates ranging from 099 to 230
P1663 – Julian dates ranging from 137 to 230

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Granja Planalto, one of the major parent stock distributors in Brasil, recently ended the distribution of a competitor’s product and has signed an agreement with Hubbard do Brasil for the production and distribution of the Hubbard Flex Female and the Hubbard M99 Male.

The agreement will allow distribution to Brazil and also export to Uruguay, Paraguay and Bolivia. However, some specified customers will continue to be supplied directly by Hubbard do Brasil.

The Hubbard Flex parent female is a good breeder with good production, persistency and correct egg size. When mated with the Hubbard M99 male, the broilers show exceptional technical performances resulting in the lowest live cost seen in the market. Sales of the M99 male in the USA now represent already 40% of the market, confirming its exceptional genetic potential of this parent male.

Minoru Miyasaka, General Manager of Hubbard do Brasil, ads: “This agreement between the 2 companies will bring major benefits for the Brazilian market. The high genetic potential of the Hubbard Flex female and the M99 male produced in brand new operations along with the long experience of Granja Planalto in distributing parent stock, will offer the Brazilian poultry industry an excellent and competitive choice. stock, will offer the Brazilian poultry industry an excellent and competitive choice.

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For the past six years the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry (ODAFF) has employed two former soil scientists, on a part-time basis, to develop plans for land owners that are designed to regulate the method, timing and rate poultry litter is used as a fertilizer.  During that time, the two have written more than 850 nutrient management plans.  However, due to state budget cuts, their positions were slated for elimination this summer.

The Poultry Federation, a non-profit group that supports the poultry industry in Arkansas, Missouri and Oklahoma, has stepped forward with a $43,000 grant to ODAFF.  The money will be used to fund the two positions for another year.  The Federation’s agreement with ODAFF also provides for the possibility of additional funding by The Federation for up to three additional years.

“Those of us who work in the poultry industry are serious about our responsibility as environmental stewards and we value ODAFF’s efforts to make sure poultry litter is properly used,” said Marvin Childers, president of The Poultry Federation.  “The state’s role in writing nutrient management plans is very important to the poultry farmers and others who use litter as an organic fertilizer on the farm land.”

“We appreciate The Poultry Federation’s willingness to help us retain these positions,” said Oklahoma Commissioner of Agriculture Terry Peach.  “This is another example of how government and industry can work together to support responsible agricultural practices in our beautiful state.”

According to the Poultry Community Council, more than 12,000 Oklahomans are employed in the poultry industry, including farmers, plant workers, truck drivers, scientists and technicians.  Poultry is the second largest agricultural commodity produced in Oklahoma, based on cash receipts.

 

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Rosselkhoznadzor has requested the American Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) to provide prompt information as to indicate the plants where contaminated products were produced and the reason for the contamination of products with bacteria of the genus Salmonella.
 
It also wants information about the measures taken by the authorities of the USA aimed at prevention of further spread of the infection.
 
Ban
In a news report the Chief Sanitary Inspector of Russia, Gennady Onishchenko, stated: "In light of reports in the US media of an outbreak of salmonella caused by contaminated eggs, we are assessing the situation to find out if there is a need to toughen [regulations on] poultry imports from the United States.

A ban on poultry imports from the US has recently been lifted from 72 US companies, but a remaining 15 companies that do not meet the country's safety requirements are still under the ban restriction.

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