Page 511 of articles about news in Swine news

As of April 1, Canadian hog producers reported 11.6 million hogs on farm, down 2.1% from the same date in 2009. This is a continuing trend as year-to-year hog inventories have decreased since 2006.

The latest available figures for the number of pigs in the European Union show a decrease of 0.7% in the EU-24. The countries that have suffered the biggest decreases are: Czech Republic (-10,4%), Sweden (-5,1%), Romania (-4,5%), Hungary (4%) and Spain (-3,8%). Countries such as Denmark (5,6%), Holland (3,2%) and Austria (2,4%) have experienced an increase in the swine population.

The government is encouraging the importation of up to 5,000 metric tons (MT) of pork up to the end of June under a tax subsidy scheme to cover a shortage in supply due to storms and diseases that hit last year and the current dry spell.

During the years 2004 to 2007, 26 Member States submitted information on the occurrence of antimicrobial resistance in zoonotic bacteria originating from poultry, pigs and cattle as well as from meat to the European Commission and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). In addition, Norway and Switzerland provided information for the report.

A new survey released by Farming Futures – an industry-led project which helps farmers respond to climate change – reveals that one in four farmers have noticed increased interest from customers in their environmental performance over the past year.

The most recent Census of Agriculture counted more than 20,000 farms and ranches that were producing their own energy.

A new pig welfare code has drawn a big response from the public calling for an end to the use of sow stalls and farrowing crates in the pork industry. The National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee released a draft version of the new welfare code for pigs in March.

The European Commission authorised an Austrian scheme with a budget of approximately €1.2 million which aims at supporting farmers in Austria who encounter difficulties as a result of the current economic crisis. Aid under this scheme can be granted until 31 December 2010 and will take the form of direct grants, interest rate subsidies, subsidised loans and subsidised guarantees.

The latest figures presented to the European Commission by the Polish veterinary authorities on the status of Aujeszky’s disease in Poland indicate that from a total of 16 regions, there are 8 with a prevalence of 0.5% while the other 8 have a prevalence of between 0.5% and 5%, while there are no zones with a prevalence of over 5%.

The European Commission authorised a Bulgarian scheme with a budget of BGN 20 million (approximately € 10,26 million) which aims at supporting agricultural holdings active in the primary production, marketing and processing of agricultural products who encounter difficulties as a result of the current economic crisis. Aid under this scheme can be granted until 31 December 2010 and will take the form of a direct grant.

The pig, Xena, who was nine years and eight months at the time of her death, was the oldest cloned pig in the world.

Canadian Swine Exporters Association announced that negotiations are finalized and trade in Purebred swine genetics can now resume. China halted importation last May, 2009 due to H1N1 concerns in China.

Non-restraint farrowing systems are being developed at University of Newcastle and Scottish Agricultural College. The work isn’t finished yet. Some fine-tuning may be necessary. But results so far show overall mortality to be similar to the industry indoor average.

A recent report by the Ministry of Agriculture noted that total feed output for the first quarter is expected to reach 30.32 million tonnes, up 5.6% over the same period last year.

The veterinary authorities of Italy have presented a report to the European Commission on the situation of the island of Sardinia in relation to the focal points of African swine fever.

The latest national statistics produced by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on GB Animal Feed were released on 15th April 2010 according to the arrangements approved by the UK Statistics Authority.