Page 518 of articles about news in Swine news

During the first 9 months of 2009, Belgium exported 30,775 tons of pig meat to Russia. This represents an increase in volume of 9% and in value of 35% compared to the same period of 2008.

The objective of the Scenar 2020-II study was to refine and improve the identification of major future trends and driving factors – and the perspectives and challenges resulting from them – provided by the initial Scenar 2020 study (December 2006) on the future of European agriculture and the rural world.

The use of antibiotics in livestock decreased by 2% in 2009 compared to the previous year, while at the same time the bovine, porcine and poultry populations increased by 2%, 1.3% and 0.2%, respectively. In 2008, the use of antibiotics had already decreased by 7% compared to 2007.

A committee has been formed to revise the National Research Council (NRC) publication "Nutrient Requirements of Swine."

Denmarks Statistics has reported an increase of 5,6% in Danish pig stock compared to 2009. The number of breeding animals has increased by 6.6 %.

The EU and Vietnam have agreed to launch bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations following a meeting between EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht and Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung in Hanoi.

The United States and Russia have reached an agreement to reopen the Russian market to U.S. pork and pork products, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said.

To meet a state requirement that power companies must use swine waste to produce electricity in North Carolina, the state’s electric suppliers have issued a joint request for proposals (RFP) for electricity generated from swine waste facilities in the state.

The European Commission has authorised today a Slovak scheme with a budget of approximately €3.32 million which aims at supporting farmers in Slovakia 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 European breeding herd continues to contract in response to poor returns — although Holland and Denmark have seen an increase, as weaner producers send more animals to Germany.

Australian pig meat production will increase slightly over the next five years in response to better prices and more palatable feed grain costs.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack launched USDA's Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) for Farmers Program to help American agricultural producers adjust to the current, challenging economic environment.

The European Commission announced today its intention to come up with a proposal by the summer to allow more choice to Member States in deciding whether to cultivate GMO's. Under the current legal framework, as decided by the Council and the European Parliament, the Commission adopted today two decisions concerning the Genetically Modified Amflora potato: the first authorises the cultivation of Amflora in the EU for industrial use, and the second relates to the use of Amflora's starch by-products as feed.

The Meat Hygiene Service (MHS) will be dissolved and its staff and functions will form part of a new Food Standards Agency (FSA) Operations Group from April 1, it has been confirmed.

The effect of economic growth on demand for livestock products depends on the rate of growth and where it occurs. Demand for livestock products is more responsive to income growth in low-income countries than in higher-income countries.

The total number of pigs in December 2009 saw an increase of 1.3% from the previous year to 3.8 million. The breeding herd increased by 3.3% from 354 thousand in December 2008 to 365 thousand in December 2009.