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Pork
Exports on the Rebound
Last week brought two more pieces of positive news for the
U.S. pork industry: September exports exceeded year-earlier levels, and
Oct. 31- frozen pork stocks were smaller than both year-earlier and
month-earlier levels.
The September export data marked the first month since March that U.S.
pork exports have exceeded year-earlier levels. September exports of
352.5 million pounds, carcass weight equivalent, were 3.8% larger than
one year earlier but 46% larger than in September 2007 (Figure 1). The
September total puts monthly exports above the 2004-2007 trends for the
sixth time this year, again making my point that 2009 exports have been
remarkably good when compared to anything but 2008 exports.
Year-to-date exports are still 17% lower than last year, but they are
4.7% higher than the 2004-2007 trend.
When we look at individual export markets, Mexico is the shining star in
spite of all the H1N1-related difficulties that have been encountered
there (Figure 2). September shipments to Mexico were 60% larger than
last year and bring the year-to-date (YTD) total back to +38% for 2009.
Exports to Mexico remained just over 12 million pounds smaller than
Japan in September. That marks the second straight month that Mexico has
been that close to becoming our largest export customer in terms of
tonnage. Japan remains the clear leader in terms of value, however.
Shipments to Canada increased 9%, year-on-year, in September primarily
due to Canada’s stronger dollar.
Exports to China-Hong Kong were 13% larger than last year, but remember
that exports to China-Hong Kong had returned to earth by August and
September 2008. Shipments to Taiwan were nearly 200% larger this year
as well.
FULL ARTICLE
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Key Steps
to Improve Piglet Survival
We recently spent a couple of days with a group of
producers. During the discussion, this question was raised: “What are
three things we can do to improve piglet survival?”
Logically, piglet survival is total pigs born/litter minus stillborns
and pre-weaning mortality. In the Swine Management Services’
database, average piglet survival (%) is 79.9%. In that mix, one farm
has achieved over 95% survival rate, but several farms are below 66%
(see Chart 1).
To save more pigs, the first priority is to reduce stillborns. These
four steps could help achieve that goal:
Step #1: Make sure the farrowing crew is identifying
stillborns accurately. The easiest and most accurate way to identify
stillborns is to post some of the stillborn pigs, remove a piece of the
lungs and drop in a glass of water. If it sinks to the bottom of the
glass, the pig has not taken a full breath, so it is classified as a
stillborn. If the lung sample floats, the baby pig took a breath and
then died and, therefore, should not be classified as a
stillborn.
FULL ARTICLE
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FDA Food
Safety Reform Passes Senate Committee
The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee
(HELP) passed unanimously S. 510, “The FDA Food Safety Modernization
Act,” introduced by Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Judd Gregg (R-NH).
This legislation places more emphasis on prevention of food-borne
illness and gives the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) new and modern
authorities to address food safety issues. The bill includes:
• Hazard analyses and preventive controls: Requires all
facilities that manufacture, process, pack or hold food to have a
risk-based preventive control plan to address identified hazards and
prevent adulteration; gives FDA access to these plans and relevant
documentation.
• Imports: Requires importers to verify the safety of foreign
suppliers and imported food.
FULL ARTICLE
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Wet
Weather Promotes Growth of Mycotoxins
This year’s cool, wet growing season and rainy fall
have delayed grain harvesting and increased the risk for mold
development on grain. Mold development can lead to mycotoxins, which
can be toxic to
humans and animals.
Grain samples submitted to the Iowa State University’s veterinary
diagnostic laboratory bear out a higher than normal incidence of
affected corn across Iowa and in samples received from Illinois,
Kentucky, Michigan, Oklahoma, Texas and Wisconsin. Samples submitted
from most regions of Iowa have tested positive for mycotoxins.
“The wet summer and harvest season have caused a greater incidence
of fungi in grains typically used in livestock feeding,” reports
Steve Ensley, toxicologist with the diagnostic lab. “We are receiving
samples from throughout the region with elevated mycotoxin levels,
particularly vomitoxin, zearalenone and some fumonsin.
FULL ARTICLE
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Nov. 23-24, 2009: International Swine Flu
Conference, Toronto, Canada; contact: Sylvia Torres, Swine Flu Task
Force at (202) 536-5000
or sylvia.torres@new-fields.com
or visit http://www.new-fields.com/isfc_canada/.
Dec. 1, 2009: Ventilation Systems Workshop, Animal
Sciences Building, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH; contact:
Dale Ricker at (419) 523-6295 or ricker.37@osu.edu.
Dec. 4-5, 2009: 2009 International PRRS Symposium:
Molecular, Immunological, Genetic and Epidemiological Approaches for
PRRSV Control,
Downtown Marriott, Chicago, IL; contact: http://www.prrssymposium.org.
FULL ARTICLE
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