Finding Latest Feed Info
LIFFE nearby feed wheat futures closed Thursday 11th at 91.80 up £4/t on the previous week. Strategic Grains has forecast a 1.4% reduction in the 2009 EU-27 wheat area with falling commodity prices, higher input costs and unfavourable weather conditions impacting planting incentives.

Soyameal
CBOT nearby soyameal futures prices followed soyabean and soya oil futures higher closing at $275.94/t on Thursday 11th., against $250/t the week before. The EU Commission has authorised the importation of ‘Roundup Ready 2’ GM soyabeans into the EU for feed and food use, which has occurred via accelerated approval.

Knowledge Transfer

Tip of the week: Creep Temperature
We often forget that the sow and the piglets need to be managed as two different individuals, ie the sow requires a much lower environmental temperature compared to the piglets. By providing the piglets with an optimal creep environment the number of overlaid piglets can be reduced, as the piglets will use the creep area more. Measuring the temperature in the creep area can easily be done by using an infrared thermometer. Aim to achieve a surface temperature of 30°C during the first week after farrowing, reduce this to 28°C in the second week and to 26°C until weaning. If your creep temperature is too high, check light bulbs and reduce to bulbs with a lower wattage.

Feeding the Weaned Piglet
Pigs immediately post weaning are fed diets high in crude protein (CP) content (around 230 g/kg), in order to meet their high protein requirements. It has been suggested, however, that a diet high in CP may also predispose pigs to the enteric disorders immediately post weaning. This would be significant in systems where in-feed antimicrobial growth promoters (AGP) are prohibited, as the incidence of digestive disorders, poor growth and development may increase.

The NUTWEAN project funded by Defra and the British Pig Industry investigated nutritional alternatives to minimise the risk from enteric disorders in the weaned pig, in the absence of in feed AGP. One of the alternatives investigated was the level of dietary protein supply and weaning age on the health and performance of pigs.

Results from this study can be found in the Pig Development Centre topical briefing note, which can be viewed here.

Marketing News

Campaign’s a Winner
The European Excellence Awards took place in Budapest on Thursday and the Pigs Are Worth It campaign took first prize in the Associations category. The awards are for excellence and achievement in communications across Europe. The Pigs Are Worth It campaign has already picked up a Highly Commended at the PR Week Awards last month.

Gammon Promotions
The Gammon recipes created by Lesley Waters were featured in Hello Magazine this week, on a one page advertorial, within the cookery section.

For details on how to cook gammon click here. For gammon recipe ideas click here.

An advert featuring the gammon consumer activity, and the availability of Gammon posters was featured in the trade magazine Meat Trades Journal, 5 Dec issue.  Copies of the posters are available for farm shops and butchers to use in store, pls call 01908 844107.

Sausage Week Update
A review report is still being produced but so far the consumer reach is currently at 337 million people, which is 90 million more than in 2007.  Key factors behind this are that Sky News digital radio stations covered the week, and also several of the online national newspapers.  This year the week was covered by more regional TV than national.  However, from a retailer perspective, it was one of the best for their participation in various aspects of the week, from competitions to advertising and instore promotions. Even Harrods had sausage sampling in their prestigious food hall.  And to make it all worthwhile, the recent letter received from one of the winning companies from the BSW competition, summed it all up.

Dear Anna and the Team.  Thought you would like an update on the last few weeks since you visited us with the sausage award!!! The press coverage and TV coverage has been huge !!!  The customers have nearly doubled coming in the doors !!!!  We have used the slogan Home of the Award winning sausage and it is working !!!  The Christmas orders are filling up and its all thanks to you lot so THANKYOU VERY MUCH.  We cannot believe entering and winning the competition has made so much difference so thank you.  Hope you are all okay and please if you are still in contact with Dickie Bird can you thank him as well we are so appreciative to you all.  With very best wishes, Primrose Pork.  Home of the Award winning sausage!!!

National News:

Pig Industry Fights Back
Lower mortality and more pigs finished per sow per year have given the British pig industry a boost, but it still remains one of the highest cost producers according to the latest BPEX publication.

The Pig Cost of Production report, for 2007, prior to the introduction of the PCV2 vaccine scheme, has just been published.

It covers not only European producers but also Brazil, Canada and the USA. It shows Britain second only to Italian Parma ham production in terms of cost of production.

In 2007 overall production costs rose by 12 per cent and much of that was due to higher feed costs. This was also the average increase across Europe.

However, by December, the figure had reached 139.6 pence per kilo, 18p higher than the annual average.

The main points are:

• Post-weaning mortality in Great Britain continued to decline in 2007, down from 8.0 per cent to 7.0 per cent, and it is now much closer to the EU average. Mortality fell in both the rearing and finishing herds.
• The decline in post-weaning mortality gave a further boost to the numbers of pigs finished/sow in Great Britain. This was up from 19.7 to 20.1, the third consecutive year there had been an improvement.
• Average daily liveweight gain for finishing herds increased by 28g to 683g in 2007 - the fourth consecutive annual increase.
• A sharp fall in pre-weaning mortality meant that pigs weaned rose slightly to 21.61.  This was seven per cent below the EU average of 23.26, the same differential as in 2006.
• A decline in the sterling/Euro exchange rate.  In September 2008, the Euro was worth 80p compared with 69p a year earlier, a 14 per cent change. This would lead to an improvement in relative competitiveness of Great Britain pig production.

The report does take a look at the start of 2008 as well and points out a positive factor has been the distribution of the PCV2 vaccine, assisted by BPEX, to English pig producers. 
This vaccine is used to control PMWS and should therefore lead to reduced post-weaning mortality and an increase in pigs finished/sow.

The programme began in April and has been very successful. The impact of this is likely to be seen in results for 2009.

The report is free to English levy-payers who can get one by calling Tony Fowler on 01908 844281, email tony.fowler@ahdbms.org.uk. For others, the report costs £160.

Dioxin in Irish Pig Meat
The issue of dioxin contamination of pig meat which involved both the Irish Republic and Northern Ireland now appears to have been resolved with trade starting to resume normally.

Following the Food Standards Agency's announcement that Northern Ireland pork is not affected by contamination and remains unaffected by the contaminated feed incident, the Republic of Ireland authorities have put in place measures to restore supplies of Irish pork and bacon.

In the UK and the rest of Europe, shops, manufacturers and caterers that can trace the origin of any pork, directly to a farm that is unaffected by contaminated feed, are able to continue selling their products. This follows confirmation from the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) that checks are in place.

Dr Andrew Wadge, FSA Chief Scientist, said: 'Consumers can be reassured that systems are in place, so we can buy pork from Northern Ireland and now the Republic of Ireland with confidence. We have worked together with industry and local authorities to make sure that the appropriate checks are being carried out.'
For a summary of the dioxin incident, click here.

Origin Labelling
Following on from the dioxin problem, BPEX has renewed its call for clear unambiguous labelling which would enable consumers to make informed choices. BPEX is seeking the urgent adoption of the FSA guidance on country of origin labelling. The guidance can be found by clicking here.

Eastern Region Skills Funding
Are you planning any skills development activity in the next 12 months?

BPEX has made progress accessing funds for skills development in the Eastern region. As part of a consortium BPEX, in collaboration with the East of England Pig Training Group (EEPTG), will have access to a substantial amount of funding from the Rural Development Programme England.

Contracts are currently being negotiated, but it is hoped that the money will be available to support skills development activities in the pig industry early in the new year. All types of skills development (manual, technical and managerial) will be considered.

BPEX will be keeping the industry up to date with the progress of this application, but if you would like further information or would like to propose ideas for this funding now please contact either Tess Howe at BPEX (kt@bpex.org.uk) or Jonathon Bradley, EEPTG co-ordinator, (geneticsolutions@btopenworld.com). 

NADIS Latest - Split Livers
The appearance of dead pigs obviously pale and white is a not uncommon finding on the pig farm. All this indicates is anaemia which can occur as a result of failure to manufacture blood, destruction of blood within the body or loss of blood from the blood stream either into body cavities or externally. Pigs found pale and dead suddenly around or just after weaning can result from rupture of the liver and subsequent haemorrhage in to the abdomen. Whilst such damage can result from trauma – more likely whilst still on the sow or through extremely rough handling – where several cases occur, a deficiency of Vitamin E/Selenium should be considered, especially if the pigs affected represent the best in the group. Full investigation of Vit E/Se levels is necessary should this condition be seen before appropriate corrective action can be cost effectively taken.

International News:

Aids to Private Storage
An APS scheme will open in the Irish Republic for a range of cuts including half carcases, hams, shoulders, fore-ends, loins, legs, bellies and cuts corresponding to middles. Further details are available by clicking here.

Food Price Rises
Food price increase across Europe prompted, the European Council to ask the European Commission to investigate the causes of this surge in food prices. The Commission has just published a Communication proposing ways to improve the functioning of the food supply chain in Europe to deliver permanently competitive prices for European households.

The Commission sets out a roadmap:

• Promote the competitiveness of the food-supply chain to increase its resilience to world price shocks.The High Level Group on the Competitiveness of the Agro-Food Industry will make recommendations in early 2009. 
• Ensure a vigorous and coherent enforcement of competition at EU and national level through the European Competition Network and target those practices and restrictions that are particularly harmful. 
• Ensure a vigorous and coherent enforcement of consumer protection rules. In particular, it is particularly important for consumers to be able to compare prices easily. 
• Review potentially restrictive regulations at national and/or EU level. A permanent European monitoring of prices will be set up.

Export Bulletin
For all the latest news on the export front, click here.

International Prices
Click here for the latest international prices

Jim Dewhirst
It is with much sadness that we report that, last night(Thu), Jim Dewhirst died peacefully in his sleep.