Sectors

Scientists to identify disease-resistant genes

EU project analyses genetic resistance to disease in livestock

By Carmen Paun, in Brussels

A European Union (EU) funded research project called Quantomics has been investigating the hereditary information of cattle and chicken to discover the genes that make them more resistant to diseases and infections.

Green groups oppose MP’s call for GM

Green groups oppose MP’s call for GM

By Ed Bedington

Environmental groups have rejected UK politicians’ calls for a greater adoption of GM technology in order to feed the world’s growing population.

Russia resumes exports to Georgia

Russia resumes exports to Georgia

By Vladislav Vorotnikov

By mid-July, Russia will be entitled to restart exports of meat products to Georgia. The agreement was reached on 18 June during bilateral negotiations between the two countries, which will resume trade relations for the first time since the war in 2008,...

OIE head Bernard Vallat talked about disease and the horsemeat scandal

OIE head Bernard Vallat on global animal disease control

By David Hayhurst, in Paris

While the European horsemeat scandal and a fresh Asian avian flu epidemic have dented public confidence in meat and livestock safety, Bernard Vallat, director general of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), has stressed recent victories in...

Ukraine has seen poultry exports increase considerably

Ukraine poultry production rise drives exports

By Vladislav Vorotnikov

A 16.3% rise in Ukrainian poultry production in the first four months of 2013 has driven a significant increase in export volumes for April, according to the Ukrainian Agribusiness Club.

EU food alerts in decline before horsmeat scandal

EU food alerts in decline before horsmeat scandal

By Carina Perkins

The European Commission has published its annual report on the EU’s Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF), which showed that notifications were falling before the horsemeat scandal.

Cattle slaughter is up in Ireland

Big jump in Irish cattle slaughter numbers

By Alyson Magee

Cattle throughput is up by over 9% for the year-to-date in the Republic of Ireland (RoI), including increases of 20% for steers and 13% for cows, driven by stronger trading as well as faster disposal of stock and higher mortality rates due to the fodder...

The Customs Union is changing its meat quota system

Customs Union changes its meat import quota policy

By Vladislav Vorotnikov

The Russian government has approved the introduction of a more flexible mechanism for meat import quotas among the countries of the Customs Union – a move that has been repeatedly demanded by Belarus and Kazakhstan.

UK MPs urge reduced meat consumption

UK MPs urge reduced meat consumption

By Carina Perkins

A group of UK MPs have called for a cut in meat consumption and a switch to pasture-fed systems in a bid to improve global food security.

TTIP must give US poultry access to EU, says industry

US poultry industry raises concern over TTIP

By Carina Perkins

The US poultry industry has warned that it will not support the proposed Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) agreement unless it guarantees better access to the EU market for US poultry exports.

CiWF claims pigs were treated badly on farms in Italy (stock image)

Alleged abuse of pigs in Italy

By Carina Perkins

An undercover investigation by a British animal welfare organisation has revealed alleged abuse of pigs on farms in Italy.

Palestinian livestock hampered by Israeli security and disease

Palestinian livestock sector suffering under security

By Joe Charlaff, in Jerusalem

The meat and livestock sector in the West Bank of the Palestinian territories is suffering because of tough Israeli security restrictions, the development of Israeli settlements and a recent outbreak of bluetongue disease, industry specialists and reports...

Ukraine pork production is on the rise

Ukraine pork production on the rise

By Carina Perkins

Ukranian pork production increased significantly in the first four months of 2013, with experts predicting that the country could become self sufficient in pork by the end of the year.

H7N9 bird flu threatens global poultry outlook

H7N9 bird flu threatens global poultry outlook

By Carina Perkins

The outbreak of H7N9 in eastern and central China could threaten the outlook for global poultry sales, according to the latest quarterly poultry report from Rabobank.

Spain implements restrictions on export to Russia

Spain implements restrictions on export to Russia

By Vladislav Vorotnikov

Spanish veterinary authorities have imposed temporary restrictions on the supply of meat and products of animal origin to the Customs Union countries of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan.

Beef boosts Irish food exports

Beef boosts Irish food exports

By Alyson Magee

Strong beef sales have contributed to a 27% value hike in Irish food and drink exports over the last three years to €9bn in 2012, while trade with the UK has risen by 5% over the last year alone to €3.8bn or 42% of all exports.

Putin says he will provide financial support to pig and poultry farmers

Putin promises support for Russian pork and poultry industries

By Vladislav Vorotnikov

Russian President Vladimir Putin has promised that the government will provide special support to Russia’s poultry and pork producers, which are currently suffering record losses due to the country’s accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO).

EU meat industry welcomes new pig inspection rules

EU meat industry welcomes new pig inspection rules

By Carmen Paun, in Brussels

The European Livestock and Meat Trading Union (UECBV) has welcomed new European Union (EU) pig meat inspection rules, backed by a key European Commission committee, that sanction a more risk-based approach than in the past.

Russian trade relations with Germany worsen

Russian trade relations with Germany worsen

By Vladislav Vorotnikov

Russian authorities have stated that German exporters have once again violated veterinary requirements, which has significantly undermined the chances of Germany returning to normal trading conditions with Russia.

Live export: call for MPs to protect animal welfare

Australian MPs urged to act over live export

By Carina Perkins

An Australian animal welfare group has called for the heads of the country’s political parties to give a personal guarantee there will be no more cruelty in the live export trade.

Horsemeat criminals targeted burger manufacturers, says Fairbairn

Horsemeat: former Freeza director points finger at Europe

By Carina Perkins

The ex-director of a meat processor caught up in the European horsemeat scandal has claimed that the fraud was carried out by a big organisation, which specifically targeted burger plants and ready meal manufacturers.

Sharp increase in Russian poultry imports

Sharp increase in Russian poultry imports

By Vladislav Vorotnikov

Russia has significantly increased poultry imports so far this year, according to the latest data from the Federal Customs Service (FCS).

Marel takes poultry technology into pork

IFFA 2013

Marel takes poultry technology into pork

By Ed Bedington

Adapting technology used in the poultry sector could help save costs and labour in the pork processing market, according to an equipment manufacturer.

Mutlivac launched new packaging designs at IFFA

IFFA 2013

Multivac claims to buck packaging decline

By Ed Bedington

A global player in the packaging sector said it was bucking the general trend and reporting solid growth and was now expanding operations out of its traditional heartland, its leaders informed visitors to the IFFA trade fair in Frankfurt.

Australia red meat exports to MENA soar

Australia red meat exports to MENA soar

By Carina Perkins

Australia recorded record red meat exports to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) last month, according to the latest figures from Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA).

NI fallen cattle numbers are rising

NI cattle deaths rise in bad weather

By Alyson Magee

Northern Irish beef farmers lost an estimated £3.1m last month and supply shortages are expected later in the year, after adverse weather conditions pushed fallen cattle numbers up by 113%.

China is driving global casings market growth

Casings: China growth drives global market

By Chloe Ryan

In February this year, Viscofan, one of the world’s biggest casings manufacturers, opened a new factory in China. Costing €27.8m, the new collagen extrusion plant in Suzhou, 80km from Shanghai, is Viscofan’s first outside Europe. Here, cattle and pig...

German pork production remains strong

Germany sees production decline

By Nicholas Robinson

Meat production in Germany fell last year to just over eight million tonnes (mt) for the first time since 1997, but consumption remains strong, according to industry experts.

US beef exports slide

US beef exports slide

By Flemmich Webb

US beef exports fell in March compared to same time last year, but increased slightly in value, according to statistics released by the US Department for Agriculture (USDA).

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