BPEX Weekly: May 13, 2011

Supermarkets May Go Short

Despite their claims to support the British pig industry, Tesco, Asda and Sainsbury's have failed to put any extra money into the supply chain.

As a result, their customers face the prospect of not being able to buy all the British pork, sausages and bacon they want next week, because sufficient supplies will not be available.

"We warned them this would happen, but they refused to listen," said NPA chairman Stewart Houston today. "They are fixated on their own short-term margins."

Feed prices are expected to remain high for another year at least, because of poor planting and growing conditions around the world. And straw could be unobtainable next year, because of the current drought in England.

If producers do not return to break-even in the next few weeks the industry will increasingly be unable to meet demand for British pork and pork products.

Tesco, Asda and Sainsbury's may be able to fill the empty spaces on their shelves by importing more pork, but it will be of lower welfare and assurance quality and it will not be cheap, as the continental herd is contracting too.

In Britain, Tesco, Asda and Sainsbury's are the three large supermarkets that have failed to recognise the looming supply crisis.

They have told producers in numerous meetings that they will help drive up the price through special promotions and by diverting more of their spend from imported pork to higher-welfare home-produced pork.

But they have been telling processors a different story — that they intend to maintain their margins at all cost. Despite their claims to support British pork, they have failed to put an extra penny into the supply chain.

All of the 15p rise over recent weeks has come from processors, and now abattoirs are losing money, as well as producers.

Unlike Waitrose, M&S, Morrisons and the Co-op, the biggest retailers — Tesco, Asda and Sainsbury's — have failed to listen to the arguments of pig producers for a fair and responsible supply chain.

As a result the Pigs Are Still Worth It campaign, NPA and British Pig Industry Support Group will work together to aggressively confront these retailers, because they are presiding over the imminent collapse of British pig production.

Aggressive action planned:

• The Pigs Are Still Worth It campaign will major on the consumer and trade press
• NPA will organise a campaign of letter writing in which producers will tell retailers, "If I don't hear from you soon I'll give it one last try to get an answer by dropping in to see you in your office"
• BPISG will organise the first event at which producers "drop in" to present their case. This will be a mass rally outside Asda headquarters in Leeds, with as much accompanying publicity as possible
• And this website will seek new, more aggressive Banners Blitz slogans, explaining how greedy Tesco, Asda and Sainsbury's are threatening the future of family farms.

(Source: NPA Website)

Marketing News

On The Campaign Trail

BPEX is launching a new campaign in September to continue the story of the differentiation of Red Tractor pork, bacon and ham from lower welfare imports.

This is looking, in particular, at the change which comes in on 1 January, 2013 when a partial stalls and tethers ban is due to be implemented in the rest of the EU.

BPEX Head of Marketing Chris Lamb said: “We have been going through a formal procurement process which culminated in presentations yesterday. These will, in turn, lead to a new campaign to be launched in September.”

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Supplier Sought

A London-based catering butcher is looking to establish a direct supply chain for half carcasses and primal cuts. Anybody who can help should contact Tony Goodger, tony.goodger@bpex.ahdb.org.uk

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Fighting for Red Meat

BPEX Nutrition Manager Maureen Strong has been invited by Lord Rea who chairs this Westminster Forum to defend the red meat industry regarding current dietary recommendation on red meat consumption. The meeting was prompted by the publication of a report on Iron and Health by the UK Government’s Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN). 

The publication of this report was eagerly awaited by the red meat industry.  However, some of the press coverage it initiated was confusing and misleading. By coincidence the report was published at the same time as an updated scientific review of ‘Red Meat in the Diet’, which the British Nutrition Foundation (BNF) had been commissioned to do. The press incorrectly assumed that the two reports contradicted each other.

The BNF review confirms that the main health benefits associated with eating red meat relate to its nutritional composition. This will be used globally to underpin the on-going promotion of red meat. Iron has traditionally formed the backbone of many such promotional activities. It is the flagship of nutritional programmes around the world because red meat is a rich source of the efficiently-used form of this mineral. Any threat to this nutrient’s supremacy is therefore of great concern. But threatened it has been in the on-going debate around cancer development.

Professor Peter Aggett, vice chairman of the SACN, and chair of the iron and health working group will also be speaking at the meeting along with Dr Alison Tedstone, Head of the Nutrition Science Unit at the Department of Health.  

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Perfect Pies

Judging is now under way for the final of the BPEX Roadshow, a competition which has been taking place across the country throughout the year.

Pictured are Naomi Page and Claire Sayers-Smith sampling the pies which are vying for the top spot.

The results will be announced at the grand final, being held in London, on Wednesday, 1 June.

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Knowledge Transfer

Tip of the Week: Farrowing Rate

Target a FR of 88% plus. Keeping track of changes in performance over time means you learn what works for your unit and can help motivate you and the team; it also provides early warning if performance starts to deteriorate.

For a 'real-time' FR record draw up a fertility chart and record weekly services, subsequent failures and expected FR. For additional advice download or request a 2TS Farrowing Pack here.

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Thinking About PMDS

Hear what last year's candidates have to say about it by visiting the new video gallery on the BPEX website here!

The results achieved by all the candidates who took part during 2011 were outstanding and over 60 people have benefited as a result of the 11 candidates taking part in the programme!

Many saw improvements in production, including reduced mortality rates, improved conception rates and improved numbers weaned per sow.

Applications for the next programme will be accepted from 1 July 2011 until 16 September 2011. Visit the BPEX website for full details and to listen to what each candidate has to say.

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Salmonella Symptoms

The Animal Health VLA surveillance monthly report for March has been uploaded to the BPEX website. One of the topics discussed is Salmonellosis.

A) Salmonellosis due to multidrug-resistant S. Typhimurium following meningitis:

Wasting, sometimes with yellow scour was described on an indoor 1,600 nursery finisher unit with low morbidity across the unit and approximately 25 deaths. The batch of pigs had on-going problems with meningitis starting earlier in rear and requiring in-water medication; this could predispose to salmonellosis if medication adversely affects commensal bacterial populations in the intestines allowing resistant Salmonella species to colonise.

B) Salmonellosis triggered by active PRRSV infection:

Severe fading and mortality were seen in one batch of post weaned seven-week-old piglets on a 250 sow indoor unit. It is likely that the PRRSV infection triggered the outbreak of clinical salmonellosis.

View the full report, along with previous VLA health reports here.

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Spotlight on Lorry Washing

Cleansing and disinfection of livestock transport vehicles is the subject of an important meeting to be held in Diss next week.

BPEX Eastern Pig Health is inviting all livestock hauliers, pig marketing groups, vets and other interested parties to attend the meeting on Thursday, 19 May, 2011 at 6:30pm.

Since October 2009 BPEX has been reviewing industry bio-security standards and one part of this was to seek livestock hauliers’ opinion on the suitability of lorry washing facilities at abattoirs. Many livestock hauliers over the initial period completed a simple assessment sheet reporting back to BPEX for each of their livestock deliveries and, since then, nearly all BQAP abattoirs have been independently reviewed.

Many hauliers undertaking reporting were involved with all classes of livestock and highlighted many concerns. The main concern was if abattoir lorry wash facilities were of a high standard, fit for purpose and good practice is followed, then risk of disease transmission is low.

The topics for discussion will include: pig movements and journey times, biosecurity and disease transfer, legislation, best practice for vehicle washdown, post washdown inspections and ‘what’s next?’

Venue: The Diss Golf Club, Stuston Common, Diss, Norfolk IP21 4AA.

To register for this meeting please contact Colin Stone by the end of Monday 16 May on 07816 941223, or email: colin.stone@bpex.ahdb.org.uk

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Ventilation DVD

Have you seen a copy of the DVD produced by BPEX to help pig producers identify ventilation-related problems and, more importantly, provide practical solutions?

It is presented by John Chambers of J C Consulting, who has been trouble-shooting problems caused by poor ventilation for many years.

View a short clip here. To request a copy (free of charge to English levy payers) contact BPEX: 0247 647 8792 or kt@bpex.org.uk with your postal address.

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Heat Stress Problems

Heat stress is caused when a pig's body temperature rises above certain limits, this can have a negative impact on reproductive performance.

The pig will first increase its respiration rate in an attempt to keep cool, then look for environmental opportunities for cooling eg, wallowing, soiling pen and lying in urine.

As we move into summer make sure you take appropriate action to minimise heat stress in your pigs.

A handy guide to the problems you might encounter, and how to address them, can be found here.

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National News:

eAML2 Growing Fast

In April, 15% of all farm to slaughter movements in England and Wales were recorded electronically using eAML2.

The number of electronic movements to slaughter has risen quickly, from just below 10% in March, since the system was rolled out nationally in England and Wales at the start of April.

In summary, the April figures were:

• 1715 moves were recorded electronically in April – an increase of 42% on the March figure
• Approximately 400 holdings reported movements electronically.

As well as the large specialist plants there are now over 60 abattoirs enabled for eAML2 and there are more to come.

Also, 84% of completed movement details reach Defra’s animal movement licensing database within three days or less.

It is reassuring for producers to know that, once all movements are recorded using eAML2, the industry will have a strong handle on pigs’ whereabouts in the event of a disease outbreak.

The current paper-based system can take up to three weeks for completed documents to reach the national database.

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Battling Butchers

The UK team is hard in training for the International Young Butchers Competition which takes place at the MEATUP show, at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire on 21 June.

The third and final training exercise for the UK Team is on May 17 and 18 at Leeds City College under the watchful eye of Roger Kelsey, and trainer Viv Harvey, before the competition finals in June.

Over the two days, the three team members, Matthew Hill (20), Bryce Lawson (23), and Matthew Gothard (20) will cover the six disciplines required in the competition which will include boning, ‘rough cutting and fine trimming’ a hip of beef, the preparation of a stuffed bacon joint and being required to prepare and display grill and BBQ items with beef, pork and chicken. The preparation of pork and beef roasts and then finally being required to make a pie, is also part of a demanding schedule.

Other teams in the competition include entrants from France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and the Netherlands.

Each contestant will be competing both as a team member and as an individual for the title of International Young Butcher 2011.

AHDB Chief Executive Tom Taylor will present the prizes at a BBQ which follows the MEATUP show on 21 June.

The MEATUP exhibition takes place at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire on 21 and 22 June in Hall 2. BPEX is sponsoring the bacon butty breakfast on both days for visitors arriving before 11.00am. Entrance and parking is free, and to pre-register for fast track entry and a competition to win a case of wine visit the MEATUP website www.meatup.co.uk

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Pork Bucks the Trend

Pork is doing really well in the recession and there's hard evidence to back that up. A new report by the Consumer Insight team at AHDB will be published next week. Don't miss next week's BPEX Weekly for details on how to get the report.

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Country of Origin

Gavin Williamson, Conservative MP for South Staffordshire, secured an adjournment debate on country of origin marking.

He aimed to make a broader point about the importance of country of origin labelling to British manufacturing when competing with imports from outside the EU.

Click here for more.

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Return of PAP 'Inevitable'

The introduction of a formalised system of sterilising and processing waste food and converting it into a useable livestock feed is inevitable, according to waste food expert Tristram Stuart, in a story on the Farmers Weekly website.

Mr Stuart said he believed a nationwide off-farm food-recycling programme will provide vast tonnages of low-cost feed for UK pig producers.

And, he said, because of the ever-increasing concern for environmental and economic approaches to food production, the demand will be driven by consumers.

"There will soon be zero tolerance among consumers over the 20m tonnes of waste food that has to be disposed of every year in the UK," said Mr Stuart, lecturer at Sussex University and author of Waste: Uncovering the Global Food Scandal.

To read the full story, click here.

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Latest BPHS Dates

Assessment dates for January to June 2011 in all participating abattoirs have been published and are available on the BPEX website

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International News:

No to Mega-farms

Almost half those questioned in the Netherlands said no to the construction of so-called ‘mega livestock complexes’. However, a further 42% was positive.

A public enquiry, carried out by the Dutch ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation, has indicated that a broad majority is not in favour of continuing economies of scale in the livestock industry.

A broad discussion about mega livestock complexes has been started with a press conference of agricultural deputy minister Henk Bleker.

However, it is difficult to explain what is considered to be ‘mega livestock complexes’ in the Dutch context. One definition given is having one location with at least 7,500 finishers, 250 dairy cows or 120,000 layers. Rather large for a densely populated country as the Netherlands, but fairly moderate in comparison to farm sites in eg the USA or China.

(Source: Pig Progress)

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Danish Herd Down

Gilts are down 14 percent in Denmark compared to the same time last year. Much of the fall has taken place this year, with gilts decreasing 8 percent between January and the end of March.

This is a sign the Danish herd is declining as a result of continued producer losses, and will shrink further during the course of the year.

Currently there are 211,000 gilts in Denmark, the lowest number since 2000, and 20 percent below 2006.

The 1 April results also show a decrease in sows, young pigs and slaughter pigs. There are about one million sows, which is four percent less than at the same time last year.

This is a significant fall and if mirrored elsewhere in the European Union will ensure supplies of pigmeat remain tight for the rest of the year.

The number of Danish slaughter pigs above 50kg has fallen by 5 percent.

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FAO Food Price

The Food and Agriculture Organisation has published the results of its food prices index for April. There was little change in the index because although international grain prices increased sharply in April, the rise was more than offset by declines in dairy, sugar, and rice, while oils and meat prices were mostly unchanged.

Some highlights:

The FAO Cereal Price Index averaged 265 points, up 5.5 percent from March and 71 percent from April 2010. Maize prices rose 11 percent and wheat increased four percent in April 2011 as a result of unfavourable weather and planting delays. But large export supplies kept rice prices under downward pressure.

The FAO Oils/Fats Price Index, which had fallen by seven percent in March, was nearly unchanged in April.

The FAO Sugar Price Index averaged nearly 348 points, down seven percent from March and 17 percent below its January record.

The FAO Dairy Price Index averaged 229 points, down 2.4 percent from March. A good start of the northern hemisphere season has kept prices from rising after seven months of steady growth.

The FAO Meat Price Index, although at a record level, remained stable as compared to a revised estimate of 172 points in March.

The Food Standards Agency will be holding four public meetings in different parts of England this month, about proposals to charge the UK meat industry the full cost of official controls on meat.

The meetings will be open to stakeholders and the public and will provide attendees with an opportunity to hear more about the proposals and share their views. Anyone wishing to attend can register at the link below.

FSA Board Members and policy officials will host the meetings.

On 25 May, at its open meeting, the FSA Board will discuss future charging policy for meat official controls. The comments made at the public meetings will be included in the evidence that the Board will consider as part of its decision-making process, as it will enable Board Members to better understand the views of stakeholders and the public.

For more click here.

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No Worries About Food Risk

According to Eurobarometer results, when it comes to food, EU citizens have the pleasures of food in mind, not the risks associated with it.

Among the main findings of this study, promoted by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the association the Europeans make between food and pleasure stands out, be it because they think of fresh and tasty products (58%), or in enjoying a meal with friends and family (54%). On the other hand, only 37% showed concern about food safety or nutrition.

When confronted with possible food risks, most said they were more concerned with the economic crisis or pollution, than with food safety. Actually, a large part of those surveyed did not show any spontaneous concern for food-related risks, and one of every 10 responded that they had no problem at all with those risks.

However, when specifically asked, they assured they were “very concerned” about pesticide residues in fruits, vegetables or cereals (31%); about antibiotic residues or hormones in meat (30%); about cloning animals for food (30%), and about the presence of contaminants, such as mercury in fish, or dioxins in pork (29%).

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New Danish Welfare Policy

The Danish pig sector is launching a new welfare policy where the pig producers to a higher extent take on much greater responsibility for the pigs in their care, says the latest BPEX Export Bulletin.

The goal has been set by Danish Agriculture and Food, Pig Production, after a seminar on welfare where 80 pig producers participated. The new welfare policy includes:

• Reduction of mortality by 20% until 2020
• Reduction of the consumption of antibiotics by 10% per pig until 2013
• Loose housing pigs in all units
• Action behind words – increased focus on how pig producers may improve animal welfare

To read the latest report, click here.

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International Prices

For the latest international prices, click here.

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