BPEX Weekly: 20 May, 2011

Marketing News

PASWI Advert

This Pigs Are Still Worth It advert is due to appear in The Grocer this weekend as part of their Meat and Poultry supplement, 21 May issue.

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Army Ditches Danish

The Army could soon be marching on a breakfast made from entirely British ingredients for the first time in over 40 years, after an innovative experiment They have started a trial with the MoD to ensure that solely British bacon is supplied to troops, even though this country consumes so much bacon it is forced to import more than half of what it eats.  Click here for more.

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Sizzling Scent of Bacon

The smell of cooking bacon will be immortalised into a perfume. The unisex scent, called Bacón, was launched this week in two varieties. The Classic has a spicy maple aroma with the meat smell blended with orange, lime, grapefruit, black pepper and bergamot. For those eager to try it can be found by clicking here.

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Knowledge Transfer

Tip of the Week: Heat Detection

Setting up and following an effective heat detection and service plan for your farm will help to detect the signs of heat accurately and schedule insemination at the optimum time. This is essential for optimising breeding performance and achieving the best results; review and adjust periodically.

Develop an effective routine that is based on current best practice and information recorded on your farm, making allowances for variation. For further advice on this see Action for Productivity 31.

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Beep Beep: New Message

Have you signed up to receive free text alerts from BPEX yet? This service covers a wide range of issues important to producers. It means you can receive text message alerts on your mobile phone in the case of a disease outbreak, to inform you of current situations in the industry as well as reminding you of BPEX events in your area and when new literature is produced.

Signing up is easy, simply fill in the form on the website by clicking here.

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Salmonella Research

As well as coordinating the Zoonosis National Control Programme (ZNCP) for Salmonella in Pigs, BPEX is currently funding three projects which are investigating various aspects of Salmonella transmission and control.

Jo Elvidge at the University of Edinburgh is working to identify and characterise Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium factors playing a role in colonisation of the pig gut.

Georgina Crayford at the University of Liverpool is looking at the infection biology of pig-associated Salmonella and Alex Berriman, also at the University of Liverpool, is studying mathematics and decision-making for Salmonella on UK pig farms.

Full project progress reports can be found in the Annual Technical Report and on the BPEX website. If you have not yet received a copy of the Annual Technical Report please contact BPEX with your postal address, alternatively visit the R&D section of the website here.

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Easier Search on Ask BPEX

Previously asked questions on the Ask BPEX section of the website can now be filtered by topic so it is easier to find relevant questions/answers instead of having to read down the whole long list.

To find out more, click here.

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Helen's 8,000 Mile Trek

BPEX KT Manager Helen Thoday is heading off for pastures new – 8,000 miles away in the Falkland Islands.

Helen, who joined BPEX almost five years ago, is to become agricultural adviser, genetics and animal nutrition, for the Falkland Islands Agricultural Department.

Helen is already well-travelled having put together a programme visiting many different countries when she won a Nuffield Scholarship last year.

Helen’s study tour took as its topic ‘The UK Pig Industry in 2020’, and looked at the industry’s role in feeding the nine billion world population predicted by 2050.

Helen said: “I can't explain how much I have enjoyed my time at BPEX, being part of the KT team has been a brilliant experience and meeting and working with the producers and allied industry has been motivating and a pleasure.”

BPEX Head of Communications Andrew Knowles said: “Helen is well-respected in the industry and has done a marvellous job over the last five years. We are sad to see her go but wish her well in her new and challenging role.”

Two other members of BPEX staff have also just returned to work following maternity leave, Lis Ravn, Knowledge Transfer Manager for the North of England and Skills and Development Manager, Tess Howe.

Helen will be replaced and her position will be advertised shortly.

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Abattoirs Clean Up

Abattoirs have pledged to introduce a clear line of communication to ensure that lorry washing facilities are adequate for effective biosecurity.

Cleaning and disinfection of livestock transport vehicles was the subject of an important meeting held in Diss yesterday. BPEX Eastern Pig Health led the discussion between livestock hauliers, farmers, processors, pig marketing groups and veterinarians.

They discussed the benefits of having farm contact numbers clearly visible to pig transport vehicles and other visitors at the gate or near the farm entrance. This led to a proposal and agreement to do the same at abattoir lorry washing facilities.

BPEX Knowledge Transfer Manager Colin Stone said: “Typical issues livestock hauliers may find include water leaks, a hose pipe that is not long enough or lack of disinfectant. This new initiative will mean that drivers can quickly find the number and make contact with someone who has responsibility for the lorry washing facilities.

“I’m anticipating that by the end of today we will have confirmation from 50% of the BQAP abattoirs committing to put this system in place. We need to take shared responsibility to get this to work within the supply chain. I think everyone went away from the meeting feeling much more confident that we can improve biosecurity with more consistent and effective vehicle cleaning and disinfection.”

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AD Diary Update

The farm-scale anaerobic digestion (AD) plant at the University of Newcastle’s Cockle Park Farm is working well. Currently using pig slurry as feedstock, they have also just started to use the digestate as fertiliser. Click here to see a photo of the first application on the AD Photo Diary.

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National News:

Report on Red Tape

The Farming Regulation Task Force has presented its recommendations for reducing the administrative burden faced by farmers and food producers. The report makes more than 200 recommendations following an extensive review of all regulations that affect farmers and food producers and the way they are implemented.

Agriculture Minister Jim Paice said: "This is an impressive piece of work with strong recommendations for reducing the burden that red tape has on the people who produce our food.

"We have already identified a number of areas from the report where we can take immediate action, such as reducing the paperwork required under Nitrate Regulations and moving towards reporting all pig and cattle movement online. I’m also pleased to announce the creation of a new Strategic Regulatory Scrutiny Panel, tasked with challenging and advising us on the way we think about regulation.

“In the longer-term my priority will be to cut the unnecessary paperwork that farmers and food producers have to deal with and, wherever possible, move remaining paperwork online.”

For more information, click here.

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ASDA Sales Flat

Asda has reported a flat quarter for sales but said trading picked up last month with the help of Easter and the royal wedding.

The UK's second biggest supermarket chain revealed that like-for-like sales excluding VAT grew by 0.1% in the quarter to March 31, although stripping out an early Easter, sales were up 0.8%. This still represents a slowdown on the 1.6% seen in the final quarter of 2010 but Asda pointed out that April had been stronger as the extended bank holidays boosted trade.

Asda also announced GBP27 million of investment in fresh food by trebling the number of quality control staff in its depots and farms, as well as improvement in its meat department and ensuring its cod and haddock is line caught.

Chief Executive Andy Clarke, who took over a year ago, admitted last year the standard of the company's produce was not good enough.

He has already responded by investing GBP100 million on its own label food and drink including the launch ofa new mid-tier range Chosen By You , which contains 6,500 products endorsed by customers.

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Positive News For Pork

The good news is people are buying more pork, bacon, ham and sausages according to a new category report published by BPEX.

But some of the growth has come from imports at the expense of welfare-friendly assured pork produced to Red Tractor standards according to the report, called Nourishing Growth with Pork.

The previous report, in 2006, said there were signs people were returning to traditional values on food and cooking but then came the recession.

The report was produced by AHDB Market Intelligence and Consumer Insight team.

The report is available to download from www.bpex.org.uk and hard copies are available from Matthew Southam, AHDBMI, Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire
CV8 2TL, or email matthew.southam@ahdb.org.uk

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Discounted Loans for Farmers

Farmers considering investment in their farm businesses are being urged to tap into discounted loan rates available from the Agricultural Mortgage Corporation (AMC) but they must act quickly.

“As part of the Lloyds Banking Group, the AMC has access to a £250 million fund provided by the European Investment Bank (EIB) aimed at stimulating investment and job creation in small and medium-sized businesses, including farming,” explains Jonathan Allright, head of the AMC.

“Our access to this fund allows us to effectively subsidise loans for a wide range of farm and diversification projects including whole farm purchase, building works and livestock housing, machinery and equipment purchases, farm shops, milking parlours and farm energy schemes. The total fund pot is limited and we have already seen a high level of interest, so if you have a project in mind then I would urge you to contact your AMC Regional Agricultural Manager or agent as soon as possible.

To find out more, click here.

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Cranswick Results

Cranswick plc has announced its preliminary results for the year ended 31 March 2011.

Highlights:

• Underlying sales ahead by 4 per cent at GBP758m on volumes 6 per cent higher
• Reported revenues up 2 per cent to GBP758m (2010: GBP740m)
• Pre-tax profit rose 8 per cent to GBP47.1m (2010: GBP43.8m)
• Earnings per share up 7 per cent at 74.5p (2010: 69.7p)
• Recommended final dividend of 18.7p - up 10 per cent
• Interest cover 30 times (2010: 21 times)
• Net debt reduced by GBP6.4m to GBP48.3m

Cranswick Chairman Martin Davey said: "This has been a very positive year for Cranswick. Record levels of sales and profitability have been achieved and substantial investment has been made in the asset base to improve efficiency and to provide the capacity for continued growth.

"Today it is being announced that Adam Couch has been appointed Chief Operating Officer. He was appointed to the Board in 2003 and is currently managing director of the Fresh Pork activity.

Chief Executive Bernard Hoggarth commented: "The major capital project at the Preston site (near Hull) has been completed. As part of the plant's on-going development United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) accreditation has been achieved and will allow the export of specific products to the USA."

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Tackle Sub-clinical Disease

Tackling sub-clinical disease in pig herds is essential for profitable, sustainable production and requires attention to detail. This was one of three clear messages from Boehringer Ingelheim’s David Strachan during a BPEX Two-Tonne Sow (2TS) workshop at Pig and Poultry LIVE.

David spelled out his ‘ABC’ of pig health management for the pig industry:

• ‘attention to detail’ to deal with the diseases currently on farm, in particular sub-clinical problems that are often overlooked
• ‘biosecurity’ to protect against the diseases already out there
• ‘co-ordination’ of an integrated disease surveillance network to help minimise risk of new diseases yet to come.

He said: “Health and welfare is the key to sustainable pig production. The importance of sub-clinical disease cannot be underestimated."

Attention to detail is essential to identify health problems and adjust management accordingly to minimise the impact on pig performance.

And to reduce the risk of new diseases that have yet to emerge in the UK, David is keen to see greater collaboration on disease surveillance. For example, building an integrated surveillance network that could co-ordinate BPEX Pig Health Scheme information with vet quarterly visits, the Veterinary Laboratories Agency and the SAC.

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New Chair for AHDB

John Godfrey CBE has been appointed by Ministers as the new AHDB chairman, with immediate effect.

John is a farmer and a multiple levy payer. He has been a BPEX Sector Board member for a number of years. He is a chartered accountant and with his brother, Jim, manages an arable and pig enterprise in Lincolnshire and Yorkshire, across an area that stretches from the Wash to north of the Humber.

He negotiated the merging of the British Pig Association's commercial pig industry representation with the NFU's pig industry representation to form, in 2000, the National Pig Association, of which he was the first chairman.

John Godfrey was also the key driver in creating English agriculture's first fully integrated farm assurance scheme, covering not only production on-farm but also feed, transport and processing.

He is a Fellow of the Royal Agricultural Societies, President of Scunthorpe United Football Club and was High Sheriff of Lincolnshire in 2010. He was awarded the CBE in 1998 for services to agriculture.

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Meat Charges Update

The Food Standards Agency has published a Board paper that updates its proposals for charging the meat industry the full cost of delivering official controls in meat plants.

The key changes are: the proposal to support more small businesses with a low throughput by expanding the number of meat plants in this category and to begin a phased implementation of full cost recovery in April 2012.

The consultation on these proposals began in November 2010, when the FSA consulted widely to gather views from stakeholders. Since then, the FSA has reviewed all the responses, and is continuing to gather views to present to the FSA Board via a series of public meetings in England next week and discussion at Food Advisory Committee open meetings in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The latest paper reflects how the proposals have been amended following this process and sets out the points the FSA Board will be asked to discuss at the open Board meeting on 25 May.

The main change from the original proposals is the option for a considerable increase in the number of small businesses with a low throughput that could receive a reduction in charges. This reflects industry concerns on the impact for this type of meat plant. The paper proposes that the threshold for determining which businesses fall into the ‘low throughput’ category should be expanded. Meat plants falling into this category could pay reduced charges in a tiered system, depending on the volume of livestock units or meat they process.

To find out more, click here.

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Money For Research

Run by the Technology Strategy Board in partnership with three of the UK Research Councils, the Nutrition for Life Collaborative R&D Competition is aimed at stimulating innovation in the provision of 'healthy' and 'safe' foods.

The Competition has a total fund of £6.25 million for feasibility studies and large-scale collaborative R&D projects:

Feasibility Studies

Up to £500k is available for small-scale technical feasibility studies in early stage, high risk, applied research, with each project attracting a maximum of £25,000. Projects may be undertaken by individual small and medium-sized enterprises, or in collaboration with other businesses or academic partners.

Collaborative R&D Projects

Up to £5.75m is available for collaborative R&D projects that are led by a business of any size and undertaken by consortia comprising at least two partners (either business or academia). Projects will cost between £100,000 and £500,000 with a duration of between one and three years.

All proposals must clearly demonstrate benefit to the business

The deadline for submissions is 15 June.

For further information 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:

Call for Cut in Antibiotics

MEPS have agreed on a non-legislative resolution calling for more research and monitoring of the effects of antimicrobials on food-producing animals and pets. It would also help if antibiotics were used less, stress MEPs.

According to the Parliament's resolution, all Member States should "perform regular systematic surveillance and monitoring of animal antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in both food-producing and companion animals".

The text also suggests that methods of animal husbandry should be devised to help avoid the use of antibiotics and more research should be done into new products and alternative methods, to cut the use of antimicrobials while still controlling animal diseases.

Lastly, the Commission is asked to devise an EU-wide plan to combat AMR in pets and food-producing animals and to focus on the connection between animal health and the use of antimicrobials and hence the link between animal and human health.

To read more, click here.

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Agriculture and Fisheries Committee

The EU Agriculture and Fisheries Committee met earlier this week in Brussels and dicussed a wide range of issues, including the volatility of commodities markets. To read a summary, click here.

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Weak Demand in Germany

Lack of margins and weak demand for meat in Germany have led to reduced slaughterings and decreased demand for pigs for slaughter according to the latest Export Bulletin.

For producers as well as for some slaughterers and deboners, the discounts reported for cuts are rather serious and are caused by sluggish demand and poor weather conditions as well as by meat stored in line with the private storage aid scheme coming onto the market.

To read the Bulletin, click here.

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International Prices

For the latest international prices, click here.

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