www.WATTAgNet.com NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2011 French pig producers are determined to thrive in spite of new regulations EU animal welfare rules changing how pigs are raised Brazil’s pig producers return to profitability Tips for combating tail biting Digital version at www.piginternational-digital.com High performance pigs need the right fuel Experience the power of Vi-COR ® Give your pigs the nutritional power they ���������������������������������������� need Results show that yeast-based feed �������������������������������������� ingredients from Vi-COR® may ������������������������������������������� ��������������������������������� ������������������������������� sows and young piglets Ask your ��������������������������������� ��������������������������������� ��������������������������� E coli and Salmonella ��������������� ���������������������������������������������������������������� ��������������������������������������������� Vi-CORđ â www.WATTAgNet.com NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2011 PigInternational VOLUME 41, NUMBER FEATURES ❰❰ 12 French pig producers are determined to thrive in spite of new regulations Pig industry experts discuss the future and beyond 2013 how pigs are raised 16 EU animal welfare rules changing New health strategies could help pig producers meet demands with support across the whole supply chain 18 Monitoring energy usage to save on fuel costs 20 Brazil’s pig producers return to profitability Think laterally and consider recycling and reusing heat in novel ways While output increased slightly, the Brazilian pig sector is experiencing a significant improvement in demand uses insulation to help sows maintain comfort 22 Thai pig producerzone in high temperatures Energy saving design allows pigs to sustain high performance levels during hot weather 24 Tips for combating pig tail biting Researchers identify key risks and suggest ways to help pig producers overcome them DEPARTMENTS p22 Cover photo: © Tadija Savic/Dreamstime.com November/December 2011 | www.WATTAgNet.com 26 27 28 Talking Pork News Products Market place Advertisers’ index p18 |1 2| WATTAgNet.com WATTAGNet Exclusives Video: Animal welfare Snap it! in pig production systems Watch Dr David Fraser from the University of British Columbia in Canada highlight the animal welfare aspects of pig production systems on your smartphone or at www.WATT AgNet.com/24006.html If your phone has a Web browser and camera, download the free app at http://qrcode kaywa.com/ and scan over this bar code Video: Future trends in the global pig meat market See Professor Richard Brown of international meat market analysis organization, GIRA, share his insights on the prospects for pig meat on your smartphone or at www.WATT AgNet.com/24198.html WATTAgNet.com CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS 303 N Main St, Ste 500, Rockford, Illinois 61101-1018 USA Tel: +1 815 966 5400; Fax: +1 815 968 0941 Publisher, International: Greg Watt, gwatt@wattnet.net Tel: +1 815 966 5517; Fax: +1 815 968 0941 Publisher, N 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Business and occupation information must accompany each subscription order Single copy price US$14.00 unless otherwise marked Change of address: Give both old and new address when reporting change of address to PIGI@KMPSGROUP.COM, fax to +1.866.658.6156 or send to KMPS, PO Box 47706, Plymouth, MN 55447 © Copyright 2011 WATT Publishing Co All rights reserved PIG INTERNATIONAL (ISSN 0191-8834) is published bi-monthly plus Buyer’s Guide in October by WATT, 303 N Main St Ste 500 Rockford, IL, 61101 USA All rights reserved Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited Pig International and its logo are registered trademarks of WATT Publishing Co Postage paid at Rockford, IL, USA and additional mailing offices Canada Post International Publication Mail Product 1686218 www.WATTAgNet.com | November/December 2011 4| TALKINGPORK > rabbott@wattnet.net by Roger Abbott Size matters when negotiating price Closer cooperation between European pig producers could be the first step toward increased prosperity for all Whether we like it or not, the rising cost of animal welfare and “protecting t h e env ir onmen t ” is becoming as important to pig producers as feed and fuel prices Gover nmen t s and consumers all over the globe are becoming more vociferous in their demands than ever before – and they are unlikely to be silenced as retailers see new marketing opportunities in “welfare friendly” food and “eco-products.” Forgetting national differences It makes sense, that as welfare and environmental standards among competitors across northeastern Europe narrow, pig producers should start to forget their national differences and work together to improve systems and performance So they can stand confidently in the face of growing competition from producers in other new pig producing regions, such as Asia and Latin America After all, size does matter when it comes to negotiating prices in today’s increasingly crowded marketplace Pig producers in France, Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark and the United Kingdom could enhance their opportunities, if they worked together to sell pig meat both locally and abroad This would give them more muscle when it came down to the final negotiations over price per kilogram A move in this direction already appears to be underway in Europe, with a growing number of cross-border consolidations and acquisitions, among companies Denmark is leading the way by buying into markets in Germany and the UK, in particular, and fine-tuning its welfare standards to meet demands of all the different markets Under current international economic conditions, this looks set to continue Strength in numbers InterPIG leads the way A significant number of pig producers are already showing the way forward by putting aside traditional differences and talking to producers in different countries Therefore, we have farmers in Denmark, Holland and the United Kingdom talking to each other and sharing experiences to help each other progress and meet the challenges they all face in Europe French and German pig producers also are joining these discussions and crossborder visits They are building up bonds that could one day lead to the establishment of a Northeast Europe Cooperative that would provide all of them with the voice and muscle needed when talking to the EU authorities, supermarket giants and other customers, as well as when shopping around for feed, fuel and other inputs In addition, a strong Northeast European Coop could help Europeans compete more effectively against the U.S and Brazil to obtain a larger share of the new export markets opening up in Asia and Africa This body could also help the European pig industry argue more persuasively for the need for governments and other institutions to devote more time and money to research and development, which is so essential to ensure the sustainability of the sector The need to share knowledge and expertise to ensure the survival of both the European pig sector and the global industry has already been highlighted in what is recognized by many as a global marketplace for pig meat We have InterPIG, an internationally respected group of pig production economists who regularly exchange information about pig production in participating countries and provide a much-respected annual production cost comparison This group was launched in Europe in 2003 and includes economists from France, Denmark, Belgium, the UK, Germany, Holland, Ireland, Sweden, Austria, Spain, the U.S., Canada and Brazil Many pig breeding and equipment companies have worldwide interests and, as we report in this issue, one pre-eminent geneticist, Dr Grant Walling, suggests that the West should start thinking about investing its knowledge and technology If China, Russia and Brazil could achieve UK performance, they could increase output by 60% in China and Brazil, for example, to help satisfy the growing demand for protein “If countries like China, Russia and Brazil could achieve UK performance (for example), they could collectively increase output by at least 60% On a global scale, that represents a 32.3% increase in world pork supplies, a significant contribution,” said Walling If Walling is right, the international pig industry cannot carry on what it has been doing, if it wants to continue to thrive Producers and our allied industries need to work together on a more permanent basis – and greater cooperation among pig producers and the other links of the production supply chain could be just the first step PIGI www.WATTAgNet.com | November/December 2011 6| INTERNATIONALNEWS SAC study links pig aggression with carcass value, meat quality Scottish Agricultural College researchers conducted a study that found pig aggression to be a genetic trait that can impact welfare, carcass value and meat quality The SAC-led study was part of the panEuropean SABRE project, which focuses on genomics for sustainable animal breeding The study analyzed tissue from pigs at the commercial farm of pig breeder PIC, to identify genes linked with aggression, stress and meat quality, and how they interact Researchers from SAC’s Animal and Veterinary Sciences Research Group found that pigs with aggressive personalities cause more fighting and experience more stress when mixed in unfamiliar groups “The mixing of pigs into new groups commonly occurs pre-slaughter,” said SAC Behavioral Scientist Dr Rick D’Eath “Increased fighting presents an obvious welfare concern and can also reduce carcass value when scratched or damaged areas have to be discarded In addition, the pigs we studied which experienced stress prior to slaughter had less acidic meat post-slaughter, which can reduce its eating quality.” According to D’Eath, reducing pig aggression, particularly pre-slaughter, could bring welfare and financial benefits while reducing waste and improving meat quality “Producers, hauliers and slaughterhouses could work together to avoid the mixing of pigs in unfamiliar groups before slaughter, such as by ensuring that farm groups of pigs are penned separately on the truck and at lairage,” said D’Eath “In the longer term, the study also opens the way for tackling the issue of pig aggression using genetic selection.” Pig meat products take increasing share of UK protein market Cranswick, a sliced meat and sausage producer, said that pig meat products continue to gain an increased share of the UK retail protein market as evidenced by recent market data Both the versatility and the low price of pork relative to other proteins were key to this positive trend, with the growing popularity of pork products seen as a contributing factor to the increase in sales at Cranswick, according to a British Pig Executive report Underlying sales volume growth in the first quarter was 3% and in the second quarter was 7%, according to the report The average volume growth across six months was 5% Export sales grew strongly, with growth particularly strong in Far Eastern markets |7 Vion invests in training at UK pork processing facility Pig industry professionals study global demand, profitability at Alltech seminar Vion has a multi-million pound investment in training and skills development at its pork processing facility in Broxburn in the UK The plans focus on improving business processes, strengthening the operation’s skills base and developing a lean culture CALENDAR ▶ February 15-17: Victam Asia 2012, Bangkok,Thailand, www.victam.com February S T W T F M S 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 A recent Alltech Pig Solutions Seminar focused on performance versus profit as industry professionals looked at global population growth, a change in demand and the challenges of meeting that demand while continuing to business “A change of focus is required,” said Patrick Charlton, Alltech’s European regional director “Seventy percent of the growth in global meat demand will come from Asia Who will produce this meat? Europe has held its ground in terms of technical development and ability, but Brazil and the U.S continue to have the lowest cost of production.” Of the 110 industry professionals surveyed at the seminar: ❯❯ 0% believe that 30 pigs weaned per sow per year is realistic ❯❯ pinions were divided over whether the O carbon footprint of pork will become increasingly important over the next decade, FEED INGREDIENTS, ADDITIVES, FORMULATION with 69% agreeing that it will be increasingly important and 20% disagreeing ❯❯ 8% of attendees agree that managing herd health is one of the industry’s biggest challenges ❯❯ In terms of programmed nutrition and metabolic imprinting, 23% think it will impact greatly feed efficiency alone and 44% think it will impact greatly feed efficiency, pig health and product quality ❯❯ n the issue of feed costs, 57% agree that O low feed costs are a thing of the past and 35% disagree with this statement ❯❯ 35% think that the recent contamination scares in China will result in more stringent regulations enforced on feed suppliers, animal producers and processors ❯❯ 9.5% also think the contamination scare will make consumers more aware of potential contaminants within the food chain FEED PROCESSING TECHNOLOGY – F e b r u a r y 2 B a n g k o k I n t e r n a t i o n a l Tr a d e a n d E x h i b i t i o n C e n t r e , B a n g k o k , T h a i l a n d Asia Pacific’s largest international event for the formulation and production of safe, cost-effective animal feeds, aquafeeds and dry petfoods The conferences The FIAAP Conference 2012, Aquafeed Horizons Asia 2012, Petfood Forum Asia 2012, The Thai Feed Conference 2012 Co-located with GRAPAS Asia 2012 The show for rice & flour milling, grain & noodle processing, breakfast cereal & extruded snack production November/December 2011 | www.WATTAgNet.com Supported by Now new h in Thailand Convention om & Exhibition Bureau BITEC e Further information For additional information and free visitor registration visit: www.fiaap.com or www.victam.com 8| ❱❱ News Maximized Sow Lifetime Productivity = Increased Efficiency + Increased Throughput British Pig Executive releases new sow culling guidelines Direct income from cull sows should not be a major factor in determining sow culling policies, said the British Pig Executive in its new culling management guidelines It should only account for around 2% of total sales income Pig producers should instead focus on maintaining an optimum parity profile by regularly replacing older or less productive sows and keeping the herd’s overall performance steady Sow culling rates have a direct correlation with economic efficiency “Producers should aim for an average herd parity no greater than 2.8,” said BPEX knowledge transfer manager Angela Cliff “It’s important to understand why individual sows are culled and to manage voluntary or selected culling consistently Decide what your target maximum parity is for each animal and then stick to it Voluntary culling is also carried out to remove any sows not performing as well as they should.” At the same time, pig producers should minimize the level of involuntary or forced culling, most commonly caused by fertility problems, lameness or disease To find the economic impact of retaining older, less productive sows, calculate the cost of ‘empty days’: Cost per sow-day = Total annual breeding herd expenditure / (productive sows x 365) Cost of reproductive failure = Cost per sow-day x empty days per annum / pigs born alive (sold) per sow per year BRIEFS ▶ TOPIGS announces partnership with Dutch feed research company TOPIGS is partnering with Dutch feed research company Schothorst Feed Research to collaborate on research The collaboration comes as Schothorst Feed Research expands its pig herd and research facilities, and takes over the tasks of TOPIGS’ experimental farm in Beilen, Netherlands The collaboration will allow the companies to investigate differences in requirements between genetic lines ©2011 PIC All Rights Reserved Call 800-325-3398 or visit us at www.pic.com NEVER STOP IMPROVING ▶ McDonald’s helps grow UK pork sales Fast-food chain McDonald’s launched a new breakfast product in the UK that includes a sausage patty, which the company expects will help grow pork sales as an increasing number of its restaurants open for an extended period for breakfast ▶ China Animal Husbandry Expo planned for May 2012 The 10th China Animal Husbandry Expo is planned for May 18-20, 2012, at China’s Nanjing International Expo Centre CAHE focuses on livestock production and animal health for pigs, poultry, sheep and beef cattle Highlights of CAHE 2012 will include the top 100 pig farms in the Pig Hall and the top 80 poultry farms in the Poultry Hall, as well as the Third Bio-Energy Summit www.WATTAgNet.com | November/December 2011 16 Trends | EU animal welfare rules changing how pigs are raised New health strategies could help pig producers meet demands with support across the whole supply chain By Roger Abbott Raising healthy pigs While most pig farmers accept that they have to comply with the demands and good welfare often leads to healthier pigs, better performance and higher production, there are many different views on what actually should be done to provide “happy pigs.” “Yes to welfare, but we can’t treat pigs as humans,” was the blunt assessment of French producer, Michel Bloc’h, president of the pig producers’ organization in Brittany, when asked about the EU’s new animal welfare regulations at the 2011 SPACE Livestock event in Rennes, France When asked the same question, British National Pig Association, general manager, Dr Zoe Davies said, “Pigs are not house pets or cuddly toys, they are farm animals; high welfare is important, but we need to focus on what the pig needs, rather than what some humans think pigs want.” “We also have to balance the desires of welfare lobby groups against the huge demand for cheap meat,” said Davies “Animal welfare is good and the majority of British pig producers actively support moves to improve conditions for pigs where possible, but it all costs money and somebody has to pay for it.” It also has been pointed out that some approaches to animal welfare, such as bedded solid floors, may increase zoonotic risks Animal welfare is a key issue for pig producers in most parts of the world, especially if they want to continue exporting pork products without restriction The increased demand for more “pig friendly” production methods from consumers and retailers is forcing governments to legislate and impose a plethora of regulations on EU livestock and pig producers Photo courtesy Helen Brothwell Pig welfare benchmarks Finishers on slats at an animal welfare friendly UK pig unit However, the British Pig Executive calculated that improved pig health and welfare could be worth as much as £25 million a year to the UK pig industry by increasing performance, and it is rolling out a new health and welfare strategy, with support across the whole supply chain BPEX stated that by improving health and welfare producers can achieve better pig performance, reduce their impact on the environment and increase sustainability The organization is actively training veterinarians and developing this project, which is based on welfare outcomes or indicators to measure treatment by looking at the pig, rather than its environment These indicators include body marks, lesions, lameness, oral behaviors, hospital pigs and enrichment use The aim is to find practical measures, valid and repeatable over a range of systems that can be used by veterinarians for indicators of behavior, health, housing and feeding This will provide a blueprint that could be used by the pig industry anywhere, commented Dr Nina Taylor, research assistant at BPEX “For example, the measurement of body marks gives an indicator www.WATTAgNet.com | November/December 2011 | 17 Dr Zoe Davies, general manager of the British National Pig Association “Welfare is good, but it costs money and somebody will have to pay for it.” of the effect of the pig’s surroundings and its relationship with pen mates The marks also can highlight sharp edges in the pen’s fittings, or give insight into aggressive encounters, which may raise useful questions about pig comfort and available resources,” said Taylor “Enrichment use is being measured as an indicator of welfare because research has shown that pigs have an evolutionary need to perform exploratory behavior, even when their appetite for food is satisfied,” she added Balancing welfare, competitiveness BPEX hopes that when put together all the measures will give a meaningful indication of overall welfare Emphasizing the critical importance of welfare these days, BPEX Chairman, Stewart Houston, said, “Improving the health and welfare of pigs is of paramount importance to all those involved in the industry in England It affects our cost of production and our ability to survive in a highly competitive EU market While the pig industry aims to meet the overall costs, the supply chain needs to function more effectively to ensure that farmers receive a share of the welfare premium that makes these systems sustainable.” Houston, who said he believes health and welfare go hand in hand, explained, “We have a reputation built on high welfare production New techniques will enable us to assess the real welfare of the pigs in our care We have already done a lot, but there is more to achieve, particularly if we can get the health side of things right, as well.” He added, “Of equal importance is coordinating the activities of diverse organizations that have a common goal of improving pig welfare and the range of benefits that brings These include, among others, the allied industry, welfare groups and the government.” In the end, the English pig industry is promoting farm health and welfare planning as it should be part of environmental protection, sustainability and food security Denmark’s welfare strategy In Denmark, new measures aimed at increasing what pig producers claim are already high standards of welfare were introduced earlier this year Moreover, like England, there is a close link between welfare and the on-going health of the pigs “Society has presented us with a number of challenges and we are intent on meeting these by making further improvements to our animal welfare standards,” said Lindhart B Nielsen, chairman of the Danish Agriculture and Food Council’s Pig Knowledge Centre “Our aim is to maintain a thriving industry, based on high technical standards that will maintain Denmark’s strong position in the international pig meat trade.” November/December 2011 | www.WATTAgNet.com Animal welfare groundwork first laid in the 1970s While the groundwork for animal welfare legislation in the European Union was laid in the 1978 European Convention for the protection of animals kept for farming purposes, some legislation dates back as far as 1974 when rules about animal welfare at slaughter were introduced However, it was in the 1990s that this subject became politically sensitive and the European Commission introduced a range of directives setting standards for different species, including pigs, in an effort to satisfy animal welfare lobby groups They include new standards for the pig housing, which has a final implementation date of January 1, 2013 The main features of this legislation include standards for available space per pig in barns, the quality of flooring in pig barns, as well as a complete ban on sow stalls, except for farms with less than 10 sows The EU authorities recognize that these new standards will increase pork production costs to some extent in Europe and increase the competitive gap that already exists between European pig producers and those in the United States, Canada and Brazil because of higher fed costs However, they claim better pig welfare could also improve some production parameters, like when sows are less stressed and point out that the competitiveness gap has not prevented the EU from retaining its position as a strong pork exporter “In addition, despite the fact that the animal welfare directive for pigs is in its final implementation, the gap between EU pork prices and pork prices in Canada, the United States and Brazil has greatly decreased over the past year,” said a spokesperson The five key areas of the country’s new welfare strategy are: ❯❯ A 20% reduction in mortality rates across all categories of pigs by 2020 ❯❯ Improved focus on animal health, alongside a 10% reduction in antibiotic consumption (per pig) by 2013 ❯❯ Loose housing systems for sows in all units (Danish producers are all expected to comply fully with the new EU regulations banning traditional stalls for pregnant sows by 2013 The industry will then work to phase out confinement in the first four weeks of pregnancy, which is permitted under the new EU rules It will also work towards increasing the uptake of “freedom farrowing” systems in indoor production.) ❯❯ Measure to encourage better use of hospital pens ❯❯ Action behind the words – greater focus on pig producers to enhance their standards of animal welfare through adoption of best practices “We have resolved to concentrate on these five areas and to commit further resources to research and development within new areas of animal welfare as they arise,” said Nielsen “Our current research project into the use of straw, in cooperation with Aarhus University, is one such example “We are well aware that consumers have the choice of buying meat from a number of specially produced pigs – and this will undoubtedly continue – but, our new welfare policy is intended to ensure that animal welfare standards are improved for all pigs.” PIGI 18 Energy | Pig producers monitoring energy usage to save on fuel costs Think laterally and consider recycling and reusing heat in novel ways By Roger Abbott With fuel prices in danger of rising as rapidly as animal feed costs, pig producers are advised to evaluate energy usage and reduce inputs wherever possible Before this can be done, pig producers must monitor their systems carefully to discover how much energy they are using, where they are using it and in what form – electricity, oil, gas, lighting, heat or cooling Most pig farmers are already monitoring their systems to get the best results from their feed, as well as ensuring their ventilation and heating systems are working properly In addition to taking a critical analysis of their businesses to record energy usage, pig professionals also need to involve their staff and encourage them to think how and where energy can be saved This can be as simple as closing doors behind them and switching lights off when they leave the staff room to using energy efficient bulbs and recycling heat Real-time monitoring “Real-time monitoring is essential for animal-focused production management and monitoring and training must go hand-in-hand,” said Hugh Crabtree, of the farm energy and control services business, Farmex Crabtree has advised pig producers in Australia, the United States and Europe He pointed out that any parameters, including water intake and air quality, as well as lighting and energy consumption, Real-time monitoring is essential to ensure ventilation systems are working effectively and using minimum energy should be measured and analyzed to help reduce production costs and improve performance Once pig farmers have established where and how they use energy, they can compare benchmark figures against actual energy use records on individual units to establish where savings can be made,” said British Pig Executive Environment Programme Manager Nigel Penlington This could include improvements in insulation and buildings, as well as computer-controlled technology to improve energy efficiency Installing modern energyefficient ventilation systems, for example, can make a great impact on energy bills New equipment is constantly being developed to help producers reduce their usage Think laterally “However, pig producers should also think laterally and consider how they can recycle and reuse heat in novel ways to help save on fuel bills,” said Penlington “For example, some pig farmers in Denmark are burying ground source heating coils in their slurry pits and recycling the heat from them to keep their piglets warm and to heat buildings.” “There also are several opportunities for pig farmers to recover heat from exhaust air by deploying heat exchangers; this heat can then be reused to warm incoming air, or it can be captured and redistributed elsewhere within the unit He said that heat pump technology and modern manufacturing techniques www.WATTAgNet.com | November/December 2011 | 19 For more renewable energy ideas, see Pig producers profi ting from biogas production www.WATTAgNet.com/21176 html A REALISTIC ALTERNATIVE? have advanced to the stage where both ground source and air-to-air heat pumps could offer a credible alternative to the conventional oil or gas-fired heaters used in many piggeries Simon Lague Business Development Manager Renewable energy caveats Obser ving that the development of new technology is moving forward rapidly, Penlington pointed out that new opportunities regarding the use of solar panels, anaerobic digestion plants and other renewable energy units should also be considered, depending on a producer’s location and particular circumstances However, he warns pig producers considering investing in renewable energy systems to make sure their choice of technology can be safely integrated into their existing infrastructure “For example, a lot of roofs on farm buildings were not designed to carry any extra weight and might need to be strengthened, if solar panels are to be put on them those costs will have to be taken into consideration,” said Penlington “There also might be a need for new wiring, as well as new equipment to cope with the renewable energy.” While there are plenty of opportunities and new technologies to help pig farmers reduce, reuse and recycle energy, as well as to generate their own, Penlington advised pig producers to consider all the options first “They should also talk to other people and see what they have done – and if they are keen to use renewable energy, they should take advice on what sort of technology would be best for them “They also must check that the supplier and installer knows something about agriculture, particularly the pig business, before going ahead with any project, so they will know how and where best to site the equipment.” PIGI November/December 2011 | www.WATTAgNet.com Reprints are a simple way to put information directly into the hands of your target audience Having been featured in a well-respected publication adds the credibility of a third-party endorsement to your message Market REPRINTS ARE IDEAL FOR: particularly in the developing world ■ New Product Announcements This implies that 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animal friendly system Unlike traditional farming, iFarming is For additional information, please contact Foster Printing Service, the official reprint provider for Pig International Call 866.879.9144 or sales@fosterprinting.com sustainable in metropolitan areas, combining social, economic and environmental interest and at the same time higher return on investment for the farmer 20 Market focus | Demand for Brazil’s pigs has grown during the past year, particularly on the domestic front Brazil’s pig producers return to profitability While output increased slightly, the Brazilian pig sector is experiencing a significant improvement in demand By Mark Clements For the Brazilian pig industry, stable production levels and a strong recovery in prices made 2010 a profi table year While there was only a moderate increase in production, demand for pig meat from Brazilian consumers expanded “robustly.” Prices both at home and overseas increased, and there was a lower supply of beef Less favorable to Brazilian pig producers, however, is the strength of the country’s currency (the Real) and increased competition in the international market Steady but strong, Brazil produced 1.5% more pig meat in 2010, when compared with 2009, with output rising from 3.19 million tons to 3.24 million Part of this expansion was the result of a 3.5% increase in average slaughter weights over the year, reports industry association Abipecs By head, the supply of pigs going to slaughter remained relatively stable, increasing 1.8% from 33.8 million head to 34.3 million The breeding herd also TABLE 1: Brazilian pig meat production 2005-2010 (000 tons) 2005 Industrialized Subsistence Total 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2,269 2,531 2,644 2,686 2,873 2,920 439 412 354 342 317 317 2,708 2,943 2,998 3,028 3,190 3,237 Source: Abipecs Although small-scale pig production remained stable in 2010, as a percentage of total production it continues to decline remained constant at 2.46 million head While 2010 recorded a small increase in pig numbers, Abipecs attributes this to the ongoing world economic crisis, which has reduced investment The number of pigs slaughtered under the Federal Inspection scheme stood at 29.1 million head last year – an increase of 2.5% in comparison with 2009 In contrast, the number of animals slaughtered under other inspection schemes continued to decline In excess of 83% of the pig meat produced last year was sold on the home market The ongoing growth in the number of animals slaughtered, with only stable supplies, led to a recovery in prices in Brazil Room for domestic growth 2010 was characterized by low stocks, a strong demand for pig meat and high prices Demand is also thought to have increased because of reduced supplies of beef, resulting in consumers searching out alternative meats While the amount of pig meat for national consumption increased 4.1%, Abipecs estimated Brazilian per capita annual consumption of 15 kg could be achieved This suggests there is still room for the industry to grow in the domestic market, as well as exports www.WATTAgNet.com | November/December 2011 | 21 Pedro de Camargo Neto, president of the pig producers and exporters association, Abipecs— “Brazil has reduced its dependence on the Russian market significantly.” For more insight on the Brazilian pig industry, see Brazil’s pork producers report positive 2010 www.WATTAgNet.com/20113 html Big Dutchman’s new €13 million Brazilian facility provides modern equipment and technology that Brazil’s pig producers will need to help them expand and remain ahead of the curve on all issues in an increasingly connected world Brazil’s pig meat exporters continue to face difficulties TABLE 2: Demand for Brazilian pig meat by market 2005-2010 (000 tons) 2005 Home Overseas Total 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2,083 2,415 2,391 2,497 2,583 2,697 625 528 607 529 607 540 2,708 2,943 2,998 3,026 3,190 3,237 Source: Abipecs Given the strength of the Brazilian market, pig producers have had little incentive to increase sales overseas Export market The financial crisis of 2008-2009 continued to affect the price and volumes of Brazil’s pig meat exports last year While there was a significant price recovery in 2010 — an increase of 23.3% compared with 2009 — exports remained at levels achieved between January and October 2008 The main factor contributing to reduced export volumes was the strength of the Brazilian currency This weakened the competitiveness of Brazilian exports against those of its main competitors particularly the US and some European countries Additionally, Russia, the main November/December 2011 | www.WATTAgNet.com importer of Brazilian pig meat, introduced changes to its exchange rate that favored US and European exporters In addition to this, the weakening of the US Dollar resulted in lower production costs for US producers in comparison to their counterparts in Brazil For almost all sectors of the 2010 Brazilian economy, the home market proved to be much more attractive than the export market This allowed those exporting companies to choose not to sell at the prices offered by importing countries, as they were able to sell to the domestic Brazilian market instead PIGI Over the fi rst eight months of 2011, the volume of pig meat exported by Brazil fell 3.41% compared to the same period in 2010, while by value exports grew 7.43% During this period, Brazil exported 348,844 tons of pig meat at a value of US$951.21 million After a difficult July, during which exports contracted 17.5% because of Russia’s sanitary restrictions, the rate of decline in volumes slowed in August, decreasing by 3.8% However, by value, exports increased 5.33% to US$122 million To some degree, Brazil has managed to compensate for its Russian losses by gaining market share in other countries, notably Ukraine, Hong Kong and Argentina “Happily, the growth in exports of pig meat to Hong Kong and the Ukraine compensated for the losses to Russia,” said Pedro de Camargo Neto, president of the pig producers and exporters association, Abipecs “Brazil has reduced its dependence on the Russian market significantly.” 22 Housing | Thai pig producer uses insulation to help sows maintain comfort zone in high temperatures Energy saving design allows pigs to sustain high performance levels during hot weather By Stuart Lumb Thai pig producer Tanupat Sangkalits is using Styrofoam panels 25mm- and 50mm-thick as insulation to help his sows maintain their comfort zone in high temperatures Pigs perform best in their so-called comfort zone The zone is bounded at the bottom by the Lower Critical Temperature, when pigs burn feed to keep warm, and at the top by the Upper Critical Temperature, when they become heat stressed, eat less and lose performance In Thailand, the temperature is roughly between 20 degrees C and 36 degrees C, with high humidity While Thai piggeries may need some heating, their greatest concern is keeping pigs cool Traditional cooling methods The high temperatures naturally affect feed intake and sow growth rates Older piggeries in Thailand tend to have high roofs and are open-sided with natural ventilation often aided by large fans suspended from the roof Even so, temperatures can vary by as much as 10 degrees C between the morning and the night One way to control temperature changes is to install blinds that can be raised and lowered depending on the temperature on the sides of sheds Tunnel ventilation is used instead of open-sided buildings with blinds to reduce temperatures, with huge banks of fans located at one end of the building These pull air that has been has cooled after being drawn through water-cooled pads at the other end, or through side inlets, through the building Naturally, electricity consumed by these fans is an ongoing, but essential cost as pigs will not perform if they are heat stressed Energy-efficient cooling Sangkalits recently invested USD $833,333 in his 1,600-sow business on a 40-acre site in Prachinburi province in the east of Thailand The unit has three gestation sheds containing 400 stalls in each, plus three farrowing sheds, each of which is divided into two rooms with 66 crates Thai pig producer and engineering specialist, Tanupat Sangkalits, adjusts the computer controls for his new pig sheds Rather than fi t blinds down the sides of the barns, Sangkalits decided to line the sides and roof of his sheds with insulated panels Outside daily temperatures can range from 35 degrees C to 40 degrees C, but the panels help to keep the inside temperature around 28 degrees C with relative humidity at 90% All the houses are lined with these panels The roofs have 25mm-thick panels acting as a false ceiling and 50mm panels are used to form the actual walls of each shed Reducing the internal temperature in the sheds should help lactating sows and gilts eat more and boost productivity, but time will tell The first batch of 66 gilts reared an average of 10 piglets per litter at a weight of 7.2kg at three weeks of age, which bode well for the future The sheds all feature a conventional tunnel ventilation system, with the smooth, flat nature of the panels helping airflow as it is pulled through the houses by large fans mounted at one end The incoming air is cooled by being drawn through pads that are kept constantly moist with water dripping on them through gravity Sangkalits has fitted inverters as part of the ventilation system and these make the fans run more efficiently to reduce electricity usage If the ventilation system malfunctions outside normal working hours, an alarm is sent via text message to his staff Just-in-time construction The whole unit was built on a just-in-time basis, so that the farrowing pens were completed just a few days before the gilts were due to farrow This way of building is risky, but helps the www.WATTAgNet.com | November/December 2011 | 23 A sow stall house lined with Styrofoam panels cash flow considerably, as does the fact that Sangkalits’s staff constructed farrowing crates on site All the farrowing pens are raised off the solid floor, which is a cheaper option than digging out slurry channels and installing the crates at floor level The floor is swilled down twice daily to remove manure In hot Asian countries, a good water supply is vital Generally, bore holes are drilled to tap the aquifer, but this can be quite expensive Sangkalits is lucky that his farm has a high water table and his water is found only four metres down A 20-metre lagoon has been excavated, containing water which rises to a height of 16m None of the site water is wasted, as all the roof water is channelled into the lagoon As a Thai Foods Group contracted producer, Sangkalits buys all his pig feed from the group which in return buys back all his November/December 2011 | www.WATTAgNet.com Sow sheds fitted with panels, and between them manure is dried for fertilizer A row of fans at one end of the new building draws cool air to keep temperatures low for the pigs inside piglets at USD $16.6 (Thai baht 500) for the first 4.5kg and USD $7.3 for each additional kg after that His first batch of 660 piglets averaged USD $36.4, which he found very encouraging Given good productivity along with the unit’s ingenious insulation-driven design features, Sangkalits is confident that his investment will be paid off within five years PIGI Stuart Lumb is a UK-based freelance writer He can be contacted at stuart@ lumb.karoo.co.uk 24 Health | Tips for combating pig tail biting Researchers identify key risks and suggest ways to help pig producers overcome them By Roger Abbott A preliminary report issued by researchers at the Universit y of Newcastle and University of Bristol in England provides tips to help pig producers control the often serious, on-going welfare problems caused by pig tail biting Examples of tail biting researchers observed on some of the pig units that participated in the study Tackling pig tail biting Described as a “useful starting point to tackle this scourge,” the researchers advise pig farmers to: ❯❯ Spray-mark suspected biters to help identify individuals ❯❯ Remove and treat bitten pigs as soon as possible to prevent the behavior pattern from extending to other pigs ❯❯ Put high-quality chewable objects in the pens to distract the pigs – and keep on adding objects once the initial outbreak is over ❯❯ Where straw is already provided, add to it regularly (daily or twice daily) to re-stimulate the pigs’ interest in the straw, rather than in each other This advice follows a three-year research project to develop and evaluate “husbandry advisory” tools to reduce the economic damage caused by tail biting Results are still being analyzed and a final report, which is expected to be issued in 2012 will be posted on the British Pig Executive website, www.bpex.org.uk The research involved 65 units from seven different pig producer groups, with each unit receiving between two and four visits during the research period Following detailed consultations with a range of industry experts, the researchers identified several risk factors, covering issues involving atmosphere and environment, health, transport and mixing, as well as feed and water and stocking density Tail biting is more likely when there is a range of different tail lengths within a pen Studying different pen types When visiting pig units, researchers completed a questionnaire covering these specific risks and combinations of risks found in different pen types Unsurprisingly, the non-straw pens and those with straw had different types of risks – and they were modeled separately It was found that in non-straw pens, tail biting was more likely when: ❯❯ Temperature and humidity were high ❯❯ Pigs had previously been housed on straw ❯❯ Pen layout forced active pigs to walk through resting areas ❯❯ Objects provided for enrichment were fouled or dirty In pens with straw, tail biting was more common when: ❯❯ The pen was cold – and especially when it was cold and damp ❯❯ There were large temperature variations between visits ❯❯ There were obvious droughts in the lying area ❯❯ Straw was of poor quality (dusty, or damp), or only a small amount of straw was provided Factors that encourage tail biting O ther “pig centric” factor s that researchers discovered coincided with the increased likelihood of tail biting included pigs with their tails tucked under their body, other lesions on the body or ears and when pigs were agitated or restless, as well as existing tail lesions They also discovered that tail biting was more likely if there is a range of different tail lengths within a pen; for example, a range of docked tail lengths (by more than a third), or a mix of docked and un-docked pigs Dr Nina Taylor, a research assistant at the British Pig Executive, which partfunded the research project, along with the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, pointed out, the key is to something as soon as possible before more tails are bitten and lesions became more severe with infections setting in She also commented it is important to ensure something is done to distract the pigs before more of them develop the habit of biting tails When dealing with an outbreak, it also is worth considering what triggered the behavior in that particular batch of pigs to help prevent it in the next batch “The key points to remember to control tail biting are: Identify and reduce risk; monitor carefully; react quickly,” Taylor said PIGI www.WATTAgNet.com | November/December 2011 REPRINTS ARE IDEAL FOR: ■ Conferences & Speaking Engagements ■ Recruitment & Training Packages ■ Customer & Prospect Communications/Presentations ■ Direct Mail Enclosures ■ New Product Announcements ■ Sales Aid For Your Field Force ■ Trade Shows/Promotional Events ■ PR Materials & Media Kits For additional information, please contact Foster Printing Service, the official reprint provider for Pig International Call 866.879.9144 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Swine Insemination 11 PigInternational Sales Team Call, fax or e-mail today to advertise in the next issue of PIG INTERNATIONAL Agrovet Market S.A Amlan International Biomin... strictly prohibited Pig International and its logo are registered trademarks of WATT Publishing Co Postage paid at Rockford, IL, USA and additional mailing offices Canada Post International Publication... is planned for May 18-20, 2012, at China’s Nanjing International Expo Centre CAHE focuses on livestock production and animal health for pigs, poultry, sheep and beef cattle Highlights of CAHE