News Headlines

Tuesday 18 June 2013


Australia

Australia - Hanki Panki at the Cattle Council over money

CATTLE Council of Australia (CCA) president Andrew Ogilvie says he’s disappointed a draft detailing proposed levy reallocations to raise about $4.5 million for the group has been leaked to the public.

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Australia

Australia - 11,000 cattle booked for Roma today

THE big numbers are continuing to roll into the Roma Saleyards with 10,900 head booked for todays Store Sale.

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Australia

Australia - 18,000 cattle sold in one hit

RECLUSIVE South Australian pastoral millionaire Tom Brinkworth has rolled the dice in the largest cattle purchase by an individual in recent memory, buying 18,000 head from the Australian Agricultural Company on the Barkly Tablelands in the Northern Territory.

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Australia

Australia - A lift in the wool market

THE wool market has continued its upward climb with the Eastern Market Indicator (EMI) gaining 15 cents a kilogram yesterday to close at 1067c/kg.

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Australia

Australia - Beef carcass feedback for producers

MEAT and Livestock Australia (MLA) is just months off launching a new tool for beef producers which will provide better feedback and benchmarking capabilities for their beef.

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Australia

Australia - Beef exports to Japan 30,000 tons in May

Australia sent 30,374 tonnes swt of beef to Japan during May, almost on par with last year (down 1%, or 204 tonnes swt) and the first time that monthly volumes reached the 30,000 tonnes mark since July 2012.

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Australia

Australia - Beef production and genetic data

PICK out a steer or heifer in the paddock at “Dunbeacon” and, with a quick glance at that animal’s ear tag, Ian and Ali McDouall could predict what the animal would look like hanging up in the chiller.

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Australia

Australia - Best of Merino sheep

TRAVELLING across two states for the 175th Campbell Town Show was well worth it for New South Wales Merino stud Nerstane.

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Australia

Australia - Can Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) benifit Australian farmers

WITH multinational muscle in the shipping, rail, and road transport industries and commodity trading and processing operations worldwide, Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) says it can call on considerable global expertise to "empower Australian growers" with greater marketing and transport efficiencies.

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Australia

Australia - Casino carcass competition

Champion led steer of the 2013 Casino Beef Week, a Limousin/Angus/Hereford-cross bred by father and son John (holding the steer) and Keith (holding the shield) Willcocks, Tenterfield. With them is judge Chris Dobie, Beef Week president Stuart George, and Beef Week Queen Sarah-Jane Yeo with Margaret Noble, Casino, at far right presenting the shield named in honour of her late husband.

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Australia

Australia - Cattle prices firm up

WITH last week’s widespread rain across lower South Australia, Victoria and the Riverina and the continuation of the system earlier this week up through central New South Wales and into south-east Queensland, there is now hope in producer ranks that numbers coming forward to slaughter will tighten up and bring about a much awaited improvement in price.

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Australia

Australia - Coles drop a clanger with farmers

FARMERS across the nation are this week celebrating a long sought after win against the national network of animal extremists who have dedicated considerable resources to challenging modern methods of meat production.

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Australia

Australia - Ear tags for sheep and goats

THE Victorian Farmers Federation livestock group will pose two resolutions at this month’s VFF conference regarding mandatory Electronic Identification (eID) of sheep and goats.

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Australia

Australia - Fletcher International and Halal meat

A Dubbo based company that processes sheep meat says there is a demand to cater for the growing Muslim population across the state's west.

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Australia

Australia - Getting the best sheep bloodlines

LAWRAL Park Prime SAMM has undergone a rapid expansion in the past few months by capitalising on the dispersal of two highly regarded studs.

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Australia

Australia - Goat prices pick up

Recent rain has caused supply and slaughter numbers to tighten, resulting in a dearer price trend.

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Australia

Australia - Grass Fed Branded beef winners

GRASS fed beef has reigned supreme at the RNA’s Royal Queensland Food and Wine Show (RQFWS) Branded Beef Competition, while New South Wales lamb producers Country Fresh Nationwide was crowned Australia’s best lamb for the second year in a row in the Branded Lamb Competition.

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Australia

Australia - Lambskin prices

Skin rates were unchanged this week, despite quality remaining mixed and supplies being ample for this time of year.

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Australia

Australia - Lifting lambing percentages

LIFTING marking percentages in their Merino flock has been one of the major breeding aims for Central Western Queensland woolgrowers Pat and Sue Hegarty, “Colanya”, Longreach.

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Australia

Australia - Marel IPL processing robot delivers efficiencies

GLOBAL provider of advanced equipment and systems for the further processing industry, Marel, has launched a new robotic system for Intelligent Portion Loading, or IPL.

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Australia

Australia - More mutton for China

SHEEP markets found a new price level last week, due in part to a softening of the Australian dollar.

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Australia

Australia - More on the Elders sale

ELDERS managing director Malcolm Jackman has been mulling his options over the weekend after Ruralco submitted a final bid in the order of $300 million for Elders Rural Services on Thursday night.

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Australia

Australia - Mulesing sheep

LIQUID nitrogen and laser treatment could be two new alternatives to sheep mulesing.

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Australia

Australia - NSW cattle markets

Consignments slip back

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Australia

Australia - NSW lamb markets

Lamb numbers decline

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Australia

Australia - Rain lifts the lamb trade

THE Eastern States Trade Lamb Indicator hit a 14-month high at the end of last week as timely widespread rain across the eastern States lifted buyer confidence.

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Australia

Australia - Record lamb exports

Australian Lamb exports reached the highest monthly volume on record in May, at 19,964 tonnes swt, breaking the previous record set in November 2012 (18,725 tonnes swt) by 6% or 1,239 tonnes.

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Australia

Australia - Retail butcher trade

In May, butcher red meat sales were relatively steady to slightly lower compared with the same time in 2012, according to results from MLA’s butcher survey carried out by Millward Brown.

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Australia

Australia - Sexed semen and Wagyu cattle

The new sexed Australian Wagyu semen offers 90 per cent males or females and is available for both domestic and export use.

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Australia

Australia - Simmental cow makes $4500

THE curtain fell on the Cook family’s Barana Black Simmental stud operation last Thursday at Coolah, where buyers from three States pushed quality genetics to $5000.

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Australia

Australia - Store cattle

Despite the short trading week, cattle numbers increased around 30% this week at Roma’s weekly store sale, with some quality lines of light and medium weight steers and heifers yarded.

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Australia

Australia - Store cattle in WA

Total cattle turnoff in WA since January has declined 5% through saleyards reported by MLA’s NLRS, with buyer interest shifting somewhat compared to the same period last year.

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Australia

Australia - Store cattle prices firm

Feeder cattle prices were slightly dearer across most categories this week, as supply tightened across the eastern states.

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Australia

Australia - The $90,000 Hereford bull

Days Calibre G74 in the sale ring at Dubbo. The bull sold for a sale record of $90,000.

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Australia

Australia - The Chinese beef market

Future prosperity will partly depend on how the high-end food demand from Asia’s expanding middle class is exploited, said Trade Minister Craig Emerson, reacting to record red meat exports for May.

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Australia

Australia - The hide market

Despite the recent increased supplies of hides on the back of the record kills across the eastern states, most price categories have remained relatively steady, helped by the recent decline in the A$.

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Australia

Australia - The Pastoralists and Graziers Association (PGA)

THE Pastoralists and Graziers Association (PGA) has about 1000 members, according to the lobby group's president Rob Gillam.

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Australia

Australia - West Australian farmer with more money than sense

A WILLIAMS farmer has lashed out at the Federal Government saying he will not be mating his 12,000 ewes this year due to his frustration over its treatment of the livestock industry.

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Brazil

Brazil - Brazil boosts agriculture budget by 18%

Agriculture Minister Antonio Andrade said that this plan will finance the entire production and marketing cycle, everything from seed and feed for livestock, to machinery, harvesting, storage and product distribution.

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Brazil

Brazil - Cattle prices firm up

Steer price in Brazil increased across most markets last week, averaging 310US¢/kg cwt in Sao Paulo state, with wholesale prices also reportedly rising (FNP).

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Brazil

Brazil - Farmers welcome Chinese investment

On a sunny March afternoon, 11 Chinese executives armed with digital cameras and iPads got out of a van on Brazil’s highway BR-163 to photograph soybean-loaded trucks headed to export terminals in the south.

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Brazil

Brazil - Mafrig can sell former BRF assets to JBS

Brazil's Marfrig Alimentos is free to manage and sell assets it acquired from local competitor BRF in 2011, some of which are included in the Seara Brasil division Marfrig agreed to sell JBS SA on June 10, according to Brazil's anti-trust regulator, the Administrative Council for Economic Defense (CADE).

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Brazil

Brazil - More on the JBS - Mafrig deal

JBS SA (JBSS3), the world’s largest beef producer, plunged after announcing it will take on $2.7 billion in debt from Marfrig Alimentos SA (MRFG3) in exchange for meat-processing plants in Brazil. Marfrig shares surged.

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Brazil

Brazil - New poultry lines from Tyson

Macedo, the main Tyson brand in Brazil, will launch a new line of “seasoned frozen boneless chicken” later this month, the company announced.

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Brazil

Brazil - So much for the Rabobank grain shortage forecasts

ALL EYES within the grains industry will be looking at the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) due out this morning (Thursday) Australian time for a lead on pricing.

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Brazil

Brazil - The cattle market

The fed cattle market in Brazil continued to move at a slow pace in late May in almost all regions surveyed by Cepea.

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Canada

Canada - funding for useless research but not for meat inspection

Federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz and Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister Lyle Stewart announced funding of C$1.25 million over five years for the creation of a forage research chair at the University of Saskatchewan.

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Canada

Canada - JBS and the Cool laws

Moose Jaw | Canadian ranchers and North American packers aren't looking forward to the arrival of revisions to the U.S. government's country-of-origin labelling (COOL) rules.

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Canada

Canada - JBS Beef Plant Back To Full Capacity

The large beef processing plant in Brooks, Alberta that was at the centre of last fall's E.coli-related beef recall has just recently returned to operating at full capacity.

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Canada

Canada - Tim Hortons fooling the public over sow stalls

Therte is no way it takes 10 bloody years to get rid of sow stalls, and all the rhetoric from Tim Horton is a massive confidence trick against the public and its clients.

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China

China - Tightening of work safety rules

Major and sensitive criminal cases related to work safety may be handed over to higher level courts in accordance with the law, the statement said.

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European Union

EU - New identity and wider focus for First in Brussels

An organisation that helps business and government find solutions to European Union policy issues is launching a new identity to mark its expansion and move into wider areas.

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Germany

Germany - Changes at Vion Foods

Norbert Barfuß, director of Vion Food Germany until this Monday, will step down.

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India

India - India's Energy Ties with Iran Unsettle Washington

India's relentless search for hydrocarbons to fuel its booming economy has managed the rather neat diplomatic trick of annoying Washington, delighting Tehran and intriguing Baghdad, all the while leaving the Indian Treasury fretting about how to pay for its oil imports, given tightening sanctions on fiscal dealings with Iran.

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Ireland

Ireland - Slaney Foods Quality Steak Competition

I had my dream job for one night last week. I partook in the taster panel for the Slaney Foods Quality Steak Competition.

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Ireland

Ireland - Around the beef factories

The beef trade is not landing any knock-out punches à la our European gold and silver medal boxers, but it is performing pretty solidly.

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Ireland

Ireland - Around the cattle marts

Heavy weanling bulls, heifers and heavy steers enjoyed the best trade at cattle marts during the past week.

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Ireland

Ireland - Around the lamb factories

Like the Limerick hurlers in the second half on Sunday, the lamb trade appears to have steadied again after a wobbly patch.

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Ireland

Ireland - Birds Eye say beef in our burgers will be from Irish and UK farmers

Food group Birds Eye has committed to buy all of the beef used in its burgers from British and Irish farmers.

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Ireland

Ireland - CAP reform

The production of milk, beef, lamb, and crops on Irish farms make an essential and valuable contribution to the Irish economy, not just in regional rural areas, but nationally for the country.

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Ireland

Ireland - The EU farming policy

An unexpected flaw has appeared in the EU’s food and farming policy, from the Irish point of view.

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Ireland

Ireland - Warm weather helps lamb supply

The arrival of warm weather is hugely welcome on our farm, as is the return of two sons who have finished college for the summer.

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Japan

Japan - 23% rise in meat imports

Japan imported 45,685 tonnes swt of beef during April, up 23% year-on-year, with increased shipments from the US underpinning the growth (data released by Japan’s Ministry of Finance).

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Northern Ireland

N.Ireland - Margaret to lead UK food professionals

Dr Margaret Patterson (AFBI) who has been elected as President of the Institute of Food Science & Technology (IFST).

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Northern Ireland

N.Ireland - Cattle kill up on last year

Despite May cattle slaughter figures being almost 2,500 higher than May 2012, lighter carcasses meant beef production fell by an average of 16.5 kg, according to market analysts at the Livestock and Meat Commission Northern Ireland.

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Northern Ireland

N.Ireland - The NI Simmental Cattle Breeders' Club's junior heifer derby

Lurgan's 101st agricultural show was the venue for the NI Simmental Cattle Breeders' Club's junior heifer derby, sponsored by Woodcraft Kitchens, Kilrea and the overall winner was Scribby Farms Daisy shown by husband and wife team of Keith and Andrea Nelson, of Rosslea.

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Netherlands

Netherlands - Tail docking pigs prevents backbone meat infection

The pig industry in the Netherlands has taken steps to stop the practice of tail docking.

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Norway

Norway - Certified Angus beef

Norwegian Cruise Line announced Thursday it has included among its dining options Certified Angus Beef steaks, making it the only cruise line to carry the world’s leading Angus brand, the companies said in a joint news release.

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New Zealand

NZ - Imported pork crisis

The Supreme Court of New Zealand has ordered the Ministry for Primary Industries to halt the implementation of new regulations that would open a new export market for foreign pork processors.

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New Zealand

NZ - Swine fever and how to handle the problem

New Zealand's Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has been called into a large scale United Kingdom animal disease outbreak exercise.

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Russia

Russia - VIV Russia - a resounding success for Aviagen

Aviagen enjoyed its participation at the sixth bi-annual VIV Russia exhibition. Held at the International Crocus Exhibition Centre in Moscow from 21st to the 23rd of May, Aviagen welcomed visitors to the stand which featured the full customer support teams from both Arbor Acres and Ross, the two Aviagen brands sold in Russia. Aviagen President of Europe, Patrick Claeys, also attended the event.

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Scotland

Scotland - Aldi supermarkets under fire

SCOTTISH SHOPPERS looking to support Scottish farmers are being misled into buying imported produce as a result of ineffective rules around product labelling.

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Scotland

Scotland - Charolais cattle at Sterling

A SPOTLESS and well organised showfield, a glorious day, a great turnout of livestock and turnstiles positively twirling from the stream of spectators coming in – Carlsberg don't do agricultural shows, but if they did, it would look a lot like Stirling Show did last weekend.

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Scotland

Scotland - Clyde Monitor Farmer Confident of the Benefits of Chicory

The benefits of grazing sheep on chicory, was one of the main topics discussed at the recent Clyde monitor farm meeting, hosted by Andrew Baillie of Carstairs Mains in South Lanarkshire.

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Scotland

Scotland - Cryptosporidiosis Poses Major Challenge to Scottish Cattle Herd

The severe impact of Cryptosporidiosis on the Scottish cattle herd was highlighted today (June 14th) at the launch of Quality Meat Scotland’s Research & Development report.

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Scotland

Scotland - Farmer confidence very low

Farmer confidence in the short-term future of the arable sector is at an all-time low as growers across England and Wales revealed the amount of land they expect to harvest was likely to be almost a third lower than last year.

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Scotland

Scotland - Man attacked by bull in cattle market

THIS WEEK'S heatwave may have been responsible for a rampaging bull attacking a stocksman at Ayr mart's main breeding sale on Tuesday.

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Scotland

Scotland - Mule ewe lambs

A single Scotch Mule ewe lamb shown by regular Mule winner, Alan Shennan, Farden, Girvan, triumphed to win the supreme overall at a busy Carsphairn Show, recently.

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Scotland

Scotland - NSA Scotsheep 2014

NSA Scotsheep 2014 will be held on the Berwickshire farm of Quixood, Grantshouse, courtesy of the Macfarlane family, on Wednesday, June 4.

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Scotland

Scotland - Red Meat Industry Contributes £2.1 billion to the Economy

The Scottish red meat industry made a £2.1 billion contribution to the economy of Scotland in 2012, according to the Scottish Red Meat Industry Profile launched today (June 17th 2013) by Quality Meat Scotland (QMS).

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Scotland

Scotland - The Royal Highland Show

Leading figures in the Scottish farming and food industries will be launching a high-profile campaign at the Royal Highland Show next Friday to make the case for rural Scotland remaining part of the UK.

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Scotland

Scotland - The Vestey Food Group, and Donald Russel on video

The Vestey Food Group, and Donald Russel on video

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Scotland

Scotland - Video of Quality Meat Scotland and the beef sector

Beef Chapter from the QMS DVD Meat Quality, Science into Practice. Contains some abattoir scenes.

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Scotland

Scotland - Worming sheep

Scientists at Edinburgh’s world-renowned Moredun Research Institute have announced a major breakthrough in the control of parasitic worms in sheep which it is estimated costs the UK sheep industry more than £80 million a year in lost production.

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Thailand

Thailand - Total ban on US pork because of drug abuse on American farms

The Thai government plans to import pork from the US, this has caused pig producers to speak up and urge the Prime Minister, Yingluck Shinawatra, to ban the imports.

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United Kingdom

UK - 17,000gns for Limousin heifer

A big crowd of both new and established buyers saw a buoyant trade for the predominantly female lots forward which were offered with a depth of pedigree breeding behind them.

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United Kingdom

UK - Blelack Charolais matrons to go under the hammer

The entire autumn calving portion of the Blelack Charolais herd will come under the hammer at its matron sale to be held at Stirling on Wednesday 19 June, with 47 cows in calf and/or with calves at foot up for grabs.

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United Kingdom

UK - Cattle markets

More prime cattle forward with some great quality on offer and all classes up 7p on the week.

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United Kingdom

UK - Delivering Profit in Challenging Times

“Delivering Profit in Challenging Times” Aberdeen-Angus open day to highlight benefits of the breed Beef and dairy farmers wanting to maximise their profits and reduce herd running costs can learn how switching to Aberdeen-Angus sires will help them achieve those goals at an open at Longford Farms, Salisbury, on Tuesday 16 July 2013.

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United Kingdom

UK - Fodder's Fourth Birthday

Monday 17th June is Fodder’s fourth birthday. Fodder is the local food shop and cafe, at the Great Yorkshire Showground. Since its inception, Fodder has grown from strength to strength and now sells produce from over 350 local farmers and suppliers.

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United Kingdom

UK - Full stomachs waste feed

As part of the British Pig Health Scheme vets spend a lot of time in abattoirs observing lungs, says Paul Thompson, veterinary adviser to pig-breeding company ACMC.

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United Kingdom

UK - Going back to pig swill makes sense

The National Pig Association has warned that recycling human food by feeding it to pigs must take place only under strictly-controlled conditions, otherwise there is a risk of outbreaks of notifiable diseases, such as foot-and-mouth, classical swine fever and African swine fever.

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United Kingdom

UK - HRH Prince of Wales and meat exports

In a message delivered to for foreign embassy staff and MPs at a London event last week the Prince of Wales gave his full backing to British red meat exports.

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United Kingdom

UK - New Hman Resources toolkit for big pig units

NEW HUMAN RESOURCES TOOLKIT FOR PIG UNITS

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United Kingdom

UK - Sales push Sainsbury’s ahead of Tesco

SAINSBURY’S has continued turning the screw on big rival Tesco as it is set to unveil another market-beating sales increase this week.

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United Kingdom

UK - Sheep markets

An excellent show of 1,066 prime lambs saw an average of 225.8p per kilo on a falling national trade.

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United Kingdom

UK - Young farmers at Northumberland Rally Shield

The event is the biggest day in the Northumberland YFC calendar and included over 70 different competitions.

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USA

USA - Animal rights at it again

Mercy for Animals, which has previously publicized undercover video shot at various meat production facilities, has unveiled a video shot at Hudson Valley Foie Gras, purporting to show the mistreatment of ducks that are being raised for foie gras production.

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USA

USA - Another beef recall

USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced Wednesday that Hickory Hollow Jerky LLC’s Eufaula, Ala., plant is recalling some 1,800 pounds of flavored beef jerky products because of misbranding and an undeclared allergen.

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USA

USA - Fast Food shares

Sales for McDonald’s (NYSE: MCD) climbed more than expected in May, showing an increase of 2.4%, 0.3% above expectations.

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USA

USA - More fearmongering over meat

According to the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) report entitled 'Homeland Security - An Overall Strategy Is Needed to Strengthen Disease Surveillance in Livestock and Poultry' to Congressional Requesters, the US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has long carried out important work to protect the nation’s livestock and poultry against economically devastating infectious diseases and against the potential deadly effects of such diseases on people.

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USA

USA - More scandal and dirty tricks

Uncovered documents show the U.S. State Department may have covered up allegations of illegal behavior ranging from sexual assaults to an underground drug ring.

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USA

USA - Pork jerky

Jack Link’s has introduced its new BBQ Pork Jerky which is made with premium cuts of pork, seasoned with a unique blend of spices and smoked.

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USA

USA - Spam smells and other matters

Anyone who's been in Austin on a windy day knows that sometimes, simply put, it smells.

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USA

USA - The American Veterinary Medical Assn in the pocket of the drug lobby

The American Veterinary Medical Assn.'s (AVMA) executive board has made available to membership a detailed report that examines the association's current governance structure and makes recommendations for a proposed system that will be "more nimble and provide for greater member involvement" in AVMA activities.

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USA

USA - Vets selling drugs under the guise of helpful infomation

The Executive Board of the American Veterinary Medical Association AVMA) last week approved revisions to several policies, including that on pig castration as well as a new policy that includes poultry in its transport policy.

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Wales

Wales - Preseli Pembrokeshire MP hears about farming challenges

Concerns over the impact of CAP reform, bovine TB and renewable energy on Welsh farms were highlighted by Farmers' Union of Wales officials and staff during a visit to family-run farming businesses by Preseli Pembrokeshire MP Stephen Crabb.

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Wales

Wales - Young farmer tells about his globtrotting tractor work

Following in the footsteps of Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie after she visited war-ravaged refugees in a camp near Turkey's border with Syria is just one of a string of memorable recent experiences for Meirionnydd farmer's son Will Ellis.

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Jan Zandbergen        Lanexco Ltd