News Headlines

Thursday 17 May 2012


Argentina

Argentina - Farmers back on strike

Farmers in Argentina's main agricultural province will call a strike this week against a proposed tax increase, but the planned five-day halt in crop sales should have little impact on exports.

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Australia

Australia - $14,000 for Shorthorn bull

BUNDALEER Shorthorn stud at Gulnare has another big win, selling a powerful young sire to AJ&PA McBride for $14,000.

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Australia

Australia - AAco chief executive David Farley and his 1000 cattle a day abattoir

The Northern Territory Government has given development approval for a proposed abattoir just out of Darwin.

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Australia

Australia - Bob Katter blasts the stupid cow emission research

Research into measuring methane emissions from cattle is a waste of time, according to Member for Mt Isa Rob Katter.

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Australia

Australia - Cattle markets

National cattle yardings increased at markets reported by MLA’s NLRS with the return of QLD Monday markets and the resumption of selling at Naracoorte boosting supply.

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Australia

Australia - Feedlot lambs for JBS-Swift

For Sam Mumford and family, sound business principles 'free for all to learn' drive their mixed livestock production enterprises.

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Australia

Australia - JBS $1.8 million carbon tax bill is outrageous

Meat companies are weighing up whether to wear the multimillion-dollar cost of the carbon tax from July 1 or commit to even larger investments to cut emissions from their feedlots and meat works.

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Australia

Australia - Live cattle export losses who is going to pay

The cattle industry and the Federal Government have gone to ground regarding a possible claim for compensation from last year's live export suspension.

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Australia

Australia - Pacific Food Machinery Chicken Breast Slicer and Butterflyer

Pacific Food Machinery is a leading meat and food processing equipment dealer who manufacture machinery in Europe and Asia to EU standards, as well as recondition and modify used machinery to suit customers demand.

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Australia

Australia - Pacific Membrane Skinner

The Pacific Membrane Skinner is a small and easy to operate machine that allows the operator to quickly and efficiently remove membranes from all types of products. The machine utilises a foot pedal operation to ensure the user has full control over the machines operation and is perfect to maintain and promote good OH&S procedures.

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Australia

Australia - Sheep and lamb market

National lamb yardings as reported by MLA’s NLRS have lifted 3% week-on-week.

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Australia

Australia - Woolworths adopts eco-labelling

Customers will be able to judge whether their snapper, prawns or mackerel have been caught ‘sustainably’ following a decision by Woolworths to apply a new eco-labelling system to its fresh seafood section.

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Brazil

Brazil - 12% drop in March beef exports

Brazilian beef exports during March fell 12% year-on-year, to 69,770 tonnes swt (Global Trade Atlas).

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Brazil

Brazil - 5% rise in poultry exports

Brazilian poultry exports rose 4.42 percent through the first three months of this year compared to 2011, driven by a record volume of shipments in March and double-digit growth to key markets in Africa and Asia.

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Brazil

Brazil - JBS - Registration - Voluntary Public Tender Offer - Vigor

Registration - Voluntary Public Tender Offer - Vigor

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Brazil

Brazil - JBS close deal on rival meat plants

Brazil's JBS the world's largest meat producer, looked set to proceed with the purchase of smaller rival Independencia on Tuesday after creditors in the company accepted its offer of shares and cash.

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Brazil

Brazil - JBS out shopping again

Brazil's former central banker Henrique Meirelles is negotiating a purchase of the troubled builder Delta Construcao by the controlling shareholder of beef producer JBS SA (JBSS3.BR), Folha de S Paulo newspaper reported Friday.

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Brazil

Brazil - JBS S.A - 1Q12 Conference Call Alert

JBS S.A. Conference call details.

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Brazil

Brazil - Lift in poultry production

According to the USDA's International Egg and Poultry Review: BrazilInternational Egg and Poultry Review, Brazil's broiler meat production is influenced by the world economic uncertainties impacting some major export markets, as well as issues with some trade partners.

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Brazil

Brazil - Marfrig re-open beef plants

Latin America’s third-largest beef producer, will resume production in the second quarter at three of nine plants, where output had been suspended, after beef demand climbed, said the company’s investor relations director, Ricardo Florence.

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Brazil

Brazil - Poultry exports

Brazilian exports of poultry meat totaled 974,100 tons, 4.42 per cent higher than the number recorded in the first quarter of 2011, according to the Brazilian Poultry Union (UBABEF).

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Brazil

Brazil - US$500 million line of credit for BRF Brasil Foods

In order to improve financial liquidity management, BRF – Brasil Foods S/A, Perdigão International Ltda and Perdigão Europe – Sociedade Unipessoal LDA have announced to shareholders and to the market that it has entered into a US$500–million revolver credit facility with a three–year availability period in two tranches (US$ and €) with 19 banks in total.

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Canada

Canada - Cattle ban lifted by Oman

Oman on Monday lifted the ban on import of live cattle from Canada, improving the bilateral trade between the two countries.

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Chile

Chile - ExpoHalalChile 12 to 15 October 2012

The ExpoHalalChile first international meeting is to be held in Chile. It relates to the market for Halal products, organized by the Franco-Chilean Chilehalal Genius concept and Sita.

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China

China - Buying British pigs by the thousand

Chinese farmers and food companies have placed orders for 2,000 high-quality British pigs to breed with their inferior quality domestic animals.

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China

China - Pork giant boasting turnover to cover bad profits

Zhongpin Inc., a meat and food processing company in China reported higher sales revenues and lower net income for the three months ended March 31, 2012 compared with the first quarter 2011.

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China

China - Tyson appoint a new CEO for China

Tyson Foods, Inc. today announced that Arex Lee has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of Tyson Foods' China operations.

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European Union

EU - Cut in beef subsidies

The EU has reduced beef export subsidies, as recent tight local supplies have pushed prices to record levels.

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European Union

EU - Global pork production

Global pork production for 2012 is expected to be around 104 million tonnes.

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European Union

EU - You will never contain boar taint especially in summer

Meat contaminated with boar taint could become a reality in Europe.

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Hong Kong

Hong Kong - U.S. Chuck Steaks “On Fire” at Fairwood’s Hong Kong Locations

In recent years, fast-casual restaurant chain Fairwood has been featuring more U.S. grain-fed beef entrées at its Hong Kong locations.

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Ireland

Ireland - Jim McCarthy investing in dairy farms

A group of foreign financiers is examining the possibility of investing up to €50m in Irish dairy production, it has been revealed.

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Japan

Japan - Beef ban on Tyson lifted

Preventive measures taken by one of Tyson’s meat-processing plants convinced Japan’s agriculture and health ministries to lift a ban on imports from the plant set late last year.

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Korea

Korea - Dealing with alleged carbon emissions

South Korea has passed legislation to establish a national emissions trading scheme from 2015, covering 500 of that country's largest emitters.

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Korea

Korea - Happy with US beef

The Korean government stated this week that based on the findings from their inspection team, they will maintain their position that US beef does not pose a threat to public health and safety (Chosun Ilbo).

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Northern Ireland

N. Ireland - Holstein beef bulls hit 2kg DLWG

Holstein bulls achieve daily live weight gains as high as 2kg on a Co Armagh beef unit that hosted an AgriSearch Research Challenge Fund farm walk. Organised with AFBI and CAFRE staff, including local beef advisor Albert Johnston, this event demonstrated how better beef production both boosts bank balances and curtails carbon footprints!

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Northern Ireland

N. Ireland - Today - Celebrity chef Ainsley Harriot selects top Northern Irish steak for Asda

Members of the press attending next week's Balmoral Show are invited to attend the Asda stand at 12 noon on Thursday 17 May where celebrity chef Ainsley Harriot will be helping judge the 10 finalists in the Asda/ABP Northern Irish steak competition.

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Northern Ireland

N.Ireland - The founder of a Northern Ireland Agri-IT company has met Michael Gove

Terry Canning of FarmWizard discussed developments in 4G mobile technology and their impact on livestock farming in remote areas.

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Northern Ireland

N.Ireland - Beef and Lamb Farm Quality Assurance Scheme (NIBL FQAS)

This year is the 20 year anniversary of the official launch of the Northern Ireland Beef and Lamb Farm Quality Assurance Scheme (NIBL FQAS).

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Northern Ireland

N.Ireland - Dungannon Simmental Bull sale

Simmental bulls reached a ceiling of 4,200gns at this week’s export show and sale, hosted by the Northern Ireland Simmental Cattle Breeders’ Club at Dungannon Farmers’ Mart.

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Northern Ireland

N.Ireland - Local farm produce

Almost 50 local food and drink companies are getting ready to celebrate the best of local produce in the Northern Ireland Good Food Pavilion at the Balmoral Show 2012.

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New Zealand

NZ - Affco in big trouble

Farmers who usually supply cattle to Affco for processing are sending them to competing plants out of frustration over the company's long-running industrial dispute.

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New Zealand

NZ - Drop in lamb exports

A reduced number of lambs available for processing in New Zealand (NZ) during April led to a 24% year-on-year decline in lamb exports, to 26,556 tonnes swt (NZ Meat Board).

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New Zealand

NZ - Grass fed beef for Taiwan

The Beef and Lamb New Zealand initiative has been running since 2008, says the industry-good organisation's Asia markets manager, Helen Fletcher.

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New Zealand

NZ - Meat works strike to continue

The Meatworkers' Union claims it has no choice but to strike again.

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Russia

Russia - Big plans at McDonalds

McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) has partnered with Rosinter to franchise restaurants in Russia.

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Russia

Russia - Feed and Light on the Agenda for Russia’s Provimi

Aviagen’s Technical team has been supporting customers in Russia and recently organised an extensive consulting session with an in depth look at nutrition and lighting for Ross Parent Stock and broilers. The Aviagen team were invited by feed supplier Provimi who have a number of Ross producers amongst their customers.

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Saudi Arabia

Saudia Arabia - Ban on US beef

Saudi Arabia has banned the imports of US beef as of April 19.

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Scotland

Scotland - Campbell Prime Meats A family-run business for over 50 years

Our business supplies meat to many of Scotland's finest hotels and restaurants.

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Scotland

Scotland - Deer farming and the venison market

With a renewed interest in eating venison, a new group has been established to increase deer production in Scotland.

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Scotland

Scotland - Farm support schemes

NFU Scotland is reminding all farmers and crofters that crunch time is fast approaching for them to complete and submit their annual application form for Scotland’s various support schemes.

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Scotland

Scotland - Profits down at Campbells Prime Meat

Campbells Prime Meat, the Linlithgow-based food supplier, saw operating profits fall by more than a third last year as higher costs took the shine off an increase in sales.

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Scotland

Scotland - United Arab Emirates Opens Door to Scotch Beef

Quality Meat Scotland today (Wednesday, 16th May) welcomed news that a health certificate for exports of deboned, fresh beef has been obtained by the UK for the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

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United Kingdom

UK - 4% drop in red meat production

Beef and veal production in the first three months of 2012 decreased by over eight per cent on year earlier levels.

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United Kingdom

UK - Ambitious New Entrants Essential to Farming and Food Security

Attracting the best young talent into agriculture was identified as a priority at a food and farming industry forum jointly hosted by Lloyds TSB Agriculture and its farming ambassador Adam Henson.

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United Kingdom

UK - Another farm group complaining about Vion Foods UK

Meadow Quality Ltd was also subjected to a similar request from Vion and whilst they continue to supply pigs they no longer supply beef and sheep.

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United Kingdom

UK - Asda - Try our new Butcher's Selection quality mince - in store now

Try our new Butcher's Selection quality mince - in store now

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United Kingdom

UK - Bank of England emphasise more pain in short term

The bank believes that inflation will be below the 2% target in 2 years’ time which lays the foundation for further asset purchases (QE) sooner rather than later. This has beaten sterling down to a 1 month low against the dollar, although it remains solid against the ailing euro.

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United Kingdom

UK - Beef Expo 2012 invites straight-talking in two seminar areas.

Farmers are to join noted industry speakers to add a practical perspective in seminar sessions covering everything from bovine TB to technical developments in the grading and pricing of beef carcases at next week’s Beef Expo 2012, at the Three Counties Showground, Malvern, Worcestershire, on May 24th.

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United Kingdom

UK - CLA Game Fair Comment

Commenting on the announcement of three new attractions for this year’s CLA Game Fair which takes place at Belvoir Castle, Leicestershire on 20-22 July, CLA Director Midlands Caroline Bedell said.

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United Kingdom

UK - Dorset sheep at Exeter

Dorset Sheep in Demand with Increased Average at May Fair

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United Kingdom

UK - Dunbia carcass competition at NSA Sheep 2012

Dunbia who will demonstrate how they each differ and subsequently how important it is for farmers to forward in-spec lambs to enable it to satisfy its customers' needs and requirements.

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United Kingdom

UK - Flying pigs to China on Video

As part of a new trade agreement between the UK and China, Britain is now exporting live pigs to China.

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United Kingdom

UK - Halal certification continues on behalf of the Muslim Community

Demise of HMC won’t stop the monitoring of sacred meat

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United Kingdom

UK - Halal hysteria

The British “debate” about meat, animal cruelty and ritual slaughter has become a proxy for deep fears about Muslims in our midst.

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United Kingdom

UK - Hilton Food Group doing well in Europe states Interim Management report

Hilton Foods doing well in Europe statesInterim Management

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United Kingdom

UK - Home-Produced Feedstock Best for Anaerobic Digestion

Pig producers heard about the importance of feedstock supply for anaerobic digestion (AD) at an open day on James Hart’s farm in Gloucestershire.

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United Kingdom

UK - Jim Viggars and beef fillet steak on Video

When it comes to fresh meat and fish our customers look for the best quality as well as good value. Jim Viggars, who leads our meat buying team, explains some of the changes we're making to drive a step-change in the quality of our steak.

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United Kingdom

UK - Key Sheep Focus at Next Monitor Farm Meeting

The May meeting of the Northumberland Monitor Farm will focus on sheep with Senior Sheep Consultant for the Scottish Agricultural College, John Vipond as keynote speaker.

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United Kingdom

UK - Lying to promote the industry is as bad as lying to harm it

Grass-fed beef 'better for people' says research which is a load of bollocks.

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United Kingdom

UK - McDonalds and the Olympics

McDonald's is a sponsor for the London Olympics — and a British doctors' group says that's sending the wrong message in a country with ballooning obesity.

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United Kingdom

UK - NSA Sheep 2012: Working Demonstrations

Sheep farmers and shepherds visiting NSA Sheep 2012 will be able to brush up on a variety of technical skills at a series of working demonstrations designed to help visitors improve their skills at the industry’s biennial event to be staged by the National Sheep Association at the Three Counties Show Ground, Malvern on Wednesday 4 July.

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United Kingdom

UK - Pig and poultry fair

Making sure the best of British gets the recognition it deserves will be a leading theme at the Pig and Poultry Fair in Warwickshire this month (May 15 and 16).

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United Kingdom

UK - The Halal Slaughter Controversy

Islamic Halal slaughter has increasingly come under attack from animal rights again activists telling tales of barbaric blood-thirsty ritual slaughter. There are two distinct issues: there is the vegetarian agenda which wants to ban all consumption of animal products, and there is the animal rights lobby which argues for a humane method of slaughter.

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United Kingdom

UK - Unemployment drops unexpectedly in UK

The on-going weakness in labour markets are an obvious concern. With attention once again focused on the prospect of further economic Armageddon, courtesy of the fresh pain in the Eurozone, the decreased business confidence will see hiring levels remain low for a considerable time longer.

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United Kingdom

UK - Vion's Robert Smith tries to defend the indefensible treatment of farmers

Meat processor Vion has hit back at allegations by Graig Producers, an organic livestock marketing group, about new direct trading arrangements. Smith has taken 3 weeks to respond to the serious allegations against Vion Foods UK.

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USA

USA - Wal-Mart Stores Inc posted a better-than-expected quarterly profit this morning

Wal-Mart Stores Inc posted a better-than-expected quarterly profit this morning

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USA

USA - $200 rolling credit for Wendy's

The Wendy's Company (the "Company") announced today that Wendy's International, Inc., its wholly-owned subsidiary ("Wendy's International"), has completed a new senior secured credit facility, which includes a $200 million revolving credit facility and a $1,125 million term loan.

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USA

USA - 31 % rise in Whole Foods profits

Whole Foods Markets Inc. (WFM) reported a forecast-beating 31% rise in fiscal-second-quarter profit as the upmarket U.S. grocery store chain pledged to pass on the cost of easing food-inflation pressures to shoppers.

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USA

USA - A 13 year old dairy cow would have at least 10 calves !

An offspring of the latest cow found in the U.S. to have mad-cow disease tested negative for the fatal brain disease, federal officials said Wednesday.

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USA

USA - BSE safeguards are cosmetic and unecessary

A proposed U.S. Department of Agriculture rule designed to boost beef exports would ease some mad cow disease import restrictions and weaken protections against the illness, a coalition of 31 mostly farm and rancher groups said.

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USA

USA - Celebrities and media caused all the trouble for beef industry

Pink slime. Early death. Mad cow.

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USA

USA - Contaminated US pork a disgrace

Over 100 tons of pork imported from the United States in March contained clenbuterol, commonly known as "lean meat powder", Guangzhou Daily reported Tuesday, citing General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of China.

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USA

USA - Coping with BSE

Two California dairy farms are under quarantine and a calf ranch is under investigation following discovery of the latest case of mad cow disease, but the government on Wednesday said the actions were standard procedure and there was no threat to the food supply.

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USA

USA - Drop in meat sales at Sara Lee

Sara Lee's insistent on passing along higher commodity costs to customers in its coffee and meat units has led to a significant fall-off in sales volumes.

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USA

USA - Drop in Safeway profits

Safeway Inc. today reported income from continuing operations of $81.6 million ($0.30 per diluted share) for the first quarter of 2012 compared to $25.1 million ($0.07 per diluted share) in the first quarter of 2011.

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USA

USA - FMD vaccines

With recent foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreaks reported in Taiwan and China, many livestock producers are growing increasingly nervous about the possibility of the disease occurring in the United States.

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USA

USA - Food safety and meat inspection fiasco

More than a year after President Obama signed a landmark food-safety bill, the key provisions are hung up at a unit of the White House that is in charge of reviewing proposed policy changes.

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USA

USA - Grain forecasts manipulated by speculators

The United Nations, cutting 15m tonnes from its forecast for the world wheat harvest, warned that world cereal supplies are set to tighten in 2012-13 – but not by enough to prevent drops in grain prices.

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USA

USA - How do farm speculators survive

When the rumors started circulating on April 24 about a cow found with “Mad Cow Disease,” a client called me mid-morning concerned what it might do to the Live Cattle futures.

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USA

USA - HSUS W-nkers of the year award

The Humane Society of the United States is proud to receive a 2012 Webby People's Voice Award for the video “Undercover at Smithfield.”

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USA

USA - Livestock friendly

Gage County has always been a county devoted to agriculture -- row crops and livestock.

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USA

USA - McDonalds still King of the burger trade

McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD) has added two breakfast focused items, McCafe Cherry Berry Chiller and Blueberry Banana Nut Oatmeal, to its U.S. menu.

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USA

USA - Meat traceabilty a few steps lower the China

Sources of tainted beef will be identified faster under a U.S. plan to improve the tracking of meat sent from suppliers and processors that may sicken consumers.

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USA

USA - Media damage to the beef industry

The old saying that lightning never strikes twice in the same place has been disproven by the beef market which has been reeling from lightning strikes, first by lean, finely-textured beef, and more recently by the discovery of a cow with bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE).

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USA

USA - MF Global kitty dwindling

A Republican member of the House Financial Services Committee is pushing for the Justice Department to turn over its investigation of the MF Global Holdings Ltd. collapse to an independent counsel, according to people familiar with the matter.

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USA

USA - Modern veal farming is a shining example of good farming

Five years after the board of directors of the American Veal Assn. (AVA) voted unanimously to adopt a resolution calling for all U.S. veal farms to transition to group pens, a recent survey reveals that 70% of veal calves raised by AVA members will be housed in group pens by the end of 2012.

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USA

USA - More rhetotic and lies from FDA who are on the take from the Drug Lobby

FDA's Promises for the Next Four Years.

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USA

USA - Nothing new about brewers grain

In the past few years, you’ve gone from learning about a new feed ingredient called distillers’ dried grains with solubles, to adding a bit of it to some of your swine diets, to adding significant levels to most diets.

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USA

USA - Only in America

Windell Gillis found something very unusual when he went to check on his cows on Saturday, April 14.

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USA

USA - Paying the price for sloppy traceability in cattle

Investigators looking into California’s first case of mad cow disease say they have tracked down at least one of her offspring in another state.

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USA

USA - Pork Expo 2012

HerdStar is releasing a preview of their all new version of GFPROT software at the World Pork Expo in Des Moines, Iowa.

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USA

USA - Safeway had no choice over sow crates

NPPC President R.C. Hunt, in a statement, said: "America’s hog farmers are committed to producing safe, affordable and healthful foods for consumers, using industry practices that have been designed with input from veterinarians and other animal-care experts.

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USA

USA - Sara Lee posts a loss

Sara Lee Corp. posted a net loss for the third quarter, hurt by costs linked to the planned spinoff of its coffee and tea business, but said sales rose in its North American meats business.

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USA

USA - The American Meat Institute defending our industry

WASHINGTON – The American Meat Institute held a media briefing to discuss transglutaminase and fibrin, enzymes that have been labeled in the mainstream media as “meat glue,” in an effort to head off the next food-related controversy.

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USA

USA - Wal-Mart and the BRIC nations

Wal-Mart International’s CEO Doug McMillon, Wal-Mart’s present strategy is to focus on improving returns in its existing businesses.

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Wales

Wales - Beef and lamb production

WELSH Lamb production during the first quarter of 2012 remains stable as a result of improved carcass weights, HCC has said.

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Wales

Wales - Rare breed sheep

Rare breed sheep exhibitors can target a £100 bounty as they gear up for this year’s opening agricultural show.

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