Wrapping up June: What is new in the world of pigs?
June saw some novelties in the world of pig breeding, including a development that gets the world a step closer to castration-free production. Also the acquisition of IDT Biologika by Ceva has been completed.
Genome editing to eliminate need for castration
Recombinetics/Acceligen and Hendrix Genetics (Hypor) used a genome editing method to create swine that remain in a pre-pubertal state, thus eliminating the need for surgical castration. The 1st litter of castration-free prototype piglets confirmed the methodology is working. Ever since being awarded a grant, the companies formed the ‘Alliance to End Surgical Castration of Swine’. Aim is to prevent sexual maturation in pigs without introducing foreign material into the genes of pigs.
Hypor also reported that the 1st pigs arrived at its new Bon Accord nucleus facility in Ituna, SK, Canada. The modern farrow-to-finish operation has 1,200 GGP sows.
In addition, Hypor shipped pigs to Davao airport, the Philippines. Hypor and Montesclaros Farms there entered into a specific agreement called BioHypor, to introduce the breeds to Visayas and Mindanao.
Topigs Norsvin introduces new semen extender
Topigs Norsvin introduced a new semen extender, called Solusem Bio+. This extender increases shelf life and has renewed antimicrobial composition and sperm cell protection. With the extender, older semen can be used without any loss of fertilisation or litter size. An extended shelf life also makes semen distribution easier and more efficient. The new long-life extender has been thoroughly tested in lab trials and extensive field trials.
Danish Genetics: Project on meat quality and slaughter info
Danish Genetics, Danish Crown, and the Danish Technological Institute have launched a new breeding initiative. The project combines CT scans with slaughter information for 3 Danish pig breeds in Denmark in order to identify prospects for faster genetic development within the breeding goal on meat quality. In particular, the results provide a brand new and comprehensive knowledge of carcass composition, meat quality, and the level of primal cuts.
DanBred subsidiaries meeting in Denmark
‘Pig heads’ from all over the world gathered in Denmark recently, for the DanBred global meeting for subsidiaries. The focus was on the sharing of knowledge and best practices.
De Heus opts for sustainable soy in Europe
By signing the FEFAC Covenant ‘sustainable soy’, compound feed producer De Heus has taken a step towards the use of responsibly grown soy for compound feed within its factories located in Poland, Spain, Portugal Czech Republic and Slovakia. The covenant stipulates that the use of responsible soy in compound feed in all feed mills situated in the European Union will be a reality by 2025 at the latest.
Marine algae to improve immune transfer
Olmix released a 4th peer-reviewed scientific article on MSP Immunity in February 2019. The study assesses in vivo the effect of MSP Immunity on immunity transfer from gilt to piglet through colostrum and milk. The results proved that the oral supplementation of the product to gilts vaccinated with a bivalent vaccine containing P. multocida and B. bronchiseptica strains increased the content of immunoglobulin G and A in the colostrum and milk respectively.
Levucell SB for all stages of pig production
Lallemand’s live yeast probiotic strain Saccharomyces cerevisiae boulardii CNCM I-1079, also known as Levucell SB, is now authorised as a feed additive for use in all pigs in the European Union (EU). That includes suckling piglets, finishing pigs, boars, gilts and weaned piglets. It can also be used in all minor porcine species such as wild boar. The company stated it is the only zootechnical feed additive in the EU with such an extensive authorisation for pigs.
In addition, at the international congress IPC 2019 in Prague, Czech Republic, held in June, Lallemand’s Dr Caroline Achard revealed the effects of Levucell SB supplementation on sow microbiota and the lasting influence on weanling piglet performance.
Kemin launches CaptiSure for feed biosecurity
Animal nutrition and health company Kemin added the product CaptiSure to its North American feed safety portfolio. The product is described as a highly available energy source derived from palm kernel oil and comprised of a proprietary blend of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs). Independent published research has shown MCFAs can reduce bacterial and viral pathogens in feed; hence the product may be used as part of a comprehensive feed biosecurity programme.
The company also recently unveiled its new global vision and logo to align the company strategically for 2042 and beyond. The new Kemin logo reflects the company’s focus on future.
Nuscience launches ‘Start+’
Nuscience, part of Agrifirm, developed Start+ for newborn piglets. The concept promotes gut maturation and mimics the activity of prebiotic milk oligosaccharides by the inclusion of galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS). The product was developed because there is a higher incidence of lower piglet birth weight as well as less developed piglets. That is due to genetic selection for increased litter size and piglets receiving less colostrum and milk. Start+ can enrich Babi creep feed.
New Protix plant: A transition in insect farming
Dutch insect breeder Protix has opened its new production facility in Bergen op Zoom, the Netherlands. The 14,000 m2 facility was opened by HRH King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands. The cultivation process takes place in a controlled environment and is automated with sensor and data systems, robots and climate control. The plant increases the company’s production capacity tenfold. The plant will be scaled up in the coming months.
Agromed: New feeding solution to avoid swine dysentery
Agromed’s new product Agromed Protect is a natural protection solution which helps to prevent swine dysentery and other diarrhoeal diseases in pigs. The product consists of 3 active ingredients: lignans, tannins and a gut stabilising lignocellulose. The combination of these ingredients represents a natural, holistic concept.
Evonik opens 2nd factory in Singapore
On June 18, 2019, and following the scheduled 2-year construction period, Evonik officially opened its 2nd complex for the production of MetAmino and important precursors in Singapore. Like the 1st plant, this new complex has an annual production capacity of 150,000 metric tonnes of DL-Methionine, elevating Evonik’s annual global capacity to about 730,000 metric tonnes. Evonik manufactures the product in Belgium, Germany, the USA and Singapore.
Evonik also signed a Joint Development Agreement (JDA) with Chinese company Vland Biotech as part of their existing partnership in the field of probiotics for animal nutrition and enzymes for industrial applications. The deal expands an agreement signed in November 2018.
New nutrient supplement for weak piglets
Illinois, US-based Brookside Agra has developed a fast-acting, liquid nutrient supplement that gives weak, newborn piglets an energy boost. The product, called ‘Runt-Rescue’, contains hyper-immunised egg powder which contains egg-based antibodies derived from hens vaccinated with specific antigens over time. This ingredient helps to fend off such intestinal pathogens. It also includes vitamins A, D & E, selenium, MDFA rich fats, sunflower and coconut oils and caffeine.
Victam and VIV join forces
The international trade show organisers behind VIV and Victam will combine their revents planned for Bangkok, Thailand, early 2020. The partnership unites arrangements relating to the animal feed and grain industries show Victam Asia in March 2020 and the VIV Health & Nutrition Asia trade fair and forum, originally planned to take place in Bangkok in January 2020.
Both events will now be co-located at Bangkok’s BITEC exhibition grounds, 24-26 March 2020.
Smithfield Foods: More renewable energy projects
Smithfield Foods will construct new biogas gathering systems in Missouri and Utah, which bring the company closer to delivering renewable natural gas using manure from its hog farms. In Missouri, construction is in progress to connect farms equipped with covered lagoons to a biogas gathering system. In Utah, construction is underway on a low-pressure biogas transmission line that will connect ‘manure-to-energy’ projects on hog farms to a biogas gathering system.
Research demonstrates HyCare efficacy
The MS Schippers hygiene management method HyCare leads to a higher profit per piglet site. That was demonstrated in a study conducted by compound feed company De Heus Feed and MS Schippers, involving 10 production rounds at a HyCare location, involving piglets between 7 and 25.5 kg. The piglet mortality rate is no less than 23.8% lower than the national average. The piglets show a faster growth and at the same time consume less feed than the national average.
Weda develops new freedom farrowing pens
Germany-based farming house supplier Weda has developed a new concept for freedom farrowing pens which can be adapted to individual customer requirements. The concept is based on long-term cooperation experience with customers from Finland. They reported excellent results, mainly regarding the pen concept’s profitability. Pig farmers all across Europe increasingly invest in this pen type.
Ceva completes acquisition of IDT
Ceva Santé Animale and IDT Biologika have successfully completed the acquisition of IDT’s veterinary biopharmaceutical and R&D activities by Ceva. The product portfolio will be transferred to Ceva branding as quickly as possible. A new global innovation centre focused on swine vaccines will be created within IDT’s exiting Dessau site. IDT’s strong range of swine vaccines will strengthen Ceva’s growing presence in this segment.
Bayer: New aid for responsible antibiotics use
Animal health company Bayer introduced the SRD Smart Compare, a new online tool that puts scientific evidence at veterinarians’ fingertips to aid in their selection of an antibiotic treatment for swine respiratory disease (SRD) when needed. The tool is based on a network meta-analysis of 34 publicly available SRD treatment studies covering 10 relevant antibiotic molecules.
Merck/MSD completes acquisition of Antelliq
Animal health company Merck/MSD announced the completion of its acquisition of Antelliq. The acquisition positions the company as a global leader in animal health digital tracking, traceability and monitoring technology and complements the existing portfolio of vaccines and pharmaceuticals. Antelliq will be an operating unit within Merck/MSD Animal Health.
Deracin cleared for use with Denagard for swine
Deracin, a generic alternative to Aureomycin, has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in combination with the antimicrobial Denagard for swine. This combination of Deracin (chlortetracycline) and Denagard (tiamulin hydrogen fumarate) is approved for the treatment of swine dysentery, enteritis and pneumonia. Deracin is a broad-spectrum medicated feed article, produced by Pharmgate Animal Health.
Zoetis receives EU approval for Suvaxyn
Zoetis received European Commission approval for a group of variations on Suvaxyn PRRS MLV, a vaccine containing a modified live European PRRS virus strain. This provides earlier protection to finishing pigs, gilts and sows, and an extended duration of immunity. The onset of immunity for finishing pigs, gilts and sows is shortened from 28 to 21 days and the duration of immunity for gilts and sows is extended from 16 to 26 weeks.
Hemicell HT approved for use in EU
Elanco’s Hemicell HT is now available in the EU for use in broilers, turkeys and pigs following approval by the European Commission at the end of 2018. Hemicell HT is a feed enzyme targeting ß-mannans. ß-mannans are anti-nutritional fibres found in many vegetable feed ingredients, notably soybean, having a negative health impact when ingested. The product breaks down these fibres, preventing this unnecessary gut inflammation.
