Wrapping up November: What’s new in the world of pigs?

Genesus sends breeding pigs to Wens in China…

Canadian breeding company Genesus shipped high quality registered swine breeding stock to Wens Foodstuffs Group in China. The load of several 100 animals arrived in Beijing in late October. Wens is one of the largest broiler and pork producers in China. The company currently have an estimated 1,000,000 sows and produced 17 million pigs last year. Their aim is to increase output to 27.5 million hogs in two years.

…and so did Topigs Norsvin

Breeding organisation Topigs Norsvin also shipped pigs in that direction, by delivering 455 Norsvin Landrace animals to Wens Foodstuff Group. Wens will use the genetics in their production pyramid. The agreement with Wens also includes regular genetic updates of the population through the import of semen from boars from nucleus farms around the world.

Speaking of Topigs Norsvin, its Greece division has announced a cooperation with Card Agroservises. These two are planning to build a new centre for genetics and sperm production in the Nor Gyugh community in Kotayk province, Armenia. This specialised centre (see picture) will focus on developing the pig industry in the Caucasus region.

PIC and Denmark’s Møllevang team up…

PIC, the porcine business unit of Genus, and Møllevang, an independent Danish porcine genetics company, will enter into a strategic relationship, commencing on 1 July 2018. As from that date, Møllevang will distribute elite genetics in the Danish market and certain other countries. Møllevang will also become an elite genetics production partner of PIC in Denmark. Owner Niels Pedersen remains in control of the breeding operations of Møllevang.

…and PIC also develops new tool

Also from the USA there is a PIC update: it teamed up with Kansas State University to develop a tool to optimise the level of dietary net energy for growing-finishing pigs to maximise profitability. KSU and PIC have developed the Excel-based model to compare levels of dietary net energy, which can be tailored to each producer’s production parameters.

Novus expands in Texas…

Animal health and nutrition company Novus chose Calhoun County, TX, United States as the site for a new manufacturing facility. The proposed facility is based on the Ineos Nitriles site at Green Lake. The cooperation allows Novus to expand its production capacity to 120 KT per year. With final approval expected to come in the 2^nd half of 2018, construction is expected to be completed in 2020. Newton Manufacturing, a Novus subsidiary, will own and manage the facility. The site will produce Alimet, a liquid methionine product.

…and holds European Swine Nutrition Roundtable

Novus also held a European Swine Nutrition Roundtable, in partnership with Newcastle University, UK, bringing some of the industry’s leading experts in sow and piglet health together to share knowledge and reveal opportunities for future development. The 2-day event included 16 participants from across Europe. Key topics discussed included optimising gene expression through epigenetic strategies, overcoming oxidative stress and possible management interventions for low birthweight piglets.

Biomin: New production plant in China

Austrian-based feed additive manufacturer Biomin opened a new production plant in Wuxi, Jiangsu province, China. The latest addition to the firm’s network encompasses a 5,600 m² building featuring offices, a warehouse and a 360 m² scientific lab designed to provide quality control and analytical services for customers. The facility has 2 automated acidifier production lines with a total capacity of 32,000 tonnes per year, and 4 packing lines. The plant will be able to produces Biotronic and Mycofix product lines. The opening ceremony in October took place in the presence of 500 distinguished guests.

More news from Asia: the company also announced to be introduced its phytogenic feed additive, Digestarom DC, to the Indian feed and livestock sectors.

Olmix opens 1st factory in Asia

With a ceremony in October, Olmix opened its first factory in Asia in Binh Duong province, Vietnam. The plant will be providing about 15,000 tonnes of animal feed additives and nutraceuticals for feed mills and farms per year. Starting its production from November 2017, the factory will be focused on producing materials to be provided to the Asian market. The productions will use ingredients or nucleus produced in France with Olmix technologies.

Arm & Hammer introduces Certillus

Animal nutrition company Arm & Hammer introduced Certillus, a portfolio of products with solutions to pathogenic challenges. These solutions are powered with Microbial Terroir, a microbial makeup of the environment, the soil, the animals and the weather on a specific farm location. On-farm sampling and testing can reveal what is needed to combat harmful pathogens that slow down animal productivity. The company thus maps out the complex Microbial Terroir that shapes – and enhances – the gastrointestinal (GI) tract of animals within a herd. A customised solution is then developed from a database of Bacillus strains.

AB Vista: New book on enzymes in swine feed

AB Vista contributed a chapter to volume 2 of the reference book Achieving Sustainable Production of Pig Meat. The contribution is an update on the use of three classes of enzymes – NSPases, phytases and proteases – in pig nutrition, according to Dr Mike Bedford, research director for AB Vista, who produced the chapter in conjunction with the company’s senior research manager Dr Carrie Walk. He said the chapter brings together findings from the past 5 years, which explain how these enzymes work and how to get the most out of them.

Alltech launches pig knowledge hub

Alltech created a new digital pig knowledge hub. The company gathered insights from pig industry specialists to create a dedicated knowledge hub for pig producers. The Pig Knowledge Hub is part of the company’s ‘Assist’ tool, which allows producers to benchmark herd performance against targets and identify opportunities for financial gains. All aspects of pig production are analysed, including nutrition and feed management.

Nutriad partners with research institutes in Brazil…

Feed additives company Nutriad engaged in partnerships with universities in Brazil: Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Federal University of Goiânia (UFG) and State University of Londrina (UEL). These agreements allow the company to evaluate its product portfolio under tropical circumstances

…and hosts a technical seminar in Poland

Nutriad also hosted a conference for industry professional and business partners in Poland in November. An interactive programme included a range of technical and market topics addressed with presentations by guest speakers and Nutriad product and business managers. Speakers included Prof Lipiński, University of Warmia, Poland; Dr Bogdan Cegiełka, Vet-Com, Poland.

Phileo: Swine and poultry symposium

Phileo Lesaffre Animal Care hosted a symposium dedicated to swine and poultry in Rome, Italy, in October. Nearly 300 participants from 45 countries attended the event, which focused on reducing antibiotic use and embracing opportunities presented by a global market. General speakers included consultant Osler Desouzart, Brazil; consultant Dr Rongsheng Qiu, China; researcher Shawn Bearson, USA; Chiara Faenza, Coop Italia; and Carlo Lasagna, Martini, Italy. A separate swine session then featured Mathieu Gloaguen, Cooperl; Prof Jan Suchodolski, USA; Prof Elizabeth Santin, Federal University of Paraná, Brazil; swine consultant Gilles Langeoire, France; Tadele Kiros Gebreyohannes, swine R&D manager, Phileo Lesaffre; and his colleague Dr Jimmie Corley.

Neovia ‘Farm of the Future’ call yields 50 responses

Neovia’s call for solutions for its ‘Farm of the Future’ project, launched in May 2017, has generated a lot of interest among potential partners and suppliers. In total, 46 participants were able to present their projects, their motivations, and the scope of their participation to the company’s panel of experts. The proposals made it possible to respond to 3 themes: precision farming, sustainable farming, and easy farming. The company decided to retain about 30 potential partners and suppliers at this stage.

ABN working on streamlining data transfer

British compound feed producer ABN are working with customers to simplify recording of their in-feed antibiotic usage. Producers have had to demonstrate this reduction through recording results in the eMedicine Book (eMB-Pigs), which brings together antibiotic usage in one place. To help its customers monitor and record purchases, ABN e-mailed reports for the last 18 months direct to producers, detailing purchases of in-feed medication.

Produmix develops Procina

Produmix has developed Procina, a new technological manufacturing process that considers every zone of a piglet’s digestive system to achieve the best result. The encapsulation technology is the result of a study of the digestive system. Each component of the base mix is released progressively where needed. Once these zones are identified, every ingredient is subjected to a specific encapsulation process to make the most of them, if necessary.

Roxell builds new type of feed bins for EU

Equipment manufacturer Roxell introduced 2 new types of feed bins for EU countries. The new types comply with European standard EN 1090 for the manufacturing of metal structures. For EU countries, the existing feed bin series will be replaced by the EC3 feed bin series 26 m/s (for areas with an average wind speed of maximum of 26 m/s); and the EC3 feed bin series 30 m/s (maximum 30 m/s). Distinguishing features include more robust legs and supports, compliance with standards for strength and stability, and the use of certified raw materials.

Aptimmune: Mucosal flu virus vaccine

Aptimmune Biologics introduced an inactivated mucosal influenza A virus in swine (IAV-S) vaccine administered via nasal spray. The vaccine uses ‘Barricade’ vaccine formulation, combining 3 core components: contemporary influenza type A antigen relevant for current application; an immune-stimulating adjuvant; and nanoparticles delivering the vaccine payload to immune cells at the mucosal surface. The approach allows vets and producers to produce a vaccine which may contain up to 5 flu type A strains, e.g. H1N1, H1N2 and H3N2.

HKScan to launch pork exports to China

Finland-based meat producer HKScan is making preparations to begin exporting pork from Finland to China. The Chinese and Finnish food authorities signed an agreement allowing HKScan’s Forssa plant to prepare for launching exports to China. Exports are scheduled to commence during the first half of 2018. The launch of exports from Finland to China has involved extensive preparations with Finnish authorities.