Wrapping up January: What is new in the world of pigs?
The first Business Update of 2019 contains a lot of new cooperations in the world of pigs. In addition, DuPont Industrial Biosciences commenced the construction of a new European headquarters where Boehringer started marketing its China-manufactured pig vaccines.
DuPont: New European headquarters for Industrial Biosciences
DuPont Industrial Biosciences broke ground on its new site at the Leiden Bio Science Park in Oegstgeest, the Netherlands this January. The new multidisciplinary facility will double the potential for growth of the current employee base, with the potential of creating an additional 100 jobs. The building will serve as the new EMEA headquarters for DuPont Industrial Biosciences. The construction is scheduled to be completed in 2020.
BI: First vaccines produced in China
Animal health company Boehringer Ingelheim can now supply China-made vaccines to the Chinese market. The company announced it has started to do so with its vaccine Ingelvac PRRS MLV. The vaccines are being produced in the vaccine manufacturing plant in Taizhou, which was completed in 2016 at a cost of € 85 million. In the past, all swine vaccine products for China were made at the company’s US plant and then imported into China.
Nedap signs deal with Wens NanMu
Livestock automation company Nedap and China-based Wens NanMu have signed a partnership to accelerate technical progress in precision pig production. Wens NanMu is a daughter company and housing supplier for Wens poultry and pig production chains. NanMu and Wens will work together to provide Wens with production systems that fulfil their needs. Gerard Weijers, Nedap and Wen Shangji, NanMu, signed the agreement in Qizhu, China.
Vimifos joins as Anco FIT distributor for Mexico
Mexican animal nutrition company Vimifos recently joined joined the distributor network for the Anco Fit product line. The product line launched in Mexico late last year. Vimifos reaches the Mexican market through direct sales and a network of over 50 distributors throughout the country. With over 600 employees, 2 industrial complexes, and warehouses located in the main production areas in Mexico, Vimifos is a key player in the animal nutrition industry.
Big Dutchman acquires Matavicol
German-based Big Dutchman has taken over one of its long-term distribution partners in the French poultry business: Matavicol Industrie, based in Le Theil-de-Bretagne. The acquisition enables Big Dutchman to strengthen its presence in the Pays de la Loire region, which can also benefit the company’s pig production activities. Matavicol has 30 staff members. The transaction is in line with the goal Big Dutchman pursues in France: consequent expansion.
Neogen: Acquisition of Delta Genomics Centre
Food safety company Neogen acquired the assets of the Edmonton, AB-based Delta Genomics Centre – a major animal genomics laboratory in Canada. The lab will be renamed Neogen Canada, and become Neogen’s 5th animal genomics laboratory – joining locations in the US, Scotland, Brazil, and Australia. The acquisition is intended to help accelerate the growth of Neogen’s animal genomics business throughout Canada.
Nucleus and Darby Genetics team up for 7 years
Darby Genetics, headquartered in South Korea, and Spanish breeding company Nucleus have signed a service contract for 7 years. With more than 35 years of experience in the pig sector, the Korean company will receive technical training, audits, genetic and technical support, and fresh semen from Nucleus.
Barn Sentry: A new wireless barn monitoring solution
New Boundary Technologies and Mel Foster Company announced the release of the Barn Sentry this January. The system is a wireless monitoring solution for animal barns. It monitors parameters including temperature, humidity, fans, water pressure, feedline motors, lights, and door open/close status. Additional sensors are available to monitor water leaks, CO2, CO, air particulate level, water flow and motion.
FeedView: A new smart feed inventory tool
More wireless sensor-related solutions as BinMaster, a US-based company, launched FeedView. This software comes with battery-powered, wireless sensors to automatically measure the feed inventory. The tool’s dashboards provide an overview of each bin monitored and deliver timely data to a smartphone, tablet or computer, replacing paperwork, guesswork or e-mails.
Nor-Feed: app evaluating heat stress
French-based feed additives company Nor-Feed launched ‘Stop Heat’, a mobile application that evaluates the level of heat stress in farm animals and proposes the best strategies in terms of livestock management, nutrition and antioxidant intake. The app, available on iOS and Android, was presented during the French Tech Congress organised in Vietnam, in November 2018.
Study: Alternative growth promoter for piglets
Spanish feed additives company Norel shared the outcomes of a study to the use of its essential oil EO-Fit Swine in piglets. The product contains a combination of carvacrol, thymol, cinnamaldehyde and clove and can be used as an alternative to Antibiotic Growth Promoters in piglet diets. In a group of 240 piglets, weaned at 28 days, pigs treated with the product had a significantly better FCR than the negative and positive control groups.
In another trial, presented at the DPP 2018 in Brisbane, Australia, Norel presented a trial evaluating the effect of Dicosan as a source of medium chain fatty acids on performance parameters in piglets in starter feeds (42-60 days of age). In a trial with 320 piglets, at 60 days, the pigs fed the product were heavier than the control group.
Hog Slat celebrates 50 years in business
US-based livestock equipment company Hog Slat is celebrating a milestone of 50 years in business. In 1969, Hog Slat founder William T. Herring created concrete flooring panels based on his own experience as a pork producer. As founder and chairman of Hog Slat, he oversaw the development of the company, which nowadays is also active in the poultry industry. It has distribution centres and over 80 retail store locations worldwide.
HKScan brings Omega-3 Pork to Alibaba’s Hema chain
HKScan has signed a deal with the Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba. With its Omega-3 Pork products, the Finnish pork processor gets products to Alibaba’s grocery retail reinventing Hema supermarkets and online store. Alibaba introduced its semi-automatic concept store chain in 2017; currently there are around 100 Hema supermarkets across China. Hema stores are part of Alibaba’s retail strategy, integrating online and offline shopping.
