Beijing/Chicago/Carambei | Reuters – Ken Maschhoff, chairman of the largest U.S. family-owned pork producer, has watched profits fall as trade tensions rise between the United States and China. His company, The Machhoffs, has halted U.S. projects worth up to $30 million and may move some operations overseas. Investing in domestic operations now would be “ludicrous” […] Read more
Tag Archives pigs — page 12
Hog industry worldwide getting slaughtered in trade war
U.S. farmers, government fight risk of African swine fever
Chicago | Reuters – U.S. hog farmers are ramping up safety procedures and leaving animal-feed ingredients imported from China in storage in an attempt to keep out a highly contagious swine disease that is sweeping through Asia and Europe. U.S. government officials said in interviews on Friday they are also increasing their ability to test […] Read more
Gene editing to eliminate boar taint being explored
A research alliance is attempting to develop male pigs that are naturally castrated
Global swine and poultry breeding technology supplier Hendrix Genetics recently added its support to a U.S.-based research effort aimed at delaying or even eliminating maturity in piglets as a way of tackling the troublesome phenomenon of boar taint. However, a well-respected University of Guelph boar taint researcher says “the jury’s still out” on whether or […] Read more
China culls more pigs as authorities race to trace African swine fever source
Beijing | Reuters – China is culling over 1,300 pigs as authorities rush to control a fourth outbreak of African swine fever and try to trace the origins of the virus that first struck the world’s largest hog herd three weeks ago. Authorities in the eastern province of Zhejiang said they would slaughter 1,332 hogs […] Read more
Making bacon at the Ontario Pork Congress
There were a record 60-plus entries at the Bacon Maker Classic at the Ontario Pork Congress this year. The 4-H members showed their market pigs in showmanship and confirmation classes. Pigs mill about as the judge looks over this Bacon Maker Classic class for conformation.
Exhibitor numbers up for this year’s Ontario Pork Congress
The event runs June 20 and 21 in Stratford, and is now surrounded by public celebrations of pork
The Ontario Pork Congress once drew 10s of thousands of farmers to Stratford to learn about the industry and improve their farms. As the number of hog farmers has plunged, the event has spawned a week-long celebration of pork as a food. The Ontario Pork Congress continues to grow, with more exhibitors than last year […] Read more
China’s pig farmers hit brakes on expansion as prices plunge
Large firms are delaying expansion, and small farmers are being forced out of business
Beijing/Reuters – Some Chinese pig farmers are adjusting expansion plans or putting planned projects on hold because of a glut in the market that led to hog prices hitting an eight-year low last month. Two medium-sized companies have told Reuters they have either reduced expansion plans or are holding off on future expansion of breeding […] Read more
U.S. March hog herd hits record high
Chicago | Reuters — The number of hogs on U.S. farms in the December-February quarter was up 3.1 per cent from the same period a year ago, a record high for the quarter, according to Thursday’s U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) report. Farmers added extra pigs, encouraged by less-costly feed during that period and the […] Read more
Fat herds, leaner profits: For China’s pig farmers, New Year feasts bring cold comfort
Beijing/Reuters – With China’s Lunar New Year festivities fast approaching, pig farmers in the world’s biggest pork market have little to cheer. As they fatten herds to meet peak demand, a slump in retail prices and a spike in feed costs are grinding up profits. A wave of imports has squeezed pork retail prices 10 […] Read more
France says Russia to lift ban on live pigs, some pork products
Paris | Reuters –– Russia’s veterinary services has agreed to lift a ban on French live pigs, offal and fat imposed a year ago after an outbreak of African swine fever in the east of the European Union, the French farm ministry said. Russia imposed the ban on EU pork products early in 2014 following […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
