Antibiotics in pig feed increased the number of antibiotic resistant genes in gastrointestinal microbes in pigs, according to a study conducted by Michigan State University and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service. Published in the current edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the comprehensive study focused on understanding the effects of conventional, in-feed antibiotics in U.S. farms.

For decades, many producers of pigs, chickens and other farm animals have used antibiotics not only to protect their livestock from disease, but also to boost growth rates and enhance feed efficiency, a measure of how well animals convert feed into weight gains.

Scientists don’t know precisely how antibiotics enhance growth rates and feed efficiency, but they are concerned that on-farm use of these medications may contribute to the development of strains of microbes resistant to conventional antibiotics, which are potentially harmful to humans and animals, said James Tiedje, MSU University Distinguished Professor of microbiology and molecular genetics and of crop and soil sciences.

“The growth of antibiotic resistance in pathogens is a huge challenge for society around the world,” said Tiedje, an MSU AgBioResearch scientist. “Studies to understand what contributes to the spread and what interventions can help control the problem are vital.”

Additional findings include:

• Both diversity and abundance of antibiotic resistance genes increased in the intestinal microbial communities of the pigs treated with antibiotics. Longer term studies are needed.
• Some of the genes found in the treated pigs were unexpected and usually linked to antibiotics not used in the study.
• Microbial genes associated with production and use of energy by microbes increased in abundance in the antibiotic-fed pigs, which may shed light on how antibiotics increase livestock growth and feed efficiency.
• E. coli populations increased in the intestines of the treated pigs. Further study is needed to clarify this observation.

“To our knowledge, this study is the first of its kind to look at the collateral impacts of in-feed antibiotic use in farm animals, using a comprehensive approach to detect shifts in the function and the makeup or membership of the microbial community in the model animal’s gastrointestinal tract,” said Torey Looft, USDA researcher.

Source: Michigan State University News Release

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Source: WJBC

The new president of the Illinois Livestock Development Group has roots in animal agriculture and continues with a small livestock operation, but he is primarily a grain farmer.

Rob Shaffer of El Paso currently serves as District 6 Director for the Illinois Soybean Association.  The group is part of a coalition with other farm groups across the state designed to promote animal agriculture and grow the livestock numbers in Illinois.

“I grew up a pig farmer, since I was old enough to carry a bucket.  My dad always had pigs.  When I graduated from Illinois State, I went to work in the swine industry in North Carolina.  [I] got out in 1998 when pigs got [to] eight cents a pound,” said Shaffer.

Now he partners with his brother on a small Angus herd. They sell freezer beef, as well as being corn and soybean farmers.  Shaffer explained why livestock is an important industry to grain farmers in Illinois and across the country.

“Our number one customer is animal ag in the state of Illinois, and we need to promote that and keep… the more livestock stays in Illinois, it means more jobs, more taxes.  It’s just good for Illinois,” said Shaffer.

His goal is to promote and educate grain farmers and livestock farmers on who their number one customer is.  Shaffer believes it is realistic to bring livestock numbers back up in the state of Illinois.  While grain farming is very profitable right now, land and input costs are expensive.  Shaffer thinks raising livestock can help with that.

“What we forget is the organic side of the fertilizer, coming from whether it be a chicken, or a cow, or a pig or even a turkey, is very beneficial because of input costs as far as putting the fertilizer back into the ground,” said Shaffer.

Livestock production can also be a way to bring the next generation back to the farm.

“Because land is so expensive and rents are so high, maybe you can bring a son or a daughter back to maybe put in a couple of contract finishing barns or build a feedlot or a chicken barn or something along those lines to fit in the operation and still get back to agriculture,” Shaffer said.

The Illinois Livestock Development Group also helps farmers work through what can be a challenging regulatory environment.

“We’d like to get to a producer when they want to expand or build a new operation… get to them first before they start that permitting process to fill out all the paperwork with the Department of Agriculture to get them educated, get them ready for the process,” said Shaffer.

His main goal for the coming year is to continue to grow livestock numbers in Illinois.  In 2010, the state saw 65 applications for permits to build livestock facilities.  In 2011, there were 91 applications.  Shaffer would like to see that number reach 100 in 2012.

More information about the Illinois Livestock Development Group is available at www.ildg.org or www.ilsoy.org.

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Global swine genetics company Pig Improvement Co. (PIC) will mark its 50th anniversary of business on Feb. 26. From the very beginning, the company has had as its motto: “Never stop improving.”

In 1955, a group called the Wallingford Pig Study Group was concerned that traditional purebred swine breeders were not producing the right kind of pig for future markets. The farmers invited a group of scientists to devise a way of producing a better hybrid. Taking the scientists’ advice, the group bought the best pigs they could find and began to improve them by a process of selection. In 1962, PIC was formed.

Today, PIC is an international leader in providing pig breeding stock and has the industry’s largest genetic database, PICTraq. The company combines quantitative sciences with leading-edge biotechnology to develop non-genetically modified organism breeding stock that is focused on meeting the needs of its customers.

“Though many things have grown and changed in terms of technologies and products offered from our first delivery of Camborough gilts in 1964, our commitment to our customers and research remains the same,” Bill Christianson, chief operating officer of Genus Americas, said.

PIC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of U.K.-based Genus plc, which markets to livestock producers in 70 countries worldwide. Genus also is the parent company of ABS Global, a provider of beef and dairy genetics and related products.

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Union workers at Cargill’s case ready meat processing plant in Hazleton, Pa. approved a new five-year contract, the company confirmed.

“We are pleased that we could come to an agreement with the Local 1776. We believe this is a great contract for our 600 employees,” said Aaron Humes, general manager of the facility, in a statement. “We are proud to offer very competitive wages, top notch healthcare and more vacation. This is a win for our entire team in Hazleton, the Hazleton community and the customers we serve.”

The United Food and Commercial Workers represents the plant employees.

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Hormel Foods Corp. announced the retirement of two vice presidents and the promotion of several executives in consumer product sales.

Daniel Hartzog, vice president of sales in consumer product sales, and Bruce R. Schweitzer, vice president of operations for refrigerated foods, will retire April 27.

Kurt Mueller, vice president of business planning in consumer products sales, will replace Hartzog, and Steven D. Althaus will replace Mueller in the position of director, business planning, consumer products sales.

Andrew Benson, director of refrigerated foods, Sam’s — Walmart, in consumer products sales, will assume Althaus’ responsibilities as director of the SuperValu business team in consumer products sales, and Randy Simonson, customer business manager, consumer products sales, will assume Benson’s responsibilities.

Jeffrey Nuytten will replace Schweitzer, and Donald Cole will replace Nuytten as vice president of operations at Jennie-O Turkey Store. Todd Kampstra, director of further processing cooked production, Jennie-O Turkey Store, will assume Cole’s role as plant manager of West Central Turkeys.

Work histories

Mueller was vice president of sales and marketing for fresh pork before assuming his current role in 2004. He joined Hormel in sales in 1979 and rose to become a meat products manager, district manager, director of retail marketing for Dubuque Foods and manager of logistics and customer service in Refrigerated Foods.

Althaus was a meat products district manager before being promoted to his current post in 2004. He joined Hormel Foods in 1990 as a meat products relief sales and merchandiser in Houston and advanced to meat products account executive and product manager.

Benson, who has been in his current role since 2008, held various positions on the consumer products sales Walmart team in Bentonville, Ark., and also served as sales and marketing manager at Fleming Meat Products in Dallas and the Albertsons customer planning manager.

Simonson, who has held his current position since 2011, has served as a senior product manager before advancing to customer executive in consumer products sales and customer regional manager.

Nuytten held plant manager positions at Dold Foods, Osceola (Iowa) Food and the Austin plant before becoming vice president of operations at Jennie-O Turkey Store in 2004. He also was foreman at the Fort Dodge (Iowa) facility and the Fremont plant.

Cole has been the plant manager of West Central Turkeys in Pelican Rapids, Minn., since 2002. He has also served as the Benson Ave. plant manager at Jennie-O in Willmar, Minn., and plant manager of Heartland Foods-Jennie-O in Marshall, Minn.

Kampstra was director of further processing — raw at Jennie-O Turkey Store Willmar (Minn.) before becoming director of further processing — cooked in 2010. He also served as director of value-added operations at The Turkey Store (Barron, Wis.) and director of operations at Jerome Foods (Barron, Wis.).

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Farmscape for February 3, 2012   (Episode 4079)

Research conducted by PAMI suggests solid-liquid separation offers a potential alternative for addressing concerns related to the phosphorus contained in livestock manure.

The Prairie Agricultural Machinery Institute in partnership with the Manitoba Livestock Manure Management Initiative, Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the University of Manitoba, the National Centre for Livestock and the Environment and the Puratone Corporation has completed an evaluation of two commercially available technologies for solid-liquid swine manure separation.

Preliminary results were presented yesterday as part of the 2012 Manitoba Swine Seminar in Winnipeg.

PAMI Agricultural Projects Manager Lorne Grieger says researchers evaluated a centrifuge and a Fournier rotary press.

Clip-Lorne Grieger-Prairie Agricultural Machinery Institute:
Key findings so far, I would say the biggest thing is the phosphorus removal.

We’ve seen removal rates around up to 50 to 60 percent phosphorus removal with different technologies under different conditions and even higher than that depending on the manure concentration of phosphorus going into the systems.

Other key findings would include the implementation method.

It’s not just as simple as hooking up a system to an existing operation.

There’s different considerations that have to be thought of and taken care of before the systems go on line.

These include how additional manure solids are handled.

There’s an additional manure stream that now needs to be managed and taken care of as well as some potential health and safety issues that can arise from working with liquid manure that sits and has a potential for hydrogen sulfide gas release.

Grieger says these results indicate there is potential to modify the manure stream to allow the export of the dry solids, which contain a high percentage of the phosphorus, but a key considerations is cost including capital equipment, labor and operating expenses.

Results of the evaluation are now being compiled and a final report will be released by the end of next month.

For Farmscape.Ca, I’m Bruce Cochrane.

       * Farmscape is a presentation of Sask Pork and Manitoba Pork Council

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Sara Lee’s retail and foodservice segments saw adjusted net sales rise 1 percent in the second quarter of fiscal year 2012, while reported net sales increased by 2 percent.

In reporting its second quarter results, the company said selective pricing actions helped reverse volume loss trends in key categories.

The quarter’s best performance came from Sara Lee’s Jimmy Dean brand, which the company noted is trending up in volume, revenue and operating profit. Sara Lee is also putting what it termed “extensive resources” behind plans to improve positioning and innovation of its Hillshire Farm products.

However, in reporting its second quarter results, the company also said adjusted operating segment income fell 2 percent in the meat sector; reported operating segment income was down 7 percent. Mix increased 1 percent in the second quarter after sliding 0.4 percent during the first quarter.

Volume decreased by 3.5 percent in the second quarter, slightly up from the first quarter’s 5.7 percent decline; the company noted that a transition of accounts to a third-party broker accounts for some of the volume loss.

“The meat business showed a marked improvement in volume and mix trends in the quarter in response to course corrections,” Chief Executive Officer Marcel Smits said in a statement. “We made brisk improvement on the meat categories in the retail and foodservice businesses, while the bakery categories lagged. Coffee and Tea continued its upward trend and, importantly, operations in the key Western European countries continue to perform well. We are confident that we now have the market fundamentals in line to deliver on our guidance for the full year.”

Click here to read the full earnings report.

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Wisconsin Dells — The Wisconsin Pork Association (WPA) recently recognized scholarship recipients during the organizations’ annual meeting, held on February 2-3 in Wisconsin Dells, in conjunction with the Corn/Soy Expo.

Whitmore Memorial Scholarship

The Whitmore Memorial Scholarship was established as a legacy to the late Rex Whitmore, a master statesman and communicator who served as the first executive director of the Wisconsin Pork Association.  Applicants must be a junior or senior at UW-Madison, Platteville or River Falls.  Each university selects a candidate to represent their school in the selection of this scholarship.

The 2011 finalists were: Rebecca Keel, UW-Madison, daughter of Steve and Laurie Keel, Juneau; and Jared Stillman, UW-River Falls, son of Tresa Lemmers, Weyauwega; and Amanda Leistico, UW-Platteville, daughter of Steve and Lois Leistico of Waterloo.

The $500 scholarship was awarded to Jared Stillman.  Rebecca Keel and Amanda Leistico were awarded a $250 scholarship from the Wisconsin Pork Association.   The candidates are evaluated based on grade point average, extracurricular activities, career orientation, and financial need.

Jared Stillman is a Senior at UW-River Falls, where he is majoring in Animal Science with an emphasis on Meat Animals.  He has been an active member of Alpha Gamma Rho, Alpha Zeta, and has served on the Student Advisory Council for the College of Agriculture, Food, and Environmental Science.  Stillman plans to attend graduate school, focusing on meat animals.

Rebecca Keel is a Senior at UW-Madison and is majoring in Animal Science.  On campus, she has been active in the Association of Women in Agriculture, Saddle and Sirloin, and works at the Arlington Swine Research Unit.  Upon graduation, she would like to pursue her education by getting a masters in animal or meat science, focusing on swine reproductive physiology.

Amanda Leistico is a Senior at UW-Platteville, where she is majoring in Agriculture Education.  She has participated in the academic quadrathalon team, is a member of Kappa Alpha Sigma, and is employed at the Pioneer Farm Swine Center.  She plans to get a masters degree in education and become a 4H youth development agent.

WPA Scholarship

This $500 scholarship is presented each year to a high school senior who will be pursuing further education with an interest in agriculture. Each of the other four finalists that were selected will also be receiving a $250 scholarship.  The five finalists are: Kelsey Braukhoff, daughter of Daniel & Denise Braukhoff, Janesville; Shea Esser, son of Pat & Kim Esser, Bloomington; Kate Griswold, daughter of Tim & Jane Griswold, Black Earth; Amanda Patterson, daughter of Dennis & Denice Patterson, Bloomington; and Brian Patterson, son of Dennis & Denice Patterson, Bloomington.

The recipient of the 2012 Wisconsin Pork Association Scholarship is Brian Patterson. Brian plans to attend Iowa State University to study Animal Science. He is an active member of the River Ridge FFA and the Blake’s Prairie Bombers 4-H Club, where he has served as an officer in both organizations.  He has been a member of the FFA state champion livestock, meats, and land judging teams, as well as the 4-H national champion livestock skillathon, and the state champion livestock quiz bowl, meats judging, and livestock judging teams.  He most recently had the opportunity to attend the International Scottish Highland Show in Scotland through 4-H.

Judging for the WPA Scholarship is based on a short essay, agricultural experience, financial need, involvement outside FFA/4-H, educational background, and transcript.  This scholarship was sponsored, in part, by Equity Cooperative Livestock Sales and Elanco Animal Health.

Gunderson Memorial Scholarship

WPA, in cooperation with the family of Buell Gunderson, has established a scholarship program to recognize the many contributions that Gunderson made to the Wisconsin pork industry. Individuals who have shown considerable dedication and involvement in the pork industry are considered for the scholarship.

Two recipients were awarded this scholarship this year – TJ Doherty, Johnson Creek, and Valerie Ujazdowski, Winneconne.

TJ Doherty is the son of Shawn & Nancy Doherty.  He is currently attending Black Hawk East Community College, where he is majoring in Animal Science and Ag Communications. He has served as a National Youth Ambassador for the National Junior Swine Association, is a member of the freshman livestock judging team at Blackhawk, and has been both a junior swine and sheep representative on the Jefferson County Meat Animal Project Committee.

Valerie Ujazdowski is the daughter of Jeff & LuAnne Ujazdowski.  A second-year student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine, she is a member of the American Association of Swine Veterinarians, UW-Production Medicine Club, and the UW-Porcine Interest Group.  Upon graduation from veterinary school, her goal is to practice food animal medicine.

The Wisconsin Pork Association’s mission is to insure the future success of the Wisconsin pork industry.  WPA represents the interests of the pork industry members with a strong emphasis on social issues, public and government policies, environment, animal welfare and safety.

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The Wisconsin Pork Association recently recognized producers and industry members for their dedicated service at the 2012 Pork/Corn/Soy Expo, held on February 2-3 in Wisconsin Dells.

Producer Honoree Award

Each year, the Wisconsin Pork Association presents a Distinguished Service Award to a fellow pork producer whose contributions to the Wisconsin swine industry merit special recognition.  There is no greater honor than being singled out by your peers for serving your organization and industry.

The 2011 WPA Producer Distinguished Service award was presented to Shannon Wolf, Lancaster. Shannon is the third generation of the Wolf family to be employed on Wolf L&G Farms in Lancaster.  His grandfather began farming in the 1950s. Today, Shannon and his father, Doug, operate the farrow to finish operation that has 1,200 sows producing 25,000 pigs annually. The Wolfs also run 200 head of beef cows and raise 1,800 acres of corn, soybeans, and alfalfa.  Shannon received a Bachelor of Science degree in agricultural business from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville in 2001.

Shannon has been an active member of the Wisconsin Pork Association Board of Directors since 2006, and served as President in 2008.  He has participated as a member of the Executive, Public Policy, and Animal Welfare Committees.  He participated in the Pork Leadership Academy in 2005, is an Operation Main Street speaker, and was a featured farmer in the Wisconsin Farmers Feed Us campaign.

Shannon and Melissa have three boys, Mitchel, Nolan and Ross.  Melissa is active in the daily farm operation, where she is responsible for the nursery pigs.

 Industry Honoree Award

The pork industry is fortunate in having many industry representatives who are dedicated to promoting and serving the industry.  The Wisconsin Pork Association honors these individuals and companies by presenting them with the Distinguished Service Industry Honoree Award.  The recipient of the award for 2011 is Dave Jelinski.

Jelinski received his Bachelor of Science degree from UW-Madison, and worked for the State of Wisconsin for 30 years specializing in the technical, financial, and policy issues concerning agricultural related runoff from crop and livestock farms.  Among other job responsibilities, he served as the Director of Land and Water Resources for the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection until 2010.  Following that, Dave served as the Government Affairs Director for the Dairy Business Association working on a variety of legislative and environmental issues related to dairy farms until retirement in 2011.

While at DATCP, Dave routinely sought advice from WPA producers and members in the development and administration of various land and water resource programs, including: DNR’s CAFO permit program; DATCP’s livestock facilities siting program; DATCP’s farmland preservation program; DATCP’s working lands program; and various other county soil and water resource management programs.

Dave and his wife Marty currently live in Madison, and will celebrate their 35^th anniversary this year. They have three children – Matthew, Santa Rosa, CA; Melissa, Honolulu, HI; and Nicolas, Minneapolis, MN.

The Wisconsin Pork Association’s mission is to insure the future success of the Wisconsin pork industry.  WPA represents the interests of the pork industry members with a strong emphasis on social issues, public and government policies, environment, animal welfare and safety.

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The Humane Society of the United States plans to confront Tyson Foods executives at their annual meeting tomorrow, just days after the group went after Seaboard Foods and Prestage Farms for using gestation crates in their hog operations.

HSUS often buys shares in publicly traded meat companies and asks questions at annual meetings. The group issued a news release announcing its plans today, on the heels of media coverage earlier this week of videos taken at Seaboard and Prestage facilities intended to discredit gestation crate use.

“Tyson allows pigs to be crammed into crates so small they can’t even turn around,” said Paul Shapiro, senior director of farm animal protection for the HSUS. “It’s time for Tyson to ensure gestation crates aren’t used in its supply chain.”

HSUS pointed to moves away from gestation crates by other pork companies. It noted Hormel has stated it plans to phase out gestation crates by 2017. Smithfield Foods announced last month it would be 100 percent gestation crate-free for its company-owned operations in five years. And Cargill is already 50 percent gestation crate-free.

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Micronutrients (A Division of Heritage Technologies) and Pro-Ag Products Ltd

Pro-Ag Products Ltd (PAP) and Micronutrients are pleased to announce that they have formed a strategic marketing and distribution alliance for the Canadian Livestock and Poultry markets.  Pro-Ag Products Ltd will distribute the IntelliBond C copper product to the Canadian feed industry.

“This is a very significant commitment for both Micronutrients and Pro-Ag Products Ltd.  This is significant for our respective employees and most of all our valued customers” said Norm Paisley President of PAP.   “Together, our companies are able to offer a broader range of products and improved mineral technologies along with technical support that will benefit our customers.”

“This strategic alliance builds on our commitment to the livestock and poultry industry and will ensure we deliver on our goal to develop mineral programs that enhance animal productivity in a cost effective, safe and healthy manner while respecting the environment” said Pat James, CEO of Micronutrients.

“The relationship is another step in the continued growth of both organizations.  Our companies have similar core values along with a passion and commitment that will ensure we make our customers more successful now and in the future,” said Doug Beckie co-owner of PAP.

Pro-Ag Products, Ltd. is a Canadian owned and managed company that has been in business for over 25 years.  Pro-Ag Products, headquartered in Winnipeg, Manitoba offers a line of research proven high quality feed ingredients, feed additives, and animal health products to the livestock and poultry industry.

Micronutrients, headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana is a global mineral feed ingredient producer that develops manufacturers and markets a full range of quality trace minerals for poultry, livestock, companion animal and aquaculture markets. Its unique, crystalline based products provide producers with the opportunity to significantly upgrade the stability and bioavailability of respective trace mineral programs while in many cases reducing the cost per ton of trace mineral supplementation.

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The company is planning to mark this major milestone in its history by holding a Grand Opening Ceremony, to be held at the Findlay location on Friday January 27th at 10.00 am.

We are honored that the Danish Ambassador to the USA has agreed to attend and we expect that both National and State politicians will also be present, in addition to local dignitaries and commercial partners of HAMLET PROTEIN. The ceremony will comprise a series of short speeches, followed by a ribbon cutting ceremony and a light buffet at 12.00 pm. Short tours of the facility will be conducted from 9.00 am until 10.00 am.

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