TheMeatSite Newsletter - 1 September 2010

Wednesday 1st September 2010

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Welcome to this week's newsletter

Editorial: Export Markets Open Up for UK Beef

The number of export markets available to UK beef producers has more than doubled thanks to a push on export certificates led by EBLEX, the English levy beef board.

Reacting to current difficulties in the domestic beef sector, EBLEX has diverted an additional £100,000 to facilitating generic export certificates, which will allow exporters to open up new markets.

There is also a positive outlook for the US beef industry. The upbeat forecast has been issued by Cattle Fax on the back of tightening domestic supplies and some recovery in demand in 2011 and 2012 as the US and global economies improve.

According to Cattle Fax, the US beef cow herd is expected to contract by 1.5 per cent during 2010.

Russian authorities have raised the age-limit above which slaughtered animals must be tested for BSE from 30 months to 48 months, in respect of exports of beef from Ireland to Russia.

This means that the BSE testing requirements for exports to the Russian Federation are now the same as for exports to EU member states.

The last week has seen consolidation among some of the larger processing companies. Following Irish Food Processors' acquisition of Dalepak last week, Vion Foods has its acquisition of Weyl Beef Products approved by the EC.

However, in Canada, Cargill has closed a Toronto case ready products plant and JBS is selling off plants in Argentina on the back of falling consumption and a tightening beef market.

Chris Harris

This Week's Feature Articles

We have 5 new features this week:

GLOBAL POULTRY TRENDS - Slow Growth Forecast for Europe's Poultry
Our third series of articles in the series Global Poultry Trends covers the chicken meat sector in Europe. Writing exclusively for ThePoultrySite, industry watcher, Terry Evans, focuses on production trends in the region. With an average increase of just over three per cent annually between 2000 and 2008, output is growing more slowly in Europe than other regions, and most of the increase is achieved in just one country, Russia.

Irish Beef Preferred Choice for Dutch Retailers
The performance of Irish beef exports to the Netherlands over the last decade can be well regarded for delivering a solid and consistent pattern of growth, writes Declan Fennellfrom Bord Bia Amsterdam

Piglet Birthweight Does Not Impact Carcase Meat Quality
Increasing litter size led to a reduction in mean birth weight of the piglets, which did prolong the time needed to reach market weight but had no negative effects on pork quality, according to A.D. Beaulieu and co-authors.

Hyperspectral Imaging Speeds Detection of Campylobacter
A type of high-tech imaging can be used to distinguish the foodborne pathogen Campylobacter from other microorganisms as quickly as 24 hours after a sample is placed on solid media in a Petri dish, according to a study published by US Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientists.

Good for the Sea and Good for You
"Good for the sea and good for you" is the slogan of Mr Goodfish, a quality and sustainability label that sets out to encourage consumers across Europe to enjoy sustainable fisheries in season, writes Peter Crosskey in the third in the series of features on the French fishery industry.