TheMeatSite Newsletter - 1 February 2012

TheMeatSite Weekly Newsletter

Wednesday 1st February 2012

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Welcome to this week's newsletter

Editorial: Reducing the Carbon Footprint of Beef Production

The carbon footprint of the production of beef and lamb can be reduced through efficiencies on the farm through to the retailer according to the latest chapter in the English Beef and Lamb Executive's roadmap for low carbon production.

The roadmap shows that most of the greenhouse gas emissions in the production of beef and lamb come from the farm, but by cutting down on waste and looking at extending shelf life and considering packaging the production chain beyond the farm gate can also help to make considerable savings.

On the farm, the reductions can be made by achieving optimum liveweight gains, selecting for slaughter with both the best weight and specification, feeding good quality grass and rations and achieving the best output in breeding.

The report,Down to Earth, launched this week, draws on data from around 200 farms in England includes sections on emissions benchmarking, carbon sequestration, waste in the supply chain, retailer activity and farmer cases studies.

In the EU, a coordinated approach by all the EU states has had significant results in reducing incidents of Salmonella.

Human Salmonella cases have been reduced by almost a half in the EU over five years (2004-2009).

At the same time, the prevalence of Salmonella in poultry decreased significantly, especially in laying hen flocks. The reduction of the bacteria in laying hen flocks is likely to be the main reason for the decline of Salmonella cases in humans, since eggs are considered the most important source of human infections in EU.

Up to 2005 the numbers of cases being reported were 200,000 a year with an economic impact of €3 billion a year.

Concerns are rising over calls from the Spanish farming sector for a moratorium on the implementation of the ban on battery cages for laying hens.

The Spanish farming union COAG claims that as many as 400 farms - 40 per cent of production - could go out of business if the ban, which came into effect on 1 January, is fully enforced.

The farmers are also calling for financial help to upgrade their production systems to meet the rules.

Chris Harris

This Week's Feature Articles

We have 6 new features this week:

GLOBAL POULTRY TRENDS - Asia Leads Output of Duck and Goose Meat
Worldwide, duck meat production increased by more than one million tonnes over the last decade and is forecast to have exceeded four million tonnes in 2010, writes poultry industry watcher, Terry Evans, while goose meat output globally is 2.5 million tonnes. Both markets are dominated by Asia, particularly China.

Red Meat Vital for a Healthy Diet
When Harvard University published its "Healthy Eating Plate" last September, there was something missing: red meat, writes Madeline McCurry-Schmidt from the American Society of Animal Science.

Where's the (not) Meat? - Byproducts from Beef and Pork
Animal byproducts contribute to the bottom line of the US meat industry, according to a report from the USDA Economic Research Service.

Continued Strength for Cattle Prices in 2012
This year will be another year of record high cattle and beef prices with diverging impacts for various segments of the industry. Again, Brazil is the only country expected to increase beef production, reports Rabobank in their Beef Quarterly.

Mexico's Emerging Role as an Exporter of Beef to the US
US beef imports from Mexico have at least doubled in each of the last two years, continuing an upward trend that began in 2003, writes Rachel J. Johnson and Amy D. Hagerman for the USDA, Economic Research Service.

Antibiotic Resistance in Campylobacter
Campylobacter infection is the most common cause of acute bacterial gastroenteritis in developed countries (Randall et al., 2003), write Declan Bolton and S?amus Fanning of Teagasc in their outline of the molecular basis for antibiotic resistance in Campylobacter spp.

Company News

Cryovac Rolls Out New Ovenable Material
US - Consumer-friendly ovenable rollstock is newest expansion to Oven Ease product line. The launch International Poultry of the product was during the 2012 International Poultry Expo in Atlanta.

Global Meat Industry News