ROTECNAWORLD NUMBER TWENTY THREE 2015
SUMMARY TECHNOLOGY
TENDENCIES IN HOUSING FOR FINISHING FUTURENEWS
Improvements proposed in the EU rules on the welfare of pigs PIGPRODUCTIONIN...
2015 IS SHAPING UP AS A GOOD YEAR FOR BRAZIL ROTECNANEWS
LETTERFROMTHEEDITOR
SECTORIAL COOPERATION:
The more social aspect of Rotecna
With the improvement in the export figures of the European Union and perspectives of increases in productivity, the pig sector is now more optimistic than in recent months.
GLOBALPIG
USA considers repeal COOL
Gener Romeu Rotecna's President
ROTECNA WORLD 23
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JUNE 2015 EDITION: Rotecna, s.a.- POL. IND. NAU-3, 25310 AGRAMUNT (LLEIDA) SPAIN DIRECTOR: GENER ROMEU EDITION/PRODUCTION/DESIGN: Montse GUERRERO EDITOR: TAMARA LOMBARDO TRADUCTION: CHRIS BOSWELL Print: Imprenta barnola L-41-2007
The bid for a professionalised sector and investment in ever more efficient installations has consolidated the European Union as the world’s second producer and exporter of pig meat, only behind China. By countries, Germany is the third producer on a world level, followed closely by Spain in fourth place. Moreover, the latter expects to see a 7.8% rise in productivity this year. However, meat prices are not high enough to hope that 2015 will be a good year for the pig meat sector as far as profit margins are concerned. Although the tendency on the markets in recent weeks has been positive, with slight rises in price, this is still around €15 per 100 kilos under the price registered a year ago. Furthermore, EU prices are still above those of other exporters like Brazil and Canada, which could threaten exports. So, we must be competitive in quality and take care of the main markets for European pork meat, like Asia, to maintain the good levels of exports. In this sense, health and biosecurity are two of the great challenges for the professionals in the sector, and they are aware of the disaster that any health problem would entail. Maintaining the countries free of disease is the best calling card for increasing exports, and biosecurity measures are the basic tool for reducing the entry and transmission of disease on the farms. In equipment, Rotecna’s wager on materials that are easy to clean and resistant to corrosive agents, like the new panels for pens, guarantees a good level of hygiene on the farms and avoids health problems. Prevention is the best medicine.
DIGITAL VERSION / issuu.com/rotecnapress Rotecna's World's editors accept no liability for contributor's opinion.
Gener Romeu
ROTECNANEWS
GLOBALPIG
SECTORIAL
COOPERATION:
USA considers repeal COOL
The more social aspect of Rotecna advantages from the synergies that are created between the different sector agents. Moreover, these events are the best showcase for the Rotecna brand to reach our clients directly and consolidate our position on the market as makers of equipment for pig farms.
Oscar Toledano gave a talk in the last edition of Plan Star Porcino in Alcarràs (Lleida). Photo: RotecnaPress
Taking part in the great events of the pig world is the key to continue growing at a company and sectorial level. Throughout the year, Rotecna collaborates and participates in different acts, meetings, congresses, fairs and festivals, which are the meeting point for all those agents that in some way contribute to improving pig production; livestock farmers, vets, pharmaceutical, equipment, genetics, and feed companies, etc. Cooperation between the different branches that make up this sector is the guarantee of our future.
The sectorial events enable the opinions of the different professionals in the pig sector to be shared, which supplies new knowledge and helps to face the problems in each area from a more global viewpoint. Thus, we can see the real situation in the sector, its needs and concerns, and supply effective solutions through our products. Although participating in some of these acts is an expense for Rotecna, there are many
Some of the sectorial acts that Rotecna participates with are technical conferences organised by associations of livestock farmers, publishing groups, etc., as well as larger events, on a national level, such as the Anaporc Symposium, National Association of Scientific Pig Breeding, that annually bring together hundreds of professionals to analyse and debate the concerns of the Spanish pork sector. On the other hand, Rotecna is also one of the sponsors of the Golden Pig Awards, the great annual festival of the Spanish pig sector, with awards for the work of the producers over the last year, highlighting such aspects as productivity and performance of the farms. Many of the winners are also farms equipped with Rotecna products.
The Boí
SOMETHINGABOUT... In 2000, the
The main peculiarity of the Catalan Romanesque Churches of the Vall de Boí is that they are spread over various villages in this valley in the Alta Ribagorça district (Lleida). This invites the visitor to plan a route to discover the Catalan Romanesque while also enjoying the landscapes of the Pyrenees.
Catalan Romanesque Churches of the Vall de Boí were declared a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO.
Church of Sant Climent in Taüll. Photo: Centre del Romànic de la Vall de Boí.
2
Valley,
The Catalan Romanesque Churches of the Vall de Boí World Heritage Site includes 8 churches and a hermitage built between the 11th and 12th centuries in the same architectural style, the Lombard Romanesque. They are characterised by their functionality, the fine stonework and bell-towers that serve for communication and control over the territory. The incalculable value of the buildings and the mural paintings that still survive have made this Romanesque site one of the most important ones in Europe.
World Heritage In 2000, the Catalan Romanesque Churches of the Vall de Boí were declared a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO. Prior to this, in 1931, the Spanish Government declared the churches of Sant Climent and Santa Maria in Taüll Historical Artistic Monuments. This was the first institutional recognition and was extended in 1962 to include the churches of Sant Joan in Boí and Santa Eulàlia in Erill la Vall. In 1992, the Catalan government, the Generalitat, declared all the Romanesque churches of the Boí Valley a Site of Cultural Interest.
The churches The Catalan Romanesque Churches of the Vall de Boí covers the churches of Sant Climent and Santa Maria in Taüll, Sant Joan in Boí, Santa Eulàlia
Attendees in the Plan Star Porcino Conference in Alcarràs (Lleida). Photo: RotecnaPress
Finally, apart from collaborating in sectorial events, Rotecna also supports various events in our immediate surroundings, most promoted by local non-profit making entities and associations. In this sense, we participate in a range of activities, from sporting events to cultural and educational acts, in the world of health, etc. Over the last four years, despite the difficult economic situation, Rotecna has increased its budget allocation to sponsorship and collaborations by over 35%, which shows the more social face of the firm and the desire to be a brand close to the sector.
The House Committee on Agriculture of the US House of Representatives has rejected the COOL (the system of identification of the country of origin of the meat on the label) by a majority. This vote took place in May, a few days after WTO (World Trade Organisation), again ruled against the USA. The COOL came into force in 2008, and since then, Canada and Mexico have challenged this system in the WTO, as they consider that it discriminates against their exports of beef and pork to the American market. According to the US norms for labelling, for meat to be labelled as coming form the USA, it must have been reared and slaughtered in the country, which means a hindrance for the
animals and that are imported into the US market. The vote by the United States Congress, prior step for repealing the rules, came as no surprise, as the President of the House Agriculture Committee, had commented previously that this problem had to be solved definitively to avoid a trade war with the USA’s two leading trading partners (Canada and Mexico). For their part, the Canadian and Mexican governments issued a statement announcing their intentions to continue with the necessary action to force the USA to repeal the legislation on labelling and thus end this trade dispute.
the best Catalan Romanesque in the middle of the Pyrenees in Erill la Vall, Sant Feliu in Barruera, the Nativity in Durro, Santa Maria in Cardet, the Assumption in Cóll and the hermitage of Sant Quirc in Durro. Sant Climent in Taüll is probably the best-known of the Romanesque churches in the Vall de Boí. A prototype of Romanesque church with characteristic Lombard layout and a slender bell-tower, the mural of the Majesty of Christ or Pantocrator from Sant Climent in Taüll has become the icon of the Catalan Romanesque. Although the original is in the National Art Museum of Catalonia (MNAC), work has been done in the church to recover the original paintings and display the famous paintings from the high apse with a video mapping projection that enables visitors to see what the church would have looked like in the 12th century.
Santa Maria in Taüll is apparently the only church in the valley that led to settlement around it. Then, Santa Eulàlia in Erill la Vall is notable for its slender bell-tower, square in shape and six floors high, aligned with the tower of Sant Joan in Boí and Sant Climent in Taüll, given that, as mentioned above, these steeples were used for communication and as lookouts over the territory. Finally, mention must be made of Santa Maria in Cardet. This was built on a steep mountainside. The main peculiarity of this church is that advantage was taken of the slope to build a small crypt inside it, the only one in the area.
The natural surroundings Despite all this, the Romanesque churches of the Vall de Boí are
not the only reason for visiting this part of the Pyrenees, as the natural surroundings are another important draw for tourists. Thus, from the Boí Valley, you can easily get to the Aigüestortes and Estany de Sant Maurici National Park, an area with a c h ar a c t er is t ic P y r en e an landscape and over a hundred lakes. The many trekking routes that you can find allow you to discover and enjoy the dramatic surroundings. The Boí-Taüll ski station is another of the area s attractions, with winter sports activities and skiing in winter and a wide range of open-air activities in summer. Finally, if you want to relax, there is the spa of Caldes de Boí nearby, with mineral-medicinal springs with dif f er ent compositions and temperatures.
Interior of Sant Climent showing the video mapping of the paintings. Photo: Centre del Romànic de la Vall de Boí.
3
ROTECNANEWS
GLOBALPIG
SECTORIAL
COOPERATION:
USA considers repeal COOL
The more social aspect of Rotecna advantages from the synergies that are created between the different sector agents. Moreover, these events are the best showcase for the Rotecna brand to reach our clients directly and consolidate our position on the market as makers of equipment for pig farms.
Oscar Toledano gave a talk in the last edition of Plan Star Porcino in Alcarràs (Lleida). Photo: RotecnaPress
Taking part in the great events of the pig world is the key to continue growing at a company and sectorial level. Throughout the year, Rotecna collaborates and participates in different acts, meetings, congresses, fairs and festivals, which are the meeting point for all those agents that in some way contribute to improving pig production; livestock farmers, vets, pharmaceutical, equipment, genetics, and feed companies, etc. Cooperation between the different branches that make up this sector is the guarantee of our future.
The sectorial events enable the opinions of the different professionals in the pig sector to be shared, which supplies new knowledge and helps to face the problems in each area from a more global viewpoint. Thus, we can see the real situation in the sector, its needs and concerns, and supply effective solutions through our products. Although participating in some of these acts is an expense for Rotecna, there are many
Some of the sectorial acts that Rotecna participates with are technical conferences organised by associations of livestock farmers, publishing groups, etc., as well as larger events, on a national level, such as the Anaporc Symposium, National Association of Scientific Pig Breeding, that annually bring together hundreds of professionals to analyse and debate the concerns of the Spanish pork sector. On the other hand, Rotecna is also one of the sponsors of the Golden Pig Awards, the great annual festival of the Spanish pig sector, with awards for the work of the producers over the last year, highlighting such aspects as productivity and performance of the farms. Many of the winners are also farms equipped with Rotecna products.
The Boí
SOMETHINGABOUT... In 2000, the
The main peculiarity of the Catalan Romanesque Churches of the Vall de Boí is that they are spread over various villages in this valley in the Alta Ribagorça district (Lleida). This invites the visitor to plan a route to discover the Catalan Romanesque while also enjoying the landscapes of the Pyrenees.
Catalan Romanesque Churches of the Vall de Boí were declared a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO.
Church of Sant Climent in Taüll. Photo: Centre del Romànic de la Vall de Boí.
2
Valley,
The Catalan Romanesque Churches of the Vall de Boí World Heritage Site includes 8 churches and a hermitage built between the 11th and 12th centuries in the same architectural style, the Lombard Romanesque. They are characterised by their functionality, the fine stonework and bell-towers that serve for communication and control over the territory. The incalculable value of the buildings and the mural paintings that still survive have made this Romanesque site one of the most important ones in Europe.
World Heritage In 2000, the Catalan Romanesque Churches of the Vall de Boí were declared a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO. Prior to this, in 1931, the Spanish Government declared the churches of Sant Climent and Santa Maria in Taüll Historical Artistic Monuments. This was the first institutional recognition and was extended in 1962 to include the churches of Sant Joan in Boí and Santa Eulàlia in Erill la Vall. In 1992, the Catalan government, the Generalitat, declared all the Romanesque churches of the Boí Valley a Site of Cultural Interest.
The churches The Catalan Romanesque Churches of the Vall de Boí covers the churches of Sant Climent and Santa Maria in Taüll, Sant Joan in Boí, Santa Eulàlia
Attendees in the Plan Star Porcino Conference in Alcarràs (Lleida). Photo: RotecnaPress
Finally, apart from collaborating in sectorial events, Rotecna also supports various events in our immediate surroundings, most promoted by local non-profit making entities and associations. In this sense, we participate in a range of activities, from sporting events to cultural and educational acts, in the world of health, etc. Over the last four years, despite the difficult economic situation, Rotecna has increased its budget allocation to sponsorship and collaborations by over 35%, which shows the more social face of the firm and the desire to be a brand close to the sector.
The House Committee on Agriculture of the US House of Representatives has rejected the COOL (the system of identification of the country of origin of the meat on the label) by a majority. This vote took place in May, a few days after WTO (World Trade Organisation), again ruled against the USA. The COOL came into force in 2008, and since then, Canada and Mexico have challenged this system in the WTO, as they consider that it discriminates against their exports of beef and pork to the American market. According to the US norms for labelling, for meat to be labelled as coming form the USA, it must have been reared and slaughtered in the country, which means a hindrance for the
animals and that are imported into the US market. The vote by the United States Congress, prior step for repealing the rules, came as no surprise, as the President of the House Agriculture Committee, had commented previously that this problem had to be solved definitively to avoid a trade war with the USA’s two leading trading partners (Canada and Mexico). For their part, the Canadian and Mexican governments issued a statement announcing their intentions to continue with the necessary action to force the USA to repeal the legislation on labelling and thus end this trade dispute.
the best Catalan Romanesque in the middle of the Pyrenees in Erill la Vall, Sant Feliu in Barruera, the Nativity in Durro, Santa Maria in Cardet, the Assumption in Cóll and the hermitage of Sant Quirc in Durro. Sant Climent in Taüll is probably the best-known of the Romanesque churches in the Vall de Boí. A prototype of Romanesque church with characteristic Lombard layout and a slender bell-tower, the mural of the Majesty of Christ or Pantocrator from Sant Climent in Taüll has become the icon of the Catalan Romanesque. Although the original is in the National Art Museum of Catalonia (MNAC), work has been done in the church to recover the original paintings and display the famous paintings from the high apse with a video mapping projection that enables visitors to see what the church would have looked like in the 12th century.
Santa Maria in Taüll is apparently the only church in the valley that led to settlement around it. Then, Santa Eulàlia in Erill la Vall is notable for its slender bell-tower, square in shape and six floors high, aligned with the tower of Sant Joan in Boí and Sant Climent in Taüll, given that, as mentioned above, these steeples were used for communication and as lookouts over the territory. Finally, mention must be made of Santa Maria in Cardet. This was built on a steep mountainside. The main peculiarity of this church is that advantage was taken of the slope to build a small crypt inside it, the only one in the area.
The natural surroundings Despite all this, the Romanesque churches of the Vall de Boí are
not the only reason for visiting this part of the Pyrenees, as the natural surroundings are another important draw for tourists. Thus, from the Boí Valley, you can easily get to the Aigüestortes and Estany de Sant Maurici National Park, an area with a c h ar a c t er is t ic P y r en e an landscape and over a hundred lakes. The many trekking routes that you can find allow you to discover and enjoy the dramatic surroundings. The Boí-Taüll ski station is another of the area s attractions, with winter sports activities and skiing in winter and a wide range of open-air activities in summer. Finally, if you want to relax, there is the spa of Caldes de Boí nearby, with mineral-medicinal springs with dif f er ent compositions and temperatures.
Interior of Sant Climent showing the video mapping of the paintings. Photo: Centre del Romànic de la Vall de Boí.
3
TECHNOLOGY
TECHNOLOGY
TENDENCIES IN HOUSING FOR
FINISHING Hygienic panels, resistant and easy to handle, the key in current systems for separating pens.
Over recent years, the tendency in finishing has been towards larger groups and wider pens. Some of the reasons for these changes are an increase in the productivity of ever more professionalised farms, improvements in the housing conditions for questions de animal welfare and the development of feeding systems with a capacity for more animals. This is a new reality that should be taken into account when designing the finishing sheds and the systems for separating pens.
The material of the separators
Given the deficiencies detected in practice, like high weight and the build up of dirt on concrete walls, or the problems of rust that occur on metal separators due to slurry, the injected plastic panels are the best alternative. They are lighter than other structures, easy to transport, install and handle. Moreover, the
24
When we talk about finishing housing we must also keep in mind that this phase starts with animals weighing between 15 and 23 kilos, and ends with pigs that reach 105-120 kilos. So, in the construction of pens, the separators must be resistant to the impact of large animals. The Rotecna panels have a grid shaped internal structure, which facilitates homogeneous, stable and firm welding, to give the panels robustness and guarantee high resistance.
120x100 Panel
Panel made to size 120 cm
Panel made to size 100 cm
Hygiene Finally, maintaining the finishing installations in optimum health conditions is the key, as disease can affect the pigs in various ways, from losses due to death to a slower growth of the animal. Hygiene is thus another of the factors determinant to bear in mind when designing a system of housing for finishing. In the all-in/all-out system, adequate cleaning and disinfection of the installations between batches of animals is of great importance for avoiding health problems. In equipment for pens, the best alternative is to use materials that are easy and fast to clean. The Rotecna injected panels, with smooth surfaces without pores, are highly effective in this sense, as being easy to clean, they ensure optimum hygiene and mean an important saving in time and water of around 30%-40%, so they also reduce the production of slurry. In this sense, we must highlight the resistance of the material in the injected panels to the various corrosive agents we can find in finishing pens, from slurry to the products used to disinfect the rooms, which ensured greater durability.
Designed for use in finishing and gestation in groups, Rotecna makes two models of panel: blind and ventilated, available in various colours at a standard size of 1200x1000 mm. However, aware that not all installations are equal and that each farm has its own needs for housing, the Rotecna panels can be made and supplied in any size required by the client, maintain all their characteristics and advantages.
ADVANTAGES • Greater hygiene • Savings in cleaning time • Savings in water consumption of 30%-40% • Reduction of slurry • Greater health guarantees
Mixed panel
In the design of pens, the separator panels, made of various materials, is a basic element. The most frequently used materials include concrete, PVC, metal and plastic. However, they have different characteristics, so, when choosing the material it is important to take into account such aspects as resistance, durability, handling and ease of cleaning.
High resistance
Rotecna panels made to measure
Ventilated
Regarding size, the regulations establish a minimum space of 0.65 m2 per pig in finishing up to 110 kilos, and 1 m2 per pig in finishing over 110 kilos. Having more spacious pens enables the pigs to move more freely and behave more naturally. Moreover, working with large groups, 15-20 sows per pen, reduces fights, as a stable social hierarchy is no longer established.
possibility of making them to measure, as Rotecna offers, allows the farmer to design the pens according to the dimensions of the installations.
Blind
Regarding the housing of finishing pigs, the new European animal welfare norms, in force since January 2013, establish the requirement to build wider pens to create a more comfortable environment and avoid stress for the animals due to the lack of space. Moreover, the pens must have a feeding area, one for resting and another for defecation.
View of finishing room.
• Easy installation
5
TECHNOLOGY
TECHNOLOGY
TENDENCIES IN HOUSING FOR
FINISHING Hygienic panels, resistant and easy to handle, the key in current systems for separating pens.
Over recent years, the tendency in finishing has been towards larger groups and wider pens. Some of the reasons for these changes are an increase in the productivity of ever more professionalised farms, improvements in the housing conditions for questions de animal welfare and the development of feeding systems with a capacity for more animals. This is a new reality that should be taken into account when designing the finishing sheds and the systems for separating pens.
The material of the separators
Given the deficiencies detected in practice, like high weight and the build up of dirt on concrete walls, or the problems of rust that occur on metal separators due to slurry, the injected plastic panels are the best alternative. They are lighter than other structures, easy to transport, install and handle. Moreover, the
24
When we talk about finishing housing we must also keep in mind that this phase starts with animals weighing between 15 and 23 kilos, and ends with pigs that reach 105-120 kilos. So, in the construction of pens, the separators must be resistant to the impact of large animals. The Rotecna panels have a grid shaped internal structure, which facilitates homogeneous, stable and firm welding, to give the panels robustness and guarantee high resistance.
120x100 Panel
Panel made to size 120 cm
Panel made to size 100 cm
Hygiene Finally, maintaining the finishing installations in optimum health conditions is the key, as disease can affect the pigs in various ways, from losses due to death to a slower growth of the animal. Hygiene is thus another of the factors determinant to bear in mind when designing a system of housing for finishing. In the all-in/all-out system, adequate cleaning and disinfection of the installations between batches of animals is of great importance for avoiding health problems. In equipment for pens, the best alternative is to use materials that are easy and fast to clean. The Rotecna injected panels, with smooth surfaces without pores, are highly effective in this sense, as being easy to clean, they ensure optimum hygiene and mean an important saving in time and water of around 30%-40%, so they also reduce the production of slurry. In this sense, we must highlight the resistance of the material in the injected panels to the various corrosive agents we can find in finishing pens, from slurry to the products used to disinfect the rooms, which ensured greater durability.
Designed for use in finishing and gestation in groups, Rotecna makes two models of panel: blind and ventilated, available in various colours at a standard size of 1200x1000 mm. However, aware that not all installations are equal and that each farm has its own needs for housing, the Rotecna panels can be made and supplied in any size required by the client, maintain all their characteristics and advantages.
ADVANTAGES • Greater hygiene • Savings in cleaning time • Savings in water consumption of 30%-40% • Reduction of slurry • Greater health guarantees
Mixed panel
In the design of pens, the separator panels, made of various materials, is a basic element. The most frequently used materials include concrete, PVC, metal and plastic. However, they have different characteristics, so, when choosing the material it is important to take into account such aspects as resistance, durability, handling and ease of cleaning.
High resistance
Rotecna panels made to measure
Ventilated
Regarding size, the regulations establish a minimum space of 0.65 m2 per pig in finishing up to 110 kilos, and 1 m2 per pig in finishing over 110 kilos. Having more spacious pens enables the pigs to move more freely and behave more naturally. Moreover, working with large groups, 15-20 sows per pen, reduces fights, as a stable social hierarchy is no longer established.
possibility of making them to measure, as Rotecna offers, allows the farmer to design the pens according to the dimensions of the installations.
Blind
Regarding the housing of finishing pigs, the new European animal welfare norms, in force since January 2013, establish the requirement to build wider pens to create a more comfortable environment and avoid stress for the animals due to the lack of space. Moreover, the pens must have a feeding area, one for resting and another for defecation.
View of finishing room.
• Easy installation
5
PRODUCTIONIN...
PRODUCTIONIN...
2015 IS SHAPING UP AS A GOOD YEAR FOR BRAZIL
pig meat among Brazilians. Current annual per-capita consumption is 14.63 kilos, a figure that the sector hopes to raise to 15 kilos. The overall volume of production for the domestic market was 2.9 million tonnes. Over recent years, with the aim of increasing domestic consumption, the sector has run various marketing campaigns especially aimed at promoting fresh meat, which represents 33% of total pig
Sources: USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) / ABPA (Brazilian Association of Animal Protein)
meat consumption among Brazilians; the rest (67%) goes to the processing industry. These promotional activities aim, on one hand, to increase the consumption of fresh meat during the winter months (July and August) and, on the other, put an end to the concentration of the consumption in the southern part of the country. Thus, for 2015, it is expected that domestic consumption of pork
will rise slightly thanks to cheaper prices compared with beef, a factor to take into account at a time of economic difficulties, according to the forecasts in the six-monthly report by the USDAGAIN.
Excellent perspectives for 2015 To sum up, with good expectations for production, exports and consumption, 2015 looks like being a good year for the pig
sector in Brazil, gathering the fruit from the investments in modernising the installations and increasing the productivity of the sows. Thus, as well as promoting pigmeat consumption among Brazilians to reach the 15 kilos per capita and year, the sector aims to export to new markets and reach 520 thousand tonnes exported, maintaining the Russian market as its main destination.
FUTURENEWS
Improvements proposed in the EU rules on the welfare of pigs
Pig farm in Brazil equipped with Rotecna products. Photo: RotecnaPress
The rise in exports to Russia and a slight recovery in domestic consumption point towards an increase in production. Brazil is among the countries that have benefitted most from the Russian ban on pork meat from the European Union, Canada and the United States. In this sense, during 2014, Brazilian pork meat exports to Russia were over 186,500 tonnes, 38.33% more than the previous year, thanks partly to the Russian embargo. On the other hand, although the total volume of pork exported by Brazil fell by 4.4% in 2014, the country is still the fourth in the world by volume of exports, and also the fourth producer (without counting the EU by individual countries). The forecast for 2015 is for the positive trend in exports to continue
and a slight rise in domestic consumption of pig meat, with low feed costs and good sales prices. However, the devaluation of the Brazilian currency could affect production costs, mainly through the price of the products the sector imports, such as medicines and additives.
Production According to the Brazilian Animal Protein Association (ABPA), the figures indicate that pork meat production in the country reached 3.47 million tonnes in 2014, 1.75% up on 2013, consolidating its position as the fourth pig producer on the global level. An increase in productivity, with more piglets per sow, and an improvement in health have been behind this growth in animal rearing and the volume de production. According to the USDA-GAIN report about livestock in Brazil the forecast is for a 1% increase in pig production. By areas, it is notable that 60% of pig production in Brazil is concentrated in the three southernmost states: Santa Catarina (25,1%), Rio Grande do Sul (19.3%) y Paraná (17%) (Table 1). In these states, production is integrated vertically so the producers have the support of the country’s largest meat processors and aspire to obtain high profitability form their production.
Exports
Pig farm in Brazil equipped with Rotecna products. Photo: RotecnaPress
6
Over the last year, The Brazilian pork sector has seen the total value of its exports grow by 17% to 1,600 million dollars, although the amount of meat exported fell by 4.4%,
according to data published by the ABPA. This situation derives from competitive prices on the international market, the outbreaks of PED all over the world and, mainly, from the Russian ban on pig meat from Western countries like the United States, Canada and the members of the European Union, which has enabled Brazil to increase its pig meat sales on the Russian market exponentially.
with the same period of the previous year. According to the ABPA report, the explanation for this situation is the truck drivers’ strike the country has suffered, and which has limited the rate of exports.
STATE
PRODUCTION
SC
25,10%
RS
19,30%
PR
17,00%
MG
13,70%
MT
6,00%
By countries, the main markets for Brazilian pig meat in 2014 were Russia (37.7%), Hong Kong (22.4%), Angola (10.6%), Singapore (6.5%) and Uruguay (4.2%) (Table 2). The fall in exports to Ukraine over the last year was notable. This was due to the difficult and unstable political situation that country is going through. Thus, while Ukraine was the third destination in volume of pig meat exports from Brazil in 2013, in 2014 these fell by 90%. Finally, Japan, South Africa and South Korea are among the markets where Brazilian pig meat producers want to increase their presence.
GO
5,00%
Domestic consumption
SP
5,00%
MS
3,30%
One of the sector’s main challenges is to increase the consumption of
OTHERS
5,60%
Table 1: Pig production in Brazil by states.
Source: ABPA
In this sense, Russia was the main outlet for pork from Brazil, with the purchase of 38.33% more meat than in 2013, up to 186,500 tonnes, a figure that is 37.7% of Brazilian pig meat exports last year. On the other hand, although the forecast for 2015 is for and increase on 2% in the volume of exports, given the expectations for continuing growth of sales on the Russian market and the opening of new markets, over the first two months of the year, Brazilian exports have suffered a fall of 24% compared
Table 2: Main destinations for pig meat exports from Brazil.
COUNTRY
VOLUME
RUSIA
37,75%
HONG KONG
22,44%
ANGOLA
10,58%
SINGAPUR
6,53%
URUGUAY
4,22%
GEORGIA
1,74%
CHILE
1,69%
ARGENTINA
1,61%
MOLDAVIA
1,18%
ALBANIA
1,18%
OTHERS
11,06%
Source: ABPA
At the end of April, the Ministers of Agriculture of Denmark, Germany, Holland and Sweden signed a document with improvements in the EU norms on the welfare of pigs. This document was presented to the Agriculture Council of the European Union in May. The document includes improvements and changes in the current legislation regarding tale docking, chemical castration, the housing of sows and gestation crates. According to the four signees, the most recent modification of the norms on pig welfare dates from 2001 and since then, there have been many scientific studies, technological advances and economic-social tendencies that are not envisage din the current norms. For tail docking, the report proposes that this should not be done systematically but only when it is shown to be a necessary practice. In this sense, it also proposes enlarging the area per pig, to minimise the attempts at attacks between animals
and improvements in floors and elements to gnaw on. Regarding chemical castration, they propose that if this cannot be totally eliminated before 2018 due to the lack of acceptance by the consumer, that there should be a prolonged use of anaesthesia and analgesia.
To date, the United Kingdom has commented on these proposals and backs two of the four questions presented: the prolonged use of anaesthesia and analgesia in chemical castration and the extension of time the sows can be housed in groups. Two measures that the pig sector in the United Kingdom is already applying.
During the discussion of these proposals in the Council of Ministers of Agriculture of the European Union in May, while some delegations supported this initiative, others indicated that the equality of treatment between the EU and nonEU producers must be guaranteed and gave priority to a better application of the current legislation.
On the question of group housing of sows, it is proposed to extend the time for this type of housing from weaning until one week before farrowing. The most recent norms (1 January 2013), establish that the sows should be housed in groups except for the 4 weeks after insemination and one week before farrowing. Finally, regarding the question of extending the gestation crates there is no definitive proposal, as although the report states that the crates restrict the welfare of the sows, a wider system of housing them increases the risk of the piglets being crushed.
Gestation room. Photo: RotecnaPress.
EU increases pork exports in first quarter 2015 Pork exports from the European Union rose by around 8.7% to reach 709,522 tonnes during the first quarter of this year. The other leading exporting countries, meanwhile, saw their numbers fall. This was the case of the United States, which recorded a 10% drop to 525,977 tonnes and Canada, with a 1% reduction to 280,842 tonnes. In this start of year, the European Union had the advantage of
dollar-euro parity, which allowed it to be more competitive on the international market and boost exports in spite of the Russian embargo. 31% of this year’s Community sales to date were made to China, which consolidated its position as the leading European pork customer. Exports to South Korea rose by around 61% . On the other hand, sales to the EU’s third- and
fourth-largest markets were down: Hong Kong by 29% and Japan by 7% . Although the trend was positive, not every country saw its exports rise. In Spain, exports grew by around 46 % between January and February compared to the same months in 2014, coming in at 72,000 tonnes, or 16% of the total exported by the European Union in this period.
E xpor t s were als o up in Germany, which recorded an 11% rise to 110,0 0 0 tonnes, and Belgium, where the figures grew by 5 % to 13,000 tonnes. However, some countries saw a signif icant f all in e xpor t s . Figures were down by around 48 % in Poland, mainly due to the Rus sian embargo. Italy ( -16 % ) , France (-9 % ) , Netherlands and Denmark (-1%) also recorded falls in exports.
7
PRODUCTIONIN...
PRODUCTIONIN...
2015 IS SHAPING UP AS A GOOD YEAR FOR BRAZIL
pig meat among Brazilians. Current annual per-capita consumption is 14.63 kilos, a figure that the sector hopes to raise to 15 kilos. The overall volume of production for the domestic market was 2.9 million tonnes. Over recent years, with the aim of increasing domestic consumption, the sector has run various marketing campaigns especially aimed at promoting fresh meat, which represents 33% of total pig
Sources: USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) / ABPA (Brazilian Association of Animal Protein)
meat consumption among Brazilians; the rest (67%) goes to the processing industry. These promotional activities aim, on one hand, to increase the consumption of fresh meat during the winter months (July and August) and, on the other, put an end to the concentration of the consumption in the southern part of the country. Thus, for 2015, it is expected that domestic consumption of pork
will rise slightly thanks to cheaper prices compared with beef, a factor to take into account at a time of economic difficulties, according to the forecasts in the six-monthly report by the USDAGAIN.
Excellent perspectives for 2015 To sum up, with good expectations for production, exports and consumption, 2015 looks like being a good year for the pig
sector in Brazil, gathering the fruit from the investments in modernising the installations and increasing the productivity of the sows. Thus, as well as promoting pigmeat consumption among Brazilians to reach the 15 kilos per capita and year, the sector aims to export to new markets and reach 520 thousand tonnes exported, maintaining the Russian market as its main destination.
FUTURENEWS
Improvements proposed in the EU rules on the welfare of pigs
Pig farm in Brazil equipped with Rotecna products. Photo: RotecnaPress
The rise in exports to Russia and a slight recovery in domestic consumption point towards an increase in production. Brazil is among the countries that have benefitted most from the Russian ban on pork meat from the European Union, Canada and the United States. In this sense, during 2014, Brazilian pork meat exports to Russia were over 186,500 tonnes, 38.33% more than the previous year, thanks partly to the Russian embargo. On the other hand, although the total volume of pork exported by Brazil fell by 4.4% in 2014, the country is still the fourth in the world by volume of exports, and also the fourth producer (without counting the EU by individual countries). The forecast for 2015 is for the positive trend in exports to continue
and a slight rise in domestic consumption of pig meat, with low feed costs and good sales prices. However, the devaluation of the Brazilian currency could affect production costs, mainly through the price of the products the sector imports, such as medicines and additives.
Production According to the Brazilian Animal Protein Association (ABPA), the figures indicate that pork meat production in the country reached 3.47 million tonnes in 2014, 1.75% up on 2013, consolidating its position as the fourth pig producer on the global level. An increase in productivity, with more piglets per sow, and an improvement in health have been behind this growth in animal rearing and the volume de production. According to the USDA-GAIN report about livestock in Brazil the forecast is for a 1% increase in pig production. By areas, it is notable that 60% of pig production in Brazil is concentrated in the three southernmost states: Santa Catarina (25,1%), Rio Grande do Sul (19.3%) y Paraná (17%) (Table 1). In these states, production is integrated vertically so the producers have the support of the country’s largest meat processors and aspire to obtain high profitability form their production.
Exports
Pig farm in Brazil equipped with Rotecna products. Photo: RotecnaPress
6
Over the last year, The Brazilian pork sector has seen the total value of its exports grow by 17% to 1,600 million dollars, although the amount of meat exported fell by 4.4%,
according to data published by the ABPA. This situation derives from competitive prices on the international market, the outbreaks of PED all over the world and, mainly, from the Russian ban on pig meat from Western countries like the United States, Canada and the members of the European Union, which has enabled Brazil to increase its pig meat sales on the Russian market exponentially.
with the same period of the previous year. According to the ABPA report, the explanation for this situation is the truck drivers’ strike the country has suffered, and which has limited the rate of exports.
STATE
PRODUCTION
SC
25,10%
RS
19,30%
PR
17,00%
MG
13,70%
MT
6,00%
By countries, the main markets for Brazilian pig meat in 2014 were Russia (37.7%), Hong Kong (22.4%), Angola (10.6%), Singapore (6.5%) and Uruguay (4.2%) (Table 2). The fall in exports to Ukraine over the last year was notable. This was due to the difficult and unstable political situation that country is going through. Thus, while Ukraine was the third destination in volume of pig meat exports from Brazil in 2013, in 2014 these fell by 90%. Finally, Japan, South Africa and South Korea are among the markets where Brazilian pig meat producers want to increase their presence.
GO
5,00%
Domestic consumption
SP
5,00%
MS
3,30%
One of the sector’s main challenges is to increase the consumption of
OTHERS
5,60%
Table 1: Pig production in Brazil by states.
Source: ABPA
In this sense, Russia was the main outlet for pork from Brazil, with the purchase of 38.33% more meat than in 2013, up to 186,500 tonnes, a figure that is 37.7% of Brazilian pig meat exports last year. On the other hand, although the forecast for 2015 is for and increase on 2% in the volume of exports, given the expectations for continuing growth of sales on the Russian market and the opening of new markets, over the first two months of the year, Brazilian exports have suffered a fall of 24% compared
Table 2: Main destinations for pig meat exports from Brazil.
COUNTRY
VOLUME
RUSIA
37,75%
HONG KONG
22,44%
ANGOLA
10,58%
SINGAPUR
6,53%
URUGUAY
4,22%
GEORGIA
1,74%
CHILE
1,69%
ARGENTINA
1,61%
MOLDAVIA
1,18%
ALBANIA
1,18%
OTHERS
11,06%
Source: ABPA
At the end of April, the Ministers of Agriculture of Denmark, Germany, Holland and Sweden signed a document with improvements in the EU norms on the welfare of pigs. This document was presented to the Agriculture Council of the European Union in May. The document includes improvements and changes in the current legislation regarding tale docking, chemical castration, the housing of sows and gestation crates. According to the four signees, the most recent modification of the norms on pig welfare dates from 2001 and since then, there have been many scientific studies, technological advances and economic-social tendencies that are not envisage din the current norms. For tail docking, the report proposes that this should not be done systematically but only when it is shown to be a necessary practice. In this sense, it also proposes enlarging the area per pig, to minimise the attempts at attacks between animals
and improvements in floors and elements to gnaw on. Regarding chemical castration, they propose that if this cannot be totally eliminated before 2018 due to the lack of acceptance by the consumer, that there should be a prolonged use of anaesthesia and analgesia.
To date, the United Kingdom has commented on these proposals and backs two of the four questions presented: the prolonged use of anaesthesia and analgesia in chemical castration and the extension of time the sows can be housed in groups. Two measures that the pig sector in the United Kingdom is already applying.
During the discussion of these proposals in the Council of Ministers of Agriculture of the European Union in May, while some delegations supported this initiative, others indicated that the equality of treatment between the EU and nonEU producers must be guaranteed and gave priority to a better application of the current legislation.
On the question of group housing of sows, it is proposed to extend the time for this type of housing from weaning until one week before farrowing. The most recent norms (1 January 2013), establish that the sows should be housed in groups except for the 4 weeks after insemination and one week before farrowing. Finally, regarding the question of extending the gestation crates there is no definitive proposal, as although the report states that the crates restrict the welfare of the sows, a wider system of housing them increases the risk of the piglets being crushed.
Gestation room. Photo: RotecnaPress.
EU increases pork exports in first quarter 2015 Pork exports from the European Union rose by around 8.7% to reach 709,522 tonnes during the first quarter of this year. The other leading exporting countries, meanwhile, saw their numbers fall. This was the case of the United States, which recorded a 10% drop to 525,977 tonnes and Canada, with a 1% reduction to 280,842 tonnes. In this start of year, the European Union had the advantage of
dollar-euro parity, which allowed it to be more competitive on the international market and boost exports in spite of the Russian embargo. 31% of this year’s Community sales to date were made to China, which consolidated its position as the leading European pork customer. Exports to South Korea rose by around 61% . On the other hand, sales to the EU’s third- and
fourth-largest markets were down: Hong Kong by 29% and Japan by 7% . Although the trend was positive, not every country saw its exports rise. In Spain, exports grew by around 46 % between January and February compared to the same months in 2014, coming in at 72,000 tonnes, or 16% of the total exported by the European Union in this period.
E xpor t s were als o up in Germany, which recorded an 11% rise to 110,0 0 0 tonnes, and Belgium, where the figures grew by 5 % to 13,000 tonnes. However, some countries saw a signif icant f all in e xpor t s . Figures were down by around 48 % in Poland, mainly due to the Rus sian embargo. Italy ( -16 % ) , France (-9 % ) , Netherlands and Denmark (-1%) also recorded falls in exports.
7
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