 |
||
| Contact Us | CPEPC Website | |
|
McDonald's US Exploring Cage-Free Egg Production All Imported Eggs Free Of Salmonella - Denmark UEP: Implications Of Hen Cage Ban - USA Takeover: World's Largest Poultry Processor - Brazil CFIA Decodes Genetic Makeup Of H1N1 In Swine Technical Services Manager – Canada Conferences, Courses and Workshops
Robin Horel, President and CEO of Canadian Poultry & Egg Processors Council (CPEPC) is pleased to announce that CPEPC and the Association of Ontario Chicken Processors (AOCP) are joining forces in order to increase the support and resources available to CPEPC members. Historically, CPEPC and AOCP staff has worked closely together on several issues and so formalizing a working arrangement between CPEPC and AOCP is a logical evolution. Further, through the recruitment of an additional staff member that will provide support to both organizations, the overall level of resources and expertise available to both organizations will increase. Through the arrangement, Kevin Thompson, Executive Director of the AOCP will assume responsibility for the management of CPEPC’s chicken sector. Kevin will also remain in his current role with AOCP. Kevin will assume the title of Manager, Chicken Sector in his role with CPEPC in which he will spend approximately fifty percent of his time. Robin’s plans call for Giuseppe Caminiti’s role as Market Information Manager for Chicken sector issues to be phased out to allow him to assume the role of Manager, Turkey Sector in addition to his ongoing role as Manager of CPEPC’s Hatchery Sector. Robin will also reduce his own involvement in CPEPC’s Chicken Sector in order to allow him the opportunity to spend more time on CPEPC’s other sectors (Eggs, Turkey, and Hatchery) and the ability to place greater emphasis on government relations and other strategic priorities of CPEPC. The last piece of the arrangement will see the AOCP retain an additional staff member with an emphasis in data management and analytical skills and who will support both CPEPC and AOCP activities. Chairman Paul Borg stated that, “the members of CPEPC’s chicken sector felt strongly they needed to increase the staff resources available to their sector. Kevin’s leadership and breadth of knowledge and experience in the industry will now be available to chicken processors across Canada. We believe Kevin is the perfect fit for this role. As importantly, Robin will now have the opportunity to step back from day to day operational issues in the chicken sector and more fully implement Council’s government relations and other strategic priorities while also enabling him to devote more time in support of the other sectors of CPEPC.” “We know that in Robin and Kevin we have two very experienced and competent leaders. This arrangement between CPEPC and AOCP will provide tremendous benefit to not only chicken processors in Canada but also to all members of the CPEPC”, said René Proulx, CEO of Exceldor coopérative avicole, in Lévis, QC, and CPEPC Director from Council’s Chicken Sector. The arrangement between CPEPC and AOCP will become effective on June 1, 2009 with Robin and Kevin working together on a gradual transition of chicken sector activities to Kevin over the summer months. For more information please contact Robin Horel (613) 724-6605 or at robinhorel@cpepc.ca. Moncton Convention It is just over a week away from the start of our convention in Moncton. Numbers of participants for the convention and the golf tournament have held up well considering the economic times. There is still time to register if you decide to attend. It will be a great convention with lots in store for all participants. Convention registration will close at 4:00 PM EDT on June 1st to allow printing, assembly and shipping of badges and setting of golf foursomes.
McDonald's US Exploring Cage-Free Egg Production McDonald's is teaming with one of its primary egg suppliers, Cargill Inc., and several animal welfare scientists to conduct a commercial-scale study of housing alternatives for hens, including cage-free and "enriched housing". The latter involves cages, nests and perches for the birds. McDonald's plans to use eggs produced during the study in its US restaurants and says the project will be producing eggs, including cage-free eggs, by 2011. Joining McDonald's and Cargill are researchers from Michigan State University; UC Davis; the American Veterinary Medical Assn.; the U.S. Department of Agriculture; the American Humane Assn.; and the Center for Food Integrity. It is reported that the coalition of researchers will take a broad look at sustainable egg production, including examining environmental effects and worker welfare in hen houses. "There's a very compelling need for a study of this scope," said Marie Wheatley, president and CEO, American Humane Association. "While scientists indicate there are benefits for laying hen birds to be able to demonstrate more natural behaviors associated with a cage-free environment, there are open questions on other animal welfare matters such as feather pecking and mortality rates." "Globally, McDonald's supports cage and cage-free housing as long as they meet our animal welfare guiding principles," said Bob Langert, McDonald's vice president, Corporate Social Responsibility. "And, with the Coalition's research, we will have science-based egg sustainability facts to guide our decisions towards promoting continuous improvement in these important areas." The Humane Society has submitted a resolution to McDonald's shareholders to adopt a policy mandating phased-in use of cage-free eggs. McDonald's has made no such commitment. But it said in a federal securities filing that it "supports the use by our suppliers of both cage and cage-free housing for egg-laying hens." www.worldpoultry.net All Imported Eggs Free Of Salmonella - Denmark Denmark has received a special allowance from the EU to require all egg imports to be free of salmonella, reports the Copenhagen Post. EU health authorities have reportedly approved a Danish application for ‘special status’ that will ensure all eggs imported to the country are guaranteed by their distributors as being 100% salmonella-free. Eva Kjer Hansen, the food and veterinary minister, called the approval from Brussels a ‘breakthrough’, adding that Denmark would also be seeking special status for chicken imports as well. According to Statens Serum Institut, the national disease control centre, 3,700 Danes suffered from salmonella-related illnesses in 2008 and that four people have died of salmonella poisoning since October. www.worldpoultry.net
UEP: Implications Of Hen Cage Ban - USA At the IEC London Conference held in March, Gene Gregory, President of United Egg Producers (UEP) in the US, spoke about the consequences of banning cages in California. He discussed with delegates how this decision has affected the local industry, and also addressed the wider implications this will now have on the rest of the US, and ultimately the international egg industry as a whole. UEP members produce eggs from the full variety of systems; cage, cage-free and organic. Gregory stressed that UEP supports the consumer’s right to choose; that consumers should have the right to “vote with their wallets”. He went on to say that UEP believes that retailers and consumers should not be forced to limit their egg purchases to those from only cage-free systems. He stressed that the ban of caged eggs in California will not stop people from eating eggs from caged hens, but it will stop the Californian egg farmers from producing them. Consumers, retailers and food service companies will be forced to purchase these eggs from out of state, or ultimately out of country. Currently, the demand for caged eggs has not reduced. Gregory told the IEC audience that he believes that the vote in California to ban cage eggs was based on emotion rather than science. He agreed that the free-range system did provide the advantage of freedom of movement, but he also pointed out some disadvantages. UEP gives its full support to animal welfare guidelines that are produced scientifically. Gene explained that UEP’s aim is to see the implementation of such scientific guidelines; guidelines that are driven by the industry, based on scientific fact, rather than created by government mandates or non-government lobbying organisations. He shared his personal beliefs and opinions regarding animal lobbying groups; he believes that animal welfare activist groups are using “market intimidation” to force suppliers and retailers to follow their guidelines. It is Gregory's opinion that the Humane Society of the US is one of the most powerful organisations in the US today; this is because it is so successful in its use of the power of emotional persuasion. Gene argues that these groups deliberately use emotional language and powerful images to get mass public support for their causes. Gregory concluded his presentation by urging the egg industry as a whole to take action and tell its story, putting farming facts forward using unbiased scientific studies. He explained that UEP has already began working towards this; it is currently working with the American Veterinarian Association and other animal welfare associations and organisations, exploring options for science based animal welfare guidelines. www.worldpoultry.net Takeover: World's Largest Poultry Processor - Brazil Brazil’s largest food company Perdigao SA has agreed to take over its rival Sadia SA. This transaction will result in the world’s largest poultry processor by market value, reportedly overtaking Tyson Foods. Perdigao will change its name to BRF Brasil Foods SA and incorporate Sadia shares owned by HFF Participacoes SA, a holding company formed by investors who have more than 51% of Sadia’s voting stock. The new company will also sell 4 bln reais ($1.94 bln) of shares, reports Bloomberg. The new company would be the No. 10 food company in the Americas, according to Economatica, with $11 bln in annual revenue, and Brazil's largest employer, with more than 110,000 workers. It said it plans to focus on international expansion, including into the US and China, reports The Wall Street Journal. Combining the two companies will generate 2 bln reais of cost savings in distribution and production, according to Denise Messer, an equity analyst at Brascan Corretora in Rio de Janeiro. The two companies estimate that the potential cost savings could be as much as double that figure. www.worldpoultry.net
CFIA Decodes Genetic Makeup Of H1N1 In Swine OTTAWA, May 15, 2009 - Scientists at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency's (CFIA) National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease (NCFAD) have mapped the full genetic sequence of the virus found in swine from Alberta-a development that will help scientists around the world better understand the virus and its affects on animals. Influenza viruses do not affect the safety of properly handled and cooked pork. In close collaboration with their colleagues at Canada's National Microbiology Laboratory, CFIA scientists now have a complete picture of the virus detected in swine on an Alberta farm. This validates early test results and confirms that the virus found in the pigs is the same as the virus causing illness in humans around the world. The CFIA will share the diagnostic methods developed to identify the novel H1N1 influenza in swine with provinces and territories, international agencies and other countries to facilitate surveillance and detection activities. Researchers are now focusing on how the H1N1 flu virus affects swine. Although more study is needed, early observations suggest that infected animals become sick and recover naturally, just as they would if exposed to influenza viruses commonly seen in swine herds at a global level. Ongoing CFIA research is examining whether or not other animals are susceptible to the virus. This information may be used to refine disease prevention and control measures. Studies are also underway to assess the effectiveness of current vaccines, and to develop better and faster diagnostic methods. CFC is pleased to announce that Chicken Feeds - the new Chicken Farmers of Canada blog - is now live at http://www.chickenfeeds.ca. It will cover a variety of topics, including food safety, cooking tips, nutrition, recipes and industry news. Everyone is invited to visit the new site and provide feedback.
Technical Services Manager – Canada
Due to the growth of our business in Canada, we seek an additional Technical Services Manager to support our increasing Canadian customer base. You will work with the Canadian industry to address technical issues and develop plans which will enable customers to optimize the performance and profitability of our products. You will work closely with commercial colleagues and also with specialists who can provide support in the areas of nutrition and veterinary health to deliver a comprehensive and effective service to our customers. The ideal candidate will possess a thorough knowledge of poultry management at the breeder, broiler and hatchery level. It is most important to have strong problem solving skills, computer knowledge and the ability to work closely with the Canadian Poultry industry. If you are interested in contributing to this exciting and growing area of the business, please send your resume/CV to careers@aviagen.com. Closing date for applications: July 17, 2009 Conferences, Courses and Workshops
The CPEPC office will close at noon on Fridays from June 12 through Sept. 4. As in previous years senior staff will be available on their cell phones and Blackberry for things that require immediate attention. Next Highlighter edition will be June 19 - See you in Moncton! |
||
Aviagen
is the world’s leading poultry breeding company, with wholly owned
operations across Europe, the USA, Latin America and Australia and a
number of joint ventures in Europe, Asia, South Africa and Turkey.
Our product portfolio is recognized as the largest and strongest in
the world. Our continued business growth is driven by a
comprehensive R & D program, designed to ensure that our products
and services remain at the leading edge in the global and domestic
marketplace.
OFAC and Egg Farmers of Ontario are once again hosting their annual
Jim Johnstone Golf Tournament on Tuesday June 16th, 2009 at Springfield Golf & Country
Club, 2054 Gordon St., Guelph, ON. Proceeds from the
tournament will support the Jim Johnstone Young Ambassador Training
& Experience Program, which helps young people become better
spokespeople for agriculture. To register, call the OFAC
office at 519 837-1326 or visit