Livestock analyst Jim Wyckoff stories on world protein information
9 June 2024
11 minute learn
Iowa detects first case of H5N1 in dairy cattle
A case of H5N1 virus was detected in a dairy herd in O’Brien Co., Iowa, based on the state’s agriculture division. USDA’s Animal and Plant Well being Inspection Service (APHIS) has beforehand confirmed over 80 dairy instances of H5N1 in South Dakota, Texas, Ohio, North Carolina, Michigan, Kansas, Idaho, New Mexico and Colorado. Iowa’s ag division additionally mentioned that genomic sequencing of the virus discovered at a Sioux County mega flock of layer hens was “in step with the variant recognized in affected dairies in different states.” Genomic sequencing on the virus pressure at a Cherokee Co. turkey flock or the O’Brien Co. dairy herd has not but been accomplished.
Human dies from HPAI in Mexico
The World Well being Group (WHO) mentioned a human demise was attributable to the primary laboratory-confirmed case of an infection with a subtype (H5N2) of extremely pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). The 59-year-old resident of Mexico died on April 24 after creating signs related to the virus. The sufferer had no historical past of publicity to poultry or different animals, WHO mentioned. The particular person had persistent kidney illness and sort 2 diabetes, and had been bedridden for 3 weeks previous to the onset of acute signs, WHO mentioned. The H5N2 pressure concerned on this case is completely different from the H5N1 pressure presently affecting dairy herds in the US.
Germany confirms case of ASF
A case of African swine fever (ASF) has been confirmed on a pig breeding farm in Greifswald within the jap state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, the state’s ag ministry mentioned. China and different international locations banned imports of German pork in 2020 after an ASF outbreak within the nation. China’s import ban stays in place.
USDA’s technique towards chook flu in dairy cattle
The technique entails figuring out contaminated herds and permitting the virus to die out naturally inside them, USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack acknowledged. Assured of their understanding of the virus and its transmission, USDA goals to comprise the virus inside contaminated herds till it dissipates.
The H5N1 avian flu virus was first confirmed in dairy cattle within the Texas panhandle on March 25 and unfold to eight different states by April 25, with no new states reporting outbreaks since. There have been three instances of cattle-to-human infections amongst dairy farmworkers, with one case in Michigan involving respiratory signs. The CDC confirmed that H5N1 stays an avian virus with low danger to most of the people, however suggested protecting measures for these in touch with contaminated animals.
USDA requires testing of lactating cows for chook flu earlier than interstate delivery and provides monetary incentives to dairy farms for improved biosecurity. A voluntary program for weekly testing of milk samples from bulk storage tanks on dairy farms can be being launched to collect extra information. Thus far, H5N1 has been confirmed in 80 herds throughout 9 states, with Michigan having essentially the most contaminated herds at 23.
Over the weekend, the Iowa state Agriculture Division mentioned extremely pathogenic avian influenza was found on a turkey farm in Cherokee County in northwest Iowa. It was the second outbreak in per week in Iowa. The opposite was an egg farm with 4.2 million hens. Chook flu has killed 96.6 million birds, largely hens and turkeys, in U.S. home flocks since outbreaks started in February 2022, based on a USDA database.
USDA proposed a rule on Monday to ban poultry processors from making deductions from the bottom costs listed in contracts with growers. This transfer, reported on Monday on Profarmer.com, is geared toward addressing abuses within the “event system,” which determines farmers’ income and imposes calls for for extra investments of their services.
Andy Inexperienced, USDA competitors adviser, emphasised that the rule is meant to make sure equity for poultry growers and shoppers. It goals to supply a transparent base worth in contracts, guarantee truthful comparisons within the event system, and stop coercive funding calls for on growers. Below the proposal, processors may nonetheless award bonuses to top-performing growers however couldn’t make deductions from the bottom worth. They’d even be required to conduct truthful comparisons of growers.
The Marketing campaign for Contract Agriculture Reform praised the proposal as a step towards equity in poultry contracting practices.
The Nationwide Hen Council opposed the rule, calling it “anti-business” and warning it could improve prices and stifle innovation.
The proposal will bear a 60-day remark interval after its publication within the Federal Register inside the subsequent seven to 10 days.
Moreover, USDA launched a brand new information visualization instrument, the Livestock Obligatory Reporting Stay Cattle Knowledge Dashboard, which goals to supply an easy-to-understand view of cattle market data.
Regardless of restrictions, robust demand for U.S. beef in Colombia
Colombia is the one buying and selling accomplice to impose restrictions on imports of U.S. beef on account of extremely pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) being detected in some lactating dairy cows. Homero Recio ), U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) Latin America consultant, explains that Colombia presently won’t settle for beef from any of the 9 states impacted by HPAI. Nonetheless, Recio stories that the U.S. {industry} is doing its finest to beat this commerce barrier and meet the wants of Colombian clients by sourcing beef from eligible states. He provides that regardless of Colombia’s restrictions, the enterprise local weather for U.S. purple meat stays favorable, with robust demand from the retail and foodservice sectors.
Present avian influenza outbreak is ‘best menace’ to the home egg {industry}
The menace follows virus detections in large flocks, based on United Egg Producers President and CEO Chad Gregory. “On-farm biosecurity is at its most stringent ranges, and regardless of these strong precautionary measures, the egg {industry} has misplaced flocks to [bird flu] in current weeks,” Gregory instructed Politico in an announcement. “This can be a unhappy and troublesome time for affected farmers, who should act swiftly to forestall the unfold of the illness and undergo an intensive restoration course of.” A large flock of over 4.2 million egg-laying chickens in Iowa was detected to have chook flu final week.
Past Meat, which skilled a meteoric rise when it went public in 2019, now going through vital challenges
There are gross sales declines and issues concerning the healthfulness and value of plant-based meats are rising, based on an article in the Los Angeles Instances. Regardless of preliminary success and widespread adoption, {industry} gross sales have fallen, with Past Meat’s web income dropping by over 25% to $343 million in 2023 and persevering with to say no into 2024.
Past Meat founder and CEO Ethan Brown acknowledged the difficulties, stating, “The trough has been a troublesome place to be the final couple of years.” To fight these challenges, the corporate has launched a brand new burger formulation with decreased saturated fats and sodium, aiming to enhance each style and dietary profile. This new product has obtained endorsements from the American Diabetes Affiliation and Good Housekeeping, which can function on its labeling.
John Baumgartner, an analyst at Mizuho Securities, famous, “I give credit score the place it’s due. I feel they’ve made some clear enhancements within the components and dietary profile, so there’s clear progress there.” Regardless of these developments, Past Meat faces stiff competitors from Unattainable Meals and skepticism from shoppers concerning the well being advantages of plant-based meats.
Gross sales of plant-based meats and seafood fell 12% in 2023, and Past Meat’s inventory has plummeted over 90% from its peak in 2019. The corporate’s monetary struggles have led to issues about its money place, prompting discussions about elevating funds by way of debt or fairness.
Critics, together with nutritionists and industry-funded campaigns, have highlighted the extremely processed nature of plant-based meats. James Bowers, govt director of the Middle for Shopper Freedom, acknowledged, “Customers have seen previous the advertising and marketing spin and realized that these merchandise are simply ultraprocessed goop that prices extra and isn’t more healthy than actual meat.”
In response, Brown emphasised the significance of adjusting the notion of plant-based meats, saying, “As soon as that narrative turned difficult for folks due to misinformation or no matter, it turned more durable to develop the enterprise. We’ve addressed that completely on this product.” Regardless of the challenges, Past Meat stays dedicated to bettering its merchandise and sustaining its presence out there.
The corporate is hopeful that its new burger, which incorporates more healthy components like avocado oil and a mixture of peas, purple lentils, faba beans, and brown rice, will assist flip its fortunes round. Nonetheless, it has additionally raised the value of its new burgers to $6.99 for an eight-ounce pack, a transfer Baumgartner questioned given the earlier worth cuts throughout inflationary intervals.
Backside line: Past Meat’s efforts to regain its market place come amid a broader {industry} downturn and rising competitors, each domestically and internationally. The corporate continues to innovate and adapt, betting that improved merchandise and strategic changes will assist it reclaim its sizzle within the plant-based meat market.
USDA proposed rule on poultry cost techniques clears OMB
USDA’s proposed rule on Poultry Grower Cost Methods and Capital Enchancment Methods was cleared by the Workplace of Administration and Price range (OMB) after a number of months of evaluate. The rule, submitted to OMB on Dec. 18, 2023, goals to handle points equivalent to cost disparities, reductions unrelated to flock efficiency, and transparency in capital investments in poultry manufacturing. Throughout the evaluate, conferences had been held with the Nationwide Hen Council and the Marketing campaign for Contract Agriculture Reform. It’s unsure whether or not the USDA will announce this rule instantly or anticipate the completion of the OMB evaluate of one other proposed rule regarding unfair practices underneath the Packers and Stockyards Act.
China blocks beef shipments from two U.S. services
This information comes from USDA’s Meals Security and Inspection Service (FSIS). The affected services are Swift Beef Firm in Greeley, Colorado, and Cool Port Oakland in Oakland, California. The delisting, efficient Might 27, is reportedly as a consequence of traces of ractopamine present in beef from the Greeley plant, as acknowledged by JBS. JBS, the world’s largest meat processor, mentioned it’s cooperating with U.S. and Chinese language authorities to resolve the problem. No different JBS beef crops within the U.S. have been affected. Ractopamine is a controversial feed additive used to advertise lean muscle progress in animals, however it’s banned in lots of international locations together with China as a consequence of meals security issues.
Along side the JBS suspension, USDA additionally reported that meat and poultry merchandise originating from Cool Port Oakland, a chilly storage facility in Oakland, California, had been barred from export to China efficient Might 27. Cool Port Oakland is a serious hub for storing and delivery perishable items like meat and prescription drugs.
China lifts ban on extra Aussie beef exporters, permits some Russian beef imports
China lifted bans on imports from 5 main Australian beef processing services, the Australian authorities mentioned. China has eliminated restrictions for eight Australian beef crops, whereas two are nonetheless banned from making shipments. China was Australia’s second greatest beef export market final yr, receiving 240,000 MT price round $1.6 billion, based on Australian commerce information. China can even enable imports of Russian beef from cattle underneath 30 months of age, whereas allowing shipments of by-products together with frozen beef tendons and hoofs, abdomen and cartilage.
Reuters: USDA is proposing to permit bulk testing of milk, fairly than testing milk from particular person cows, earlier than approving shipments
This proposal follows a requirement from late April that lactating cows take a look at unfavourable for extremely pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) earlier than being transported throughout state strains. A pilot program for bulk testing may begin in June, with officers in six states reviewing the plan.
The Worldwide Dairy Meals Affiliation (IDFA) helps the initiative, stating it may assist scale back the specter of H5N1 in dairy herds, shield farm employees, and safe the milk provide. Farmers favor bulk testing as it’s extra environment friendly for big herds.
To take part, bulk tanks should have three consecutive weeks of unfavourable checks. As soon as authorized, farms would then have to proceed weekly bulk tank testing to keep up eligibility for interstate motion with out particular person animal testing.
Nonetheless, some query whether or not three weeks of testing is enough earlier than permitting bulk testing as a substitute of particular person animal testing. There are additionally issues concerning the logistics of implementing the majority testing program, equivalent to how samples will likely be collected, shipped, and examined at authorized laboratories.
USDA US beef, pork export gross sales
Beef: Internet gross sales of 14,500 MT for 2024 had been down 8 % from the earlier week and 11 % from the prior 4-week common. Will increase had been primarily for South Korea (6,000 MT, together with decreases of 400 MT), Japan (3,400 MT, together with decreases of 500 MT), Mexico (1,400 MT, together with decreases of 100 MT), Canada (1,000 MT, together with decreases of 100 MT), and Taiwan (900 MT, together with decreases of 200 MT). Exports of 15,300 MT had been down 5 % from the earlier week and 6 % from the prior 4-week common. The locations had been primarily to Japan (4,300 MT), South Korea (3,200 MT), China (2,300 MT), Taiwan (1,500 MT), and Canada (1,300 MT).
Pork: Internet gross sales of 29,900 MT for 2024 had been down 33 % from the earlier week, however up 3 % from the prior 4-week common. Will increase primarily for China (8,900 MT, together with decreases of 100 MT), Mexico (8,300 MT, together with decreases of 300 MT), Japan (3,400 MT, together with decreases of 300 MT), South Korea (2,800 MT, together with decreases of 500 MT), and Canada (1,800 MT, together with decreases of 600 MT), had been offset by reductions for Taiwan (200 MT). Exports of 34,400 MT had been down 1 % from the earlier week, however unchanged from the prior 4-week common. The locations had been primarily to Mexico (16,100 MT), Japan (5,100 MT), South Korea (3,600 MT), China (3,000 MT), and Canada (1,400 MT).
