MARKET
China's layer industry is characterised by the mass culling of layers when low egg prices kill off profitability and the swift expansion of inventories when tightened egg supplies boost profits. In the past ten years,China's layer industry went through three rounds of such cycle.
From having the perennial problem of egg oversupply and weak prices, Thailand is battling the opposite this year - a shortage of supply and skyrocketing prices. We look into how this reversal has happened in a year's time and how it is impacting the market.
A usually vibrant business, the hog industry nowadays is - in an apt description - in a lull. Following a tumultuous 2009, the country's biggest livestock sector has taken severe beatings from the dreaded diseases and the wrath of climate change.
SUPPLY CHAIN
Now ranked as the ninth largest animal health group globally, CEVA Sante Animale retains its spirit of being a small- to medium-sized enterprise by not losing sight of its key partners - the farmers, livestock producers and veterinarians.
INDUSTRY
Tyson plans poultry expansion in Brazil; Tetra Pak, HFL to form dairy hub; GFPT joint venture gears up to process chicken; Thailand's Prantalay expects sales growth this year; Carlyle to invest in China Fishery Group.
BinMaster introduces new vibrating rod for higher temperature processes; Big Dutchman launches new feed flow product.
Aviagen announces changes in technical team; Aker Seafoods appoints new CEO.
LIVESTOCK HEALTH
Prevalence of Salmonella differs between layers and broilers. We look into the factors influencing the prevalence of chicken-associated Salmonella such as feeds and growth environment, transportation process, and chick sources.
MEAT OPERATION
It is increasingly recognised that genetic selection for improved feed conversion efficiency, growth and muscle yields has resulted in alterations in ante- and post-mortem muscle status. We look into how this affects the processing quality of meat.
COLD CUTS
MEAT & LIVESTOCK Business Asia spoke with Nackanun Chitaroon, whose association comprises about 90 companies involved in the production and/or distribution of animal health products, to assess the industry's contribution to the overall goal of improving food safety.
