🤔📈 Did you know that natural betaine acts as an osmolyte? That means it regulates the osmotic concentration within cells and thus, helps pigs in challenging conditions such as heat stress (it particularly supports sows) and post-weaning (it improves gut functionality and productivity). In a nutshell, betaine supports intestinal cell growth and survival as well as enhances cell activity, thereby potentially influencing nutrient digestibility.
- In addition, dry natural betaine has the potential ...
🇺🇲📃 Thankfully, pork suppliers were granted a relief with an additional six months to sell in California their inventory that is not compliant with Prop 12 (that product must be produced prior to July 1 and sold before December 31 – more about it here). Nevertheless, questions still remain…
- While pork simply transiting California doesn't have to comply, is the enforcement of Prop 12 still going to impact shipments and ports?
- Not all documentation travels physically with the product, so what...
Despite playing a significant role in the fermentation of dietary nutrients, the cecum and its effects on the metabolism and health of pigs are poorly understood. With that in mind, in this episode, Dr. Burkey discusses a study he worked on aimed at developing a cecectomized pig model in order to evaluate the cecum microbial community structure in cecectomized finisher pigs which were fed a high-fiber diet (soy hulls).
Meet the guest
Dr. Tom Burkey
Experience
○ Current: Interim ...
🇪🇺🇧🇷 The deal between the EU and Mercosur has been on hold due to concerns about the deforestation of the Amazon and Brazil's commitment to actions against climate change. While the situation is on the road to change with the new Brazilian president and his underway environment-friendly policies, the EU has sent an additional letter to Mercosur. President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva claims the content of such a letter punishes any country that didn't comply with the Paris Agreement, which is unacc...
🦠🔮 In a new study, researchers from North Carolina State University used an epidemiological computer model called PigSpread to understand how African Swine Fever (ASF) might spread among swine farms in the case of an outbreak in the southeastern US. In a nutshell, here's what they found:
- Between-farm movements accounted for the vast majority of the transmissions in the simulations.
- Control actions, specifically a combination of quarantine, depopulation, movement restrictions, contact tracing...
📊 By the end of last week, Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) hog futures were weaker on follow-through selling after a sharp decline. Nevertheless, pork export sales rose. As for feeder cattle contracts, they rallied on Friday and had their second day of gains, as weakening corn prices cut into feed costs and boosted profit margins at packers. In need of more numbers? Find them here.
🥵 To the pigs, to the producers, to the crops… The US Midwest is facing the worst drought since 2012 – which despite mild temperatures, has expanded over the past week as the lack of rain across the heart of the American farm belt threatened newly seeded corn and soybean crops.
🌽🌾 This dry start to the US summer crop season has raised concerns over the potential harvest shortfalls. It's no surprise that corn and soybean prices soared to multi-month highs, although both crops can still rebound w...