Feedstuffs in Focus

Global demographics are rapidly changing. Global population is rapidly shifting. Countries like China are ramping up pork production. What about the aging of the population in general and how might that impact demand for pork products in the future? It is no longer about how we feed the world but rather what does the world want from us.

Hosts for this episode are Sarah Muirhead of Feedstuffs and Mark Huslebus of Alltech. Todd Thurman, President of Swine Insights International, joins as their guest. Thurman spends a lot of time in China and other international markets and shares a very insightful and unique perspective on the global pork industry and U.S. industry’s role in that global network. 

Feedstuffs Pork Nation is brought to you by Alltech. Alltech delivers smarter, more sustainable solutions for agriculture through a diverse portfolio of products and services.Contact the Alltech Pork Team or visit go.alltech.com/swine-research to learn more.

Don't miss an episode of Feedstuffs Pork Nation. Sign-up now in your favorite podcast channel.  

 

Last week, California dairy producers requested that the State of California use its authority to ban all cattle coming into California from HPIA-infected states until further notice. Following the industry's request for additional action, the California Department of Food & Agriculture increased its health certificate requirements. Those requirements were effective immediately. What does this mean for those looking to ship cattle into the state as well as for dairy producers in California? What protection might this provide to California herds? 

Joining us in the episode to talk about the avian influenza in dairy cattle situation in California and nationwide is Western United Dairies CEO Anja Raudabaugh. 

In addition to discussing the new restrictions on dairy cattle coming into California, we discuss how the virus is possibly being spread, what things dairy producers should keep an eye out for in their herds and how best to responsibly communicate the evolving situation. 

This episode is sponsored by United Animal Health, a leader in animal health and nutrition. You can learn more about United Animal Health and how they are working to advance animal science worldwide by visiting the website at UnitedANH.com

Of the food we grow annually, 40% is lost or wasted. Globally, food loss and waste is responsible for 10% of greenhouse gas emissions. At the same time, rates of food insecurity continue to skyrocket. In 2022, nearly 828 million people faced acute food insecurity, an increase of more than 60% since 2019.These numbers are only expected to grow. So are there opportunities and for that matter reasons to disrupt the linear model of our current food system? 

In this episode of Feedstuffs in Focus, we revisit a presentation that Pete Pearson, Senior Director, Food Loss and Waste for the World Wildlife Fund, gave as part of our recent Food Waste to Animal Feed Virtual Conference. He talks about the introduction of circularity into food cultivation and production. Circularity considers the entire life cycle of food, including its societal and environmental costs, and supports alternative models for waste prevention and upcycling.

View our recent Food Waste to Animal Feed Virtual Conference in its entirety, click on this link  or visit Feedstuffs.com

This episode has been sponsored by United Animal Health, a leader in animal health and nutrition. You can learn more about United Animal Health and how they are working to advance animal science worldwide by visiting the website at UnitedANH.com

Novus International, Inc., announced its acquisition of enzyme company BioResource International, Inc., also known as BRI, in March. Under the terms of the agreement, NOVUS became the owner of all BRI’s products and intellectual property and takes control of the company’s facilities.

In making the announcement, the leader in intelligent nutrition cited supply chain optimization, product diversification, and innovation as reasons behind the deal.

In today’s episode of the Feedstuffs in Focus, we talk with NOVUS President and CEO Dan Meagher about the recent acquisition of BRI and his company’s plans.


 

Food waste and loss are a growing concern around the world. Food left in the fields. Food not pretty enough for supermarket display cases. The list goes on and on. All too often perfectly good food ends up in landfills or is left to rot in the field. But, is there a role for animal agriculture when it comes to possibly providing a solution to the food waste situation and, if so, what might that look like? 

Joining us in the episode of Feedstuffs in Focus to talk about food waste as an alternative animal feed ingredient is Dr. Jerry Shurson of the University of Minnesota. We also discuss a free online conference focused on fostering a discussion around the challenges and opportunities related to food waste for livestock. That conference is hosted by the University of Minnesota, University of Pennsylvania, Drexel University and Feedstuffs with the goal of communicating and educating those in the feed and feeding industries globally about the value of food waste for livestock in the backdrop of food, climate, and sustainability challenges.

The conference will be held March 26, 27 and 28. Attendee registration for this free event is recommended.

Conference sponsors include the North American Renderers Association, World Wildlife Fund, International Ingredients Corp., American Feed Industry Association and the US Grains Council. This conference is also supported by a USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Competitive Grant. 



 

2023 was a year marked with numerous challenges for the pork industry but along with those challenges came opportunity. Opportunity to step back and reevaluate. Opportunity to have conversations that needed to be had with government regulators and policymakers. Opportunity to move forward with the continued objective of making the world a better place for the industry and consumers overall. The good news is that this year is looking to be stronger thanks in part to the long-standing resiliency and commitment of the pork industry. 

Joining Feedstuffs’ Ann Hess in this episode of Feedstuffs in Focus to discuss the state of the hog industry is Brian Humphreys, CEO of the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC). We caught up with Brian during the National Pork Industry Forum in Chicago.

The pork industry took a proactive step to protect animal health and producers’ livelihoods this week with the approval of a resolution aimed at enhancing the country’s live swine traceability system. The goal of the new standards is that of better controlling the spread of a foreign animal disease and lessening the economic impact of an outbreak should one occur. 

Joining Feedstuffs’ Ann Hess in this episode to discuss the importance of controlling foreign animal disease in our nation’s swine herd is Dr. Anna Forseth, Director of Animal Health for the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC). In her role, Anna is the liaison between the pork industry and the government on pre-harvest animal health and public health issues. We caught up with Anna at this week’s National Pork Industry Forum. 

This episode is being brought to you by United Animal Health, a leader in animal health and nutrition. You can learn more about United Animal Health and how they are working to advance animal science worldwide by visiting the website at UnitedANH.com

If you would like to hear more conversations about some of the big issues affecting the livestock, poultry, grain and animal feed industries, subscribe to this podcast on your favorite podcast channel. For daily news, visit us at feedstuffs.com; nationalhogfarmer.com and beefmagazine.com 

For those farms that became Prop 12 compliant, the industry is eager to learn about the challenges, opportunities, production considerations and lessons encountered along the way.

Joining Feedstuffs’ Ann Hess in this episode to discuss Country View Family Farms’ journey to become Prop 12 compliant is Dr. Carlos Roudergue, a veterinarian in the company's Production Department.  CVFF includes more than 300 family farms throughout Indiana, Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York, Maryland and North Carolina.  All CVFF farms are create-free during gestation.  It is one of the top 11 hog production companies in the US, producing some 2. 7 million pigs per year.  

For more information on this and other topics, visit Feedstuffs.com; NationalHogFarmer.com and BEEFmagazine.com.

The American Egg Board has a number of strategic priorities in place for 2024. They include the assessment of new revenue streams, food chain outreach and engagement as well as the development of new farmer support resources. Big things also are already in the works around this year’s Easter Egg Roll at the White House, including taking it beyond Washington, D.C.

This episode is being brought to you by United Animal Health, a leader in animal health and nutrition. You can learn more about United Animal Health and how they are working to advance animal science worldwide by visiting the website at UnitedANH.com

Joining us to give us an updated on AEB and all of its efforts to promote US eggs and expand market growth on a global basis is Emily Metz, President & CEO of AEB. We caught up with Emily during this year’s IPPE in Atlanta. 

Sustainable livestock systems can contribute to climate action in several ways, including the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, improvement of resource efficiency, enhancement of carbon sequestration and minimization of environmental impacts.

At the same time, there needs to be recognition of the role of livestock in meeting the public’s dietary needs. 

What is at stake? How important is collaboration when it comes to reducing emissions from livestock globally? 

Joining us on this episode of Feedstuffs in Focus is Dr. Frank Mitloehner of the University of California-Davis and the CLEAR Center. We caught up with Dr. Mitloehner during the International Production and Processing Expo in Atlanta, to get the lastest update on climate-related discussions in regard to the animal agriculture.