Structural change in Germany continues

In Germany, cattle husbandry is concentrated on fewer farms from year to year. This is also confirmed by the provisional result of the most recent livestock census in May of this year. After that, the number of farms with cattle fell by a further 4,5 percent to 189.100 within a year. The western federal states were particularly affected by the structural change, in which there were still around 174.800 farms with cattle husbandry, a decline of 8.600 farms or 4,7 percent within twelve months. In May of this year, there were still 14.300 farms keeping cattle in the new federal states, which was only 200 head or 1,6 percent fewer than in the previous year.

Statistically speaking, the nationwide average for each keeper was just under 70 animals in the barn; in May 2003 there were 69 animals. The farms in western Germany kept one animal more with an average of 62 cattle, while the average herd size in eastern Germany fell by almost three cattle to 165 animals.

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Market experts are forecasting stable meat production for the Russian Federation in 2005. An increase of three percent in pork production should compensate for the four percent decline in beef production. An improved feed base and producer-friendly prices will lead to stock increases in pig production. The cattle herds, on the other hand, are still declining, by six percent.

Already for the current year, beef production is estimated to be four percent lower. Small livestock farmers for self-sufficiency still play a major role in Russia. These small producers currently keep 54 percent of all cattle, 50 percent of pigs and 72 percent of sheep and goats. While a number of large farms have recently given up animal husbandry due to uneconomic conditions, the stocks of self-suppliers have remained stable. Ultimately, however, only large companies that are far superior in terms of performance indicators and production costs are sustainable.

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However, consumers continue to buy cheaply

The summer doldrums on the German egg market are gradually coming to an end: consumer interest is picking up again as most holidaymakers return, and the plentiful supply is easier to sell than in the summer weeks before. After the period of oversupply and extremely low prices, suppliers can raise their demands and gradually this development should also be reflected in consumer prices.

But that doesn't make buying eggs too expensive for consumers, because prices are currently lower than they have been for years. On the national average, a pack of ten cage eggs, weight class M, cost only 83 cents in August, compared to 95 cents in August 2003, 85 cents in August 2002 and 89 cents in August 2001. 10 conventional free-range eggs of the same weight class are, with an average of 1,80, XNUMX euros on average for all types of business, just as cheap as three years ago.

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Government is preparing support measures

In Argentina, the government is preparing a catalog of support measures to increase domestic cattle production. The goal is to produce an additional one million calves per year and 25 percent more beef within the next ten years. The goal is a nationwide freedom from foot and mouth disease and the maintenance of freedom from BSE.

In July of this year, Argentina exported 75 percent more unprocessed beef than in the same month last year. This shows that Argentina was able to regain lost export markets after the FMD collapse in September 2003. Argentina exported 155.000 tons of beef in the first seven months of this year, 62 percent more than in the same period last year. The main sales market is Russia with 24 percent of all exports, ahead of the EU with 18 percent, Israel with 13 percent and Algeria with eight percent of exports. Financially, exports increased by a total of 72 percent.

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The German fishing industry was able to achieve good results in 2003 despite the difficult overall economic situation. The average per capita consumption of fish and fish products rose from 14,0 kilograms (catch weight) in 2002 to 14,4 kilograms in 2003. According to GfK, 98 percent of all private households bought fish last year. On average, fish was on the shopping lists of Germans 19 times per buyer household, and the annual average quantity purchased per buyer household was 10,1 kilograms (product weight). The latest figures from July 2003 to June 2004 confirm these positive results. The purchase volume has currently even increased to 10,3 kilograms of fish per buyer household. All product groups show sales increases compared to the 2003 calendar year. Fish does not only find its fans on Germany's coasts: Measured by the amount of fish bought per household, Hamburg leads the ranking of the federal states. Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein, Lower Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia follow in the next positions. Frozen fish, marinades and preserved fish dominate fish sales

For the third year in a row, frozen fish is number one in consumer favor. Its share of fish consumption in Germany in 2003 was 32 percent. In second place are canned fish and marinades (30 percent), followed by crustaceans and molluscs (12 percent) and fresh fish (10 percent).

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Gas and water installers have almost 17% more than butchers

According to preliminary results from the Federal Statistical Office, journeymen in ten selected trades earned an average of EUR 2004 gross per hour in May 12,56, which was 1,0% more than in May 2003. The gas and water fitters achieved the highest average gross earnings. journeymen at 13,14 euros, journeyman plumbers at 12,96 euros and journeyman painters and varnishers at 12,93 euros. Butchers and bakers earned 11,28 euros and 11,27 euros respectively.

At 9,08 euros, journeymen in the new federal states and East Berlin earned almost 70% of the earnings in the former federal territory (13,22 euros).

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As reported by the Federal Statistical Office, the consumer price index for Germany rose by 2004% in August 2003 compared with August 2,0. Compared to July 2004, the index increased by 0,2%. The estimate for August 2004 based on the results from six federal states was thus confirmed. In June and July 2004 the annual rate of change was +1,7% and +1,8% respectively.

The higher annual rate of inflation in August is mainly due to the fact that prices for petroleum products continued to rise. In August 2004, the prices for light heating oil were 24,6% and for motor fuels 8,1% (premium petrol: +7,6%; regular petrol: +7,8%; diesel: +10,6%) higher than a year before. Without heating oil and motor fuels, the inflation rate in August 2004 would have been only 1,6%. Compared to the previous month, light heating oil cost 8,4% and motor fuel 1,9% more. Without including mineral oil products, the consumer price index would have increased by 2004% from July to August 0,1.

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Association of German turkey breeders wants to investigate allegations - links to the article

Last Thursday (September 09th, 2004) the TV magazine Monitor showed pictures from Bavarian turkey farms that were not very appetizing. Professor emeritus Hans-Hinrich Sambraus, a recognized expert on industrial animal husbandry, commented on the images.

The Association of German Turkey Producers (VDP) points out that all applicable animal welfare requirements must be observed by the members of the organization without exception. Any grievances and breaches of requirements will not be tolerated by the VDP in any way. The Westdeutscher Rundfunk's Monitor program reported on violations of the Animal Welfare Act in individual Bavarian companies. As early as next week, the Executive Committee of the VDP will decide on internal steps and the consequences of the processes.

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Breathable frying technology, compact and portable

After the great success of the newly presented Silex AirClean 600 at the InterNorga, the Hamburg company Silex is presenting the AirClean 1000, a further expansion of a modular front cooking system. With an integrated exhaust air cleaning system, AirClean 1000 enables food to be roasted and cooked in all areas of the catering trade, but also at events in an environment where kitchen vapors could be disruptive.

While the AirClean 600 combines the exhaust air system with the S-Tronic 161 GR double contact roaster in a mobile kitchen element, the new AirClean 1000 system unit offers more:

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Offers for advanced and beginners - DLG test pass recognized for the certification of QM systems

Sensory analysis is a central component of modern quality control and product development. In order to be able to carry them out professionally, proven experts are required. The specialist knowledge can be acquired in basic and advanced sensory seminars of the German Agricultural Society (DLG).

This year the DLG is offering three dates for the meat and convenience industry; again in proven cooperation with the Federal Research Center for Nutrition and Food (BFEL), Kulmbach site, and the Lippe and Höxter University of Applied Sciences (Lemgo). The seminars are aimed at managers and employees in quality assurance and product development. 

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Cat owners should not feed raw, free-range poultry meat to cats. They can infect their animals with the parasite Toxoplasma gondii. This is according to a publication by American scientists from the Department of Agriculture in Beltsville (Maryland) in the journal "Journal of Parasitology". They studied 188 chickens from 14 Ohio counties and 1 chickens from a Massachusetts pig farm (20). They found what they were looking for in XNUMX free-range chickens from Ohio. They then fed infected poultry meat to toxoplasmosis-free cats. After some time, the cats shed Toxoplasma oocysts, which indicates that the parasites multiply in the cats.
 
American and Israeli scientists report similar findings in the journal "Veterinary Parasitology". They examined the blood, hearts and brains of 96 free-range chickens from a commercial poultry farm in Israel for Toxoplasma gondii. They found antibodies against the parasite in 45 blood samples. Using other examination methods, they were often able to detect toxoplasma in the brains and hearts of the chickens. The scientists see a need for further research in order to determine the risk for consumers of poultry meat more precisely (2).

Cats are the main carriers of toxoplasma [1]. They excrete the parasite with the feces. Infection can occur when a cat owner cleans a litter box or a human eats garden vegetables or salads that happen to be contaminated with cat feces. Toxoplasmas are also found in raw pork, so infection can also occur through consumption of, for example, raw minced meat. Here, too, infection occurs in stables or outdoors by cats (3).

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