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World beef production hardly increases

Demand growth is likely to slow down

According to estimates by the FAO, beef production will only increase slightly by 0,3 percent worldwide in the current year. Therefore, a noticeable decline in international export volumes of 7,5 percent is expected. However, individual countries, above all Brazil, will realize increasing exports. Brazil's share of world beef exports is expected to increase from 17 percent in 2003 to 22 percent this year. An increase of 19 percent is forecast for prices.

According to the FAO, demand for beef is expected to increase by an average of 2010 percent annually up to 2,2. The growth in demand would therefore decrease significantly. Between 1992 and 1999, the average annual growth rate was 3,15 percent. For the industrialized countries, a further decline in per capita consumption to around 21 kilograms in 2010 is expected, for this year 22,7 kilograms per capita are predicted. In contrast, consumption in developing countries is expected to increase to around seven kilograms per capita by 2010; In 2004, it is assumed that 6,3 kilograms per person. In China, per capita beef consumption is expected to increase from four kilograms in 2004 to around six kilograms in 2010.

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Current ZMP market trends

Livestock and Meat

In the meat wholesale markets, the start of the school holidays led to a further regional decline in beef demand. The prices on the individual wholesale markets developed inconsistently. Due to the unsatisfactory marketing opportunities for beef at home and abroad, the slaughterhouses tried to lower the payout prices for young bulls. However, this was mostly unsuccessful, since many bull fatteners apparently only want to sell upcoming cattle for slaughter after the start of the new financial year. The supply is currently low. As in the previous week, young bulls in the R3 class brought in 2,50 euros per kilogram slaughter weight on the national average.

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Fewer antibiotics in Dutch livestock farming

In the Netherlands, veterinary use of antibiotics decreased by 2003% in 2. This observed decrease does not include the reduced use of antibiotics as an additive in animal feed. In anticipation of January 1, 2006, when antibiotics will no longer be permitted as additives in animal feed, many animal feed producers have already stopped using antibiotics.

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GMP+ feed: indication of 'history'

Dutch quality assurance system for animal feed

In the Dutch GMP+ quality assurance system for animal feed, the requirements for traceability have been significantly tightened. The raw material supplier must not only know the history of his products, he must also communicate them to his customers. Knowing the history of an animal feed ingredient helps animal feed producers to optimize their quality assurance.

Where does the animal feed come from? Where was it stored? Who processed the animal feed? These questions are of great importance for assessing the safety of a product, but also for traceability in the event of a problem.

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Dutch farmers conquer their place in healthcare

Day care for the disabled on a farm

For fifteen years, more and more Dutch farmers have had a special part-time job. They offer day care for physically or mentally disabled people. The disabled can find a suitable day job and/or even work properly on a so-called “care farm”. In the last five years in particular, the response has been remarkable: between 1998 and 2004 the number of welfare farms grew from 75 to 432. Welfare Farm is not new

A welfare farm is not a new invention. In the past, farms were always a place where the help of disabled people was welcome. Due to the fact that special care measures were introduced over time, the "healing" function of a farm was lost sight of a little. Today's welfare farms are resuming this function and appear to be filling a growing demand.

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Federal awards for the best meat products companies

Highest award for first-class achievements in DLG competitions - State Secretary Berninger makes a plea for the nutritional trade

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Intensive controls for leftovers

Requirements for feeding in the QS system tightened

The QS system has significantly tightened the requirements for the use of leftovers. The use as animal feed in pig fattening is now subject to a rigorous review at all levels. Both the processing of leftovers into a liquid feed material and its feeding on farms have been newly regulated.

With the revision of the requirements for leftovers, the entire chain is now involved, from the collection point through processing to the pig farm. Based on a scientific report on the safety of leftovers in animal feed commissioned by QS, precise limit values ​​for the use and testing of leftovers have been issued. During processing, either pasteurization of the leftovers at at least 90 °C or sterilization at a temperature of at least 133 °C is mandatory. The number of annual inspections per site is also precisely specified.

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Caviar Creator adopts fish farm tanks

Caviar production in Demmin already possible this year

The Düsseldorf-based company Caviar Creator Inc. has taken over the FischCo-Demmin Aquakultur GmbH fish farm in Demmin (Mecklenburg-West Pomerania). This was announced by a spokesman for the company. Since the fish farm has been in operation since December 2002, the sturgeons from the fish farmer and caviar producer Caviar Creator can soon be used there and will start producing crops this year. In March, the Düsseldorf-based company also laid the foundation stone for another breeding facility in Demmin. The first caviar products from this plant can be expected in early 2005.

The acquired facility with 72 breeding tanks is in close proximity to the Caviar Creator construction site. "By taking over the plant, we can speed up production," says project manager Friedel Heinrichs, explaining the latest investment. Where previously eels, striped bass and zander were bred, sturgeons will soon be circling. The previous fish stocks are sold to the fish industry. The Caviar Creator board is currently planning the start and the exact volume of sturgeon meat and caviar production. Heinrichs emphasizes that all six employees can be taken on. In the long term even more jobs could be created.

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Meat sales suffer from listless demand

Waiting for grilling weather

The comparatively cool weather at the end of June led to a significant drop in demand for all types of meat on the meat wholesale markets in Germany. In particular, sales of barbecue items have stalled. However, the prices for beef and pork were able to hold up quite well, while demands for veal and lamb fell noticeably in some cases.

The stable price development for beef and pork at the shop level is not least the result of a limited supply. This should also ensure a relatively balanced market situation in the coming summer weeks.

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Austria's organic farming is booming

Two thirds of the area is grassland

Organic cultivation in Austria again increased significantly in 2003. The area under cultivation reached 326.700 hectares, which corresponded to an increase of a good ten percent compared to the previous year. The number of organic farms increased by 869 to 18.760; it grew less strongly than the area. As a result, the average organic area per farm increased from 16,6 hectares in 2002 to 17,4 hectares in 2003.

The area of ​​organic arable farming in Austria increased at an above-average rate of 30 percent last year, and here in turn the area of ​​protein crops (grain legumes) and oilseeds grew in particular, expanding by 47 percent and 44 percent respectively. The acreage of grain increased by 32 percent and that of corn – silo, green, grain and corn-cob mix – by almost 26 percent. Grassland cultivation remained relatively stable, but accounts for two-thirds of the total organic area. The very small-scale cultivation of potatoes is striking. On average, organic farms growing potatoes use only 0,7 hectares for this crop. Altogether in 2003 there were 2.114 hectares of potatoes.

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Dutch agriculture is less competitive

Dutch government puts study into perspective

Dutch agriculture is losing its competitive edge in the EU. This is the result of a study by the Institute for Agricultural Economics LEI at Wageningen University. Between 1994 and 2001, the Dutch gross production value increased by an average of 0,7 percent annually; the EU-15, on the other hand, recorded a higher average growth rate of 1,3 percent.

According to the study, agriculture in Spain has grown the most with five percent - especially in pig farming and horticulture. The LEI expects that in a few years Spain will become the largest pork producer in the EU. Sufficient space and workers are available for this expansion. In addition, in contrast to the Netherlands, there are hardly any animal and environmental protection restrictions there. These factors caused higher production costs in the Netherlands.

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