Genetic methods should clarify the origin of today's cattle

In Roman times cattle in Switzerland were much larger than in the preceding Celtic or subsequent early medieval periods. With the support of the Swiss National Science Foundation, researchers from the University of Basel are investigating these differences in size and are investigating whether today's cattle have a pedigree going back to antiquity.

Two backwoods cows graze peacefully in the Augusta Raurica animal park near Basel. The shoulder height of the cattle, which are small by today's standards, roughly corresponds to that of Roman times. The archaeozoologist Jörg Schibler from the Institute for Prehistoric and Scientific Archeology at the University of Basel estimates that the cattle at that time reached an average shoulder height of around 115 cm (female animals) to 130 cm (male animals). Today's Simmental Fleckvieh is around 20 cm taller. The Celtic and early medieval cattle were still significantly weaker than the Roman ones. This was shown by the measurement of 5826 joints of cattle bones from Augusta Raurica (15 BC to around 400 AD), two Celtic burial sites in Basel (period from 150 to 20 BC) and an early medieval site near Schleitheim (600 to 700 AD). BC) shown.

1.   0 comment
2.   Displayed 1044 times

The Federal Research Center for Viral Diseases in Animals in Riems has confirmed another case of BSE in Bavaria.

It is a female Fleckvieh cattle from Upper Bavaria, born on February 11.02.2000th, XNUMX. The animal was examined as part of BSE monitoring. In the final clarification by the Federal Research Institute for Viral Diseases in Animals, TSE-typical prion protein was clearly detected.

1.   0 comment
2.   Displayed 870 times

Hamburg is losing jobs

Laying of the foundation stone for the expansion and modernization of the salmon smokehouse in Waren / Müritz - Minister Dr. Backhaus welcomes the commitment of the new investor, the traditional company Friedrichs KG Hamburg

The Hamburg-based Gottfried Friedrichs GmbH & Co.KG, one of the largest suppliers of smoked salmon, trout and smoked eel products in Germany, laid the foundation stone on April 16, 2004 for the modernization and expansion of the salmon smokehouse acquired by Neptun Feinkost GmbH & Co. KG in Waren / Müritz. "This will secure the Waren site, which has been expanded in recent years with considerable financial support from the state and will have over 2003 employees in the future," emphasized the Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania Minister for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Dr. Till Backhaus.

1.   0 comment
2.   Displayed 823 times

Pork more expensive than average at 7,3% - gelatine cheaper

The index of producer prices for industrial products was 2004% higher in March 0,3 than in March 2003. As the Federal Statistical Office also reports, the annual rate of change was - 2004% in February 0,1 and + 2004% in January 0,2 % located. Compared to the previous month, the index rose by 2004% in March 0,6.

The sharp price increases for many metals that have been observed since the beginning of the year continued in March. The main reason for this are increased world market prices due to increased demand, which has led to massive price increases for the most important raw materials (coking coal, iron ores, non-ferrous metals, steel scrap) as well as for transport costs. The prices for rolled steel produced and sold in Germany in March 2004 averaged 8,8% above the level of March 2003. Individual types of steel rose even more, for example reinforcing steel by 49,6% within a year and wire rod by 24,7 % and bar and flat steel by 16,2%. Precious metals were 2004% more expensive in March 11,1 than in March 2003, lead, zinc and tin by 23,0% and copper and semi-finished copper products by 28,7%. Among the raw materials for metal production produced in Germany, the price increases for hard coal (+ 18,3% compared to March 2003) and for secondary metallic raw materials (+ 16,6%) are particularly noteworthy.

1.   0 comment
2.   Displayed 825 times

But only the accommodation providers have increased

As reported by the Federal Statistical Office, turnover in the hospitality industry in Germany in February 2004 was 1,2% nominal (at current prices) and 0,4% higher in real terms (at constant prices) than in February 2003. After calendar and seasonal adjustment of the data (Berlin Procedure 4 – BV 4) was sold nominally 2004% more than in January 0,5 and 0,2% more in real terms. Thus, for the first time since November 2001, a nominal and real increase in turnover was achieved in the hospitality industry compared to the corresponding month of the previous year.

In the first two months of 2004, the companies in the hotel and catering industry turned over a nominal 0,8% and a real 1,4% less than in the same period of the previous year.

1.   0 comment
2.   Displayed 742 times

Successful BVE conference

The cost pressure on the food industry continues to increase. The companies are therefore examining all possibilities of realizing cost savings. Outsourcing can make an important contribution to this, and not just in logistics.

The BVE logistics conference on outsourcing on April 15, 2004 provided detailed information on how the objectives of cost savings, improvement in skills and more flexible staff can be achieved. Experienced business and legal consultants went into detail about the procedure in the outsourcing process, especially with regard to the tender documents, the service provider controlling and the critical success factors such as contract and pricing.

1.   0 comment
2.   Displayed 876 times

In 2003, the export of the German food industry developed into a solid second mainstay of the branch. The growth in foreign sales of 6,7% to EUR 26,4 billion was responsible for around 60% of the overall growth in sales in the food industry. With exports accounting for 20,7% of total sales, around every fifth job depends on foreign business.

The European Union is still the main trading partner of the German food industry. Around three quarters of exports go to the partner countries. The companies deliver about a quarter of the remaining exports to the new EU accession countries. The export of German food to the 10 countries joining the EU on May 1, 2004 increased by 1997% between 2003 and 31 to around 1,5 billion euros.

1.   0 comment
2.   Displayed 721 times

The use of antibiotics to treat diseases in Danish animal production increased by 2002 percent from 2003 to 12. This was announced by the Danish monitoring and statistics authority "Fødevare- og Veterinærforsknings overvågningsprogram" VETSTAT. In all areas of animal production, consumption rose from 97.200 kg to 103.600 kg. The largest increase was observed in pig farming. Here, consumption increased from 72.900 kg to 80.900 kg. Tetracycline consumption increased most significantly at 12 percent, with 94 percent of this amount being consumed in pigs. Consumption of plain penicillin increased by 11.200 percent from 12.700 kg to 13 kg. The consumption levels of macrolides, tiamulin and lincomycin increased by more than seven percent.

The Ministry of Agriculture has announced further investigations to explain this overconsumption. One of the reasons is the so-called PMWS (Post-Weaning Multisystemic Wasting Syndrome). In 2003, this viral infection was increasingly found in Danish pig herds.

1.   0 comment
2.   Displayed 780 times

The Bundestag member Julia Klöckner (CDU) advocates joining Germany to the applicable EU standards for BSE tests.

So far, animals in Germany have to be tested for BSE from the 24th month. The test is only mandatory for 30 months or more across the EU. So far, only cattle slaughtered healthily under 30 months in France, Spain and Italy have been routinely tested for BSE, whereas in Switzerland, for example, slaughtered cattle are only subjected to a BSE rapid test on a random basis. After France also announced that it would raise the test age to 1 months on July 30 of this year, the Bundestag member Julia Klöckner, the responsible rapporteur for the CDU / CSU parliamentary group in the Committee on Consumer Assistance, Food and Agriculture, sent a written request to the Federal Government , in which she called for an adjustment of German standards to the EU limit values. "On the one hand, the inquiry sheds light on the economic and competitive aspects of the limit value applicable in Germany for farmers and, on the other hand, is intended to clarify the framework conditions for comprehensive consumer protection in a European context," explains Klöckner. "The answer from the federal government was sobering, however." In the brief letter from the Parliamentary State Secretary in the responsible Federal Ministry, it would only say that there were no analyzes of the economic effects of the isolated retention of the lower test age.

1.   0 comment
2.   Displayed 770 times

Price increase for slaughter cows and pigs

On the slaughter cattle markets in the European Union, young bulls were largely valued as stable to firm in March, while prices for cows rose noticeably. The prices for slaughter pigs were also able to increase significantly in some cases. The revenues of the broiler farmers mostly remained stable, with turkeys there were weaknesses. The supply of eggs exceeded demand in many areas, and prices fell. Dairy product prices were firmer than expected. Slaughter cattle and slaughter pigs

The range of beef cattle was in some cases significantly larger than in the previous month. Around 13 percent more cattle were slaughtered in Belgium and six percent more cattle in Germany. In Denmark the supply increased only slightly. Compared to the same month last year, slaughterings in Belgium and Germany increased by five and nine percent, only in Denmark were they a good two percent below the previous year's line.

1.   0 comment
2.   Displayed 780 times

Livestock and Meat

The demand for beef at the German wholesale markets, which was very satisfactory before Easter, received no decisive impetus after the holidays. The supplementary purchases were within comparatively narrow limits. However, prices remained largely stable. The trade in cattle for slaughter started very quietly immediately after Easter. The needs of the slaughterhouses were initially subdued, but on the other hand met with a limited supply from the producers. Slaughter cows in particular were scarce. The payout prices for young bulls remained stable across the board, for female slaughter animals they tended to be stable, sometimes even firmer. The weighted federal average for cows in the meat trading class O3 rose by two cents to 1,81 euros per kilogram slaughter weight. As in the previous week, young bulls in the R3 class brought in an average of 2,50 euros per kilogram. Mail order sales of beef to neighboring countries initially ran smoothly. However, southern Europe increasingly showed interest in cow pistols; Surcharges were definitely possible. – In the coming week, prices for slaughter cows are likely to remain stable to firm. Little change is to be expected for young bulls. – After Easter, the veal market was characterized by a very limited supply and stable, sometimes somewhat firmer prices. The supply of slaughter calves was also scarce. For slaughter calves billed at a flat rate, the providers achieved four cents more than in the week before Easter with 4,70 euros per kilogram slaughter weight. – The prices for livestock calves tended to be unchanged, sometimes a little weaker.

1.   0 comment
2.   Displayed 873 times