Dear readers,
Some good news from our industry:
- Standard Meat Co. , a fourth-generation family-owned protein processor from the US, marked its 90th anniversary with the opening of a new facility. The plant was billed as its most technologically advanced, designed to expand sous vide and searing capabilities while adapting to future innovations. Tradition teams up with innovative technologies.
- Large-animal veterinary shortage becomes a global problem. To tackle it, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, in partnership with Gov. Jim Pillen and state leaders, is working to reverse that trend through the Elite 11 Production Animal Health Scholarship Program. According to a 2023 Farm Journal Foundation study only 3% to 4% of today’s veterinary students choose to practice food-animal medicine, compared to about 40% four decades ago. Each year, up to 20 incoming animal science or veterinary science students are accepted into the program. During their first two years, they receive scholarships covering 50% of tuition. After that, 11 students and two alternates are selected for full tuition scholarships during their junior and senior years. Students who practice in a rural Nebraska community for at least eight years in food-animal medicine become eligible for 100% loan forgiveness. I consider this an example of good practices.
- The Tenerife Island Council has awarded a suport to the Tenerife Island Slaughterhouse , to finance various initiatives aimed at modernizing its facilities, strengthening workplace safety, and ensuring compliance with European regulations on animal welfare.
- The Interprofessional White Coat Pork Association ( Interporc ) has traveled to Japan to promote the quality of Spanish white coat pork, taking advantage of the global reach of the Osaka Expo . ,
- Noel Alimentaria has entered into a strategic alliance with Garrudo Benito , a family-owned company with a long history of producing top-quality Iberian ham and sausages , with the aim of strengthening its position in the premium Iberian segment, the company announced in its statement.
Events calendar:
- Agro FARMA Expo is Poland’s leading trade fair for modern livestock farming and sustainable agricultural technologies. FARMA Expo will take place on 3 days from Tuesday, 07. October to Thursday, 09. October 2025 in Nadarzyn.
- The Vietstock is an exhibition for the feed, livestock, and meat-processing industry in Vietnam and the surrounding region. It will take place on 3 days from Wednesday, 08. October to Friday, 10. October 2025 in Ho Chi Minh City.
- The Olma Messen St. Gallen, is the largest and most popular public fair in Switzerland. The fair takes place on 11 days from Thur., 09.10.2025 to Sun., 19.10.2025 in St. Gallen. Throughout this period, a broad range of topics related to agriculture and nutrition are showcased. This includes animal exhibits, animal demonstrations, special displays, and information booths.
- The World AgriFood Innovation Expo (WAFI) is an international trade fair for innovations in the agricultural and food industries, held annually at the renowned Pinggu Jinhai Lake International Convention & Exhibition Center in Beijing, China. It will take place on 4 days from Sunday, 12. October to Wednesday, 15. October 2025.
You’ve Seen The Butcher
The pig industry of Europe has a new enemy at the gates: war! On the night of October 3, Russian forces carried out a massive strike on an agricultural enterprise in the Novovodolazka community of Kharkiv region, Ukraine, killing around 13,000 pigs.
Meanwhile our “old” enemies are also hitting the industry. According to Varkens.nl, veterinarian Herman Prüst from Boehringer Ingelheim gave an update on the PRRS strain Rosalia. “Rosalia is involved in more than half of the PRRS outbreaks on pig farms in Spain, but its virulence is declining. The mortality rate in sows is now up to 19% and in weaned piglets up to 10%”. Given the size of Spain’s sow herd, the way Hungary managed to become PRRS free is not an option…
African swine fever (ASF) continues to evolve in Germany’s wild boar population, limiting the possibilities to export on the Asian markets.
About this and other related topics and challenges of the pork market I am talking this days with old friends, partners at the Anuga fair in Köln, Germany. Some of the talks will be shared in the next weekly newsletter. You have a wider image of our industry after you’ve seen the butcher.
