Reuters — Wayne Farms, the sixth-largest poultry producer in the U.S., has filed with U.S. regulators in an initial public offering of common stock. Wayne Farms is a subsidiary of Continental Grain, one of the largest privately-held corporations in the U.S. Citigroup, J.P. Morgan and BMO Capital Markets are underwriting the IPO, Wayne told the […] Read more
Wayne Farms files for IPO
Egg farmers say there’s ‘zero tolerance’ on abuse
Farms caught abusing birds can have their egg-production licence pulled immediately
Reading Time: 4 minutes Egg producers in Alberta are now required to sign a “zero tolerance” pledge for animal abuse. “Any form of abuse, neglect, cruelty, or mistreatment of the birds under our care will not be tolerated and may be grounds for immediate disciplinary action up to and including dismissal,” the pledge states. Any farm that has severe […] Read more
U.S. may impose tougher curbs to contain bird flu in Arkansas
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. authorities are considering imposing tougher restrictions in Arkansas to contain a virulent strain of avian flu in the heart of the country’s poultry region in a bid to minimize international trade disruptions and contain the virus. The H5N2 flu discovered in Arkansas last week is the state’s first case of […] Read more
Canada blocking poultry from Kansas, Arkansas
Canada has expanded its restrictions on imports of live poultry, uncooked poultry products and eggs to include those from Kansas and Arkansas, as avian flu has now appeared in birds in both states. The Kansas cases of highly-pathogenic (“high-path”) H5N2 avian flu are in a backyard chicken and duck flock in Leavenworth County, on the state’s […] Read more
U.S. bird experts mystified by Midwest avian flu spread
Chicago | Reuters — A virulent strain of avian flu that has killed turkeys in the heart of the nation’s poultry region has been found through molecular testing to be nearly identical to viruses isolated in migratory ducks. But some wildlife experts are skeptical of suggestions that wild birds are responsible for spreading the H5N2 […] Read more
After first lab-grown burger, test-tube chicken is next on menu
Tel Aviv/Frankfurt | Reuters — Two years after scientists cooked up the first test-tube beef burger, researchers in Israel are working on an even trickier recipe: the world’s first lab-grown chicken. Professor Amit Gefen, a bioengineer at Tel Aviv University, has begun a year-long feasibility study into manufacturing chicken in a lab, funded by a […] Read more
U.S. exports at risk as bird flu enters heart of poultry country
Chicago | Reuters — A case of bird flu confirmed Wednesday in the heart of America’s poultry region, is certain to mean more export restrictions, increasing U.S. supply and likely forcing the world’s biggest poultry companies to trim prices. The U.S. government announced the infection of highly pathogenic H5N2 avian flu in turkeys in Arkansas […] Read more
KFC faces pressure after McDonald’s says no antibiotics in chicken
Los Angeles/Chicago | Reuters — KFC, the world’s largest chain of fried chicken restaurants, may face pressure from consumer and environmental groups to change how its poultry are raised after McDonald’s said it would switch to chicken raised without human antibiotics. McDonald’s will phase out chicken raised with antibiotics that are important to human health […] Read more
Mutating H7N9 bird flu may pose pandemic threat, scientists warn
London | Reuters –– A wave of H7N9 bird flu in China that has spread into people may have the potential to emerge as a pandemic strain in humans, scientists said Wednesday. The H7N9 virus, one of several strains of bird flu known to be able to infect humans, has persisted, diversified and spread in […] Read more
Movement restrictions lifted on B.C. birds
British Columbia’s poultry producers no longer need federal permits to move their wares in the province. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency confirmed Wednesday it has removed its avian influenza primary control zone (PCZ) — a zone which had covered the entire southern half of B.C., including Vancouver Island and the Queen Charlotte Islands. CFIA in […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
