TheDairySite Newsletter - 19 March 2010

TheDairySite Weekly Newsletter

Friday 19th March 2010

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Welcome to this week's newsletter

Editorial: Marketing Dairy Products

EU farm leaders have emphasised the need for clear EU marketing, labelling and quality standards to clearly distinguish EU dairy products in the market place and acknowledge the high requirements that producers work to in producing milk and dairy products.

At an EU meeting earlier in the week, the European Parliament Environment and Consumer Protection Committee voted in favour of requiring country of origin to be labelled on all dairy products.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced that it will increase its clamp down on illegal food labelling and unauthorised nutrient content claims.

There have been concerns raised in the US regarding talks on a Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement that would open up trade between Pacific countries and the US.

However, farming unions in New Zealand (where there are no subsidies) have said that an agreement would increase competitiveness in the US (where farmers are reliant on subsidies). Federated Farmers of New Zealand President said that he thought US producers felt threatened by the efficiency of New Zealand dairy producers, however, in reality, he feels that a trade agreement would free the dairy market up.

Elsewhere in New Zealand, Fonterra has been praised as a hero for offering contracts to a number of producers who were previously part of the New Zealand Organic Dairy Farmers Co-operative (NZODFC), which has now gone into receivership.

Charlotte Johnston

This Week's Feature Articles

We have 4 new features this week:

Are We Pushing Dairy Cows Too Far?
At the recent British Cattle Veterinary Association winter meeting, Karen Lancaster, Dairy Co Extension Officer discussed dairy cow welfare and asked whether we had pushed the modern UK dairy cow too far. Charlotte Johnston, TheCattleSite junior editor reports.

Getting The Dry Cow Fit For Purpose
Professor David Beever from Keenan addressed a seminar at the National All Breeds Show on dry cow nutrition, reports Charlotte Johnston, TheCattleSite junior editor.

US Feed Outlook - March 2010
Global coarse grain production is up less than the increase in corn because of a reduction in barley production and small declines for mixed grain and rye in the EU, according to this month's Feed Outlook Report from USDA Economic Research Service (ERS).

World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates - March 2010
Carcase weights appear lower likely due to winter weather causing stress to cattle, according to the USDA World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates. Tighter meat supplies are expected to push beef prices up. Milk production is likely to increase fractionally, as the number of cows slaughtered and herd reduction falls.

Company News

Pfizer Welcomes Agreement With Elanco On Divested Assets
FRANCE - Pfizer Animal Health has welcomed the signing of an agreement between Pfizer and Elanco, the animal health business unit of Eli Lilly and Company, under which Elanco will acquire European rights to a portfolio of certain Pfizer Animal Health and legacy Fort Dodge Animal Health products.

Global Dairy Cattle Industry News