Fishmeal production continues to decline

Total fishmeal production by the five major producers declined in 2009, continuing a trend started some years ago. Chile is the only country reporting any increase in production, while all others reported lower outputs. Prices have started to move upwards since some months now, and further price increases are likely. China continues to buy huge quantities of fishmeal more than 50% of total fishmeal exports and its strong demand is the reason for the present price hike.

What a ride it has been for agri commodities!

Once considered the dullest of plays, the bullish year that was 2007 saw investors sit up and take notice as prices for maize, wheat and soy rose to record highs on the back of poor harvests and strong competing demands.

Things have quieted down significantly since mid-2008 when prices rose to new all-time highs of over $6/bushel for maize and $13.80 for soya beans.

We would like to post an interesting article about the use of melamine by chinese feed producers, in order to keep the feed prices low, a practice considered as normal until recently. Having met with chinese competition in our markets, at prices which were at unreachable low levels, this information shed a different light on our questions. Unfortunately a light of fraud and deception, with health risks for the consumer.

September 2009 sees the launch of our new website.

The website has been redesigned and rebranded in collaboration with To The Dot. The same goes for our logo and the overall look.

The project to be forwarded to the Prime Minister for signature was validated in Yaounde on Tuesday July 14.

There are concerted efforts to put an end to the problems that have plagued poultry farming in the country, rendering production far below national demand.

VDS Feed test with cristaline Valine in weaned piglets

Over the years the crude protein content of piglet feeds has decreased due to several reasons, like gut health and the increasing prices of vegetable protein worldwide.
Research showed that valine appears to be a deficient nutrient in regards to the minimum requirement for piglets in the current lower protein piglet feeds.
Cristaline Valine has recently been made available for use in animal feeds.

Indonesian shrimp farmers become less competitive on the international market as local prices for shrimp feed are increasing, according to the farmers’ association.

Yield may rise as El Nino expected to bring needed downpours over drought-hit farmlands.

The world of aqua feed is constantly evolving. New feed additives like enzymes, probiotics, attractants are discovered to improve animal growth or to solve feed related problems. Also the quest to find suitable replacements for fish meal, both for financial and ecological reasons, remains an important research matter.

Soybean meal prices through early October are likely to remain “high and volatile, potentially explosive,” a leading U.S. grain marketing economist said during a  presentation at the World Pork Expo in Des Moines, Iowa, USA, June 3.