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The latest USDA figures show a second quarterly contraction in the US pig herd. As at 1 March 2021, the US national pig herd totalled 74.8 million head, this was a 3% reduction since December 2020 and a 2% reduction compared to the same month last year. US pig meat and offal exports increased in volume during 2020, although were lower during the final quarter of 2020, which would match this drop back in the US pig inventory. US pig prices reached €172.55/100kg carcass weight on 22 March, according to Eurostat data, up 54% on the same month last year.
National Livestock Reporting Service (NLRS) reports lowest March quarter slaughter in over 20 years, at 1,206,404 head. Slaughter in March totalled 391,189, firm on February volumes and a significant improvement on January. Recent rainfall and flood impacts dented the potential for higher levels to be achieved, as logistical issues impacted livestock activity, and subsequently reduced operations for the short-term. The Easter lull brought a mere 72,000 head for the week ending 2 April.
Impossible Foods Inc is preparing for a public listing which could value the U.S. plant-based burger maker at around $10 billion or more, according to the market analysis. This would be substantially more than the $4 billion the company was worth in a private funding round in 2020. It would highlight growing demand for plant-based meat products, driven by environmental and ethical concerns among consumers.
Philippine reduced pork import tariffs as the government seeks to address a domestic shortage by ramping up purchases from abroad. The Southeast Asian country, the world’s seventh-biggest pork importer before local demand fell due to the pandemic, plans to import roughly 400,000 tonnes of pork this year, more than double the 162,000 tonnes planned earlier.
Strong meat demand pushed U.S. live cattle and lean hog futures to new contract highs on. The cattle market benefited from increasing demand for beef as the United States is entering the summer grilling season, analysts said. Prices for choice cuts of boxed beef soared by $5.82 to $258.67 per cwt, while select cuts rose by $2.89 to $249.86 per cwt, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The Brazilian Association of Animal Protein (ABPA) celebrated the certifications granted to the new Brazilian poultry slaughterhouses for the Dominican Republic. In all, there are 28 new qualified plants, increasing the number of qualifications seven times - previously, only 4 plants were qualified for the destination. In total, there are 28 new qualified plants and the new qualifications are from Cooperativa Lar units and the BRF and JBS companies, located in the states of Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, Paraná, São Paulo , Minas Gerais, Mato Grosso, Goiás, Federal District and Bahia.
Tyson Foods opened its new 370,000-square-foot complex in Humboldt, Tenn., April 8. The $425 million project includes a processing plant, feed mill and hatchery. Local, state and federal officials joined Tyson executives at the opening. Production is expected to begin at the facility later this month – several hundred workers have been hired and are currently being trained. The processing plant, which will produce pre-packaged tray packs of fresh chicken for retail, is expected to employ 1,500 workers by 2023.
Marie-Claude Bibeau, the Canadian minister of agriculture and agri-food, Neil Ellis, Parliamentary Secretary, and Tim Louis, member of parliament for Kitchener, Conestoga, highlighted support of up to C$12.2 million through the Emergency Processing Fund for 42 meat processing companies in Ontario. The government of Canada will help Canadian livestock producers and meat processors protect workers and improve facilities to strengthen the nation’s food supply through the investment. Canada’s food system, like all those around the world, suffered significant disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, producers and processors have taken on unexpected and exceptional activities to manage health and safety.
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