MOSCOW. April 15 (Interfax) – The first shipment of Russian pork has been delivered to the Chinese market according to Miratorg, the first company to begin deliveries after China lifted restrictions on Russian pork imports last September.

A consignment of products weighing 27 tonnes was produced at the holding’s meat processing complex in the Belgorod region and sent from Selyatino station on March 7 by rail to Vladivostok. From there, it was loaded onto a ship to the port of Nansha in China. Russian transport company Fesco organized the intermodal shipment process.

The container arrived at the Chinese port after one month in transit, from where the importer unloaded the shipment into his warehouse on April 13.

“We greatly value the Chinese market and take a responsible attitude towards fulfilling all the veterinary requirements of the importing country. The goal is to increase supply volumes in the coming years and expand the range of meat products in accordance with the taste preferences of Chinese residents.

The company independently ensures 100% quality control and complete traceability of products at all stages from “field to table,” Miratorg’s press service said.

 

Interfax

 

Also:

Russia sends first pork shipment to China in 15 years

Russian pork exports to China begin ahead of schedule

First Russian pork on its way to China

Boosting pork exports to Southeast Asia: Russia launches the Meat Shuttle

The presence of foodborne pathogens in raw beef imported into the European Union is low, according to a study.

Microbiological quality of 100 raw beef samples sent to the EU was investigated. Samples of beef imported from November 2021 to May 2022 were collected at the Border Control Post of Hamburg Harbor in Germany. In total, 53 samples came from Brazil, 33 from Argentina, 12 from Uruguay, and two from Paraguay.

In 2021, there were 283,729 tons of beef imported into the EU, representing an increase of 26 percent compared to 2020. The main suppliers were Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina.

Beef is occasionally consumed raw or not fully heated. This means the risk of ingesting viable pathogens either directly or indirectly through cross-contamination increases, according to the study published in the journal Food Control.

“Our findings highlight the importance of adhering to hygienic conditions throughout the meat production and transport chain in order to ensure a hygienically sound product even after long transportation and storage times,” said researchers.

 

Food Safety News

 

Tim Jackson | Meat & Livestock Australia 

 

Also:

Australia manages more than half global sheep meat trade in 2023

Australian goatmeat exports surge in 2023

Australian Government leads red meat mission in the UK

Shetland’s abattoir will replace its full time manager with a part time role as financial pressures mount.

Cuts were “reluctantly” made at the abattoir, Shetland Livestock and Marketing Group (SLMG) said.

Due to financial pressures, which are being experienced across the country, SLMG chairman Cecil Eunson said it had become difficult for small abattoirs to remain viable.

Mr Eunson said it was a “difficult decision” to make but one that was important for the future of the abattoir.

“The throughput at the abattoir declined last year, and has seen a further reduction at the start of this year,” Mr Eunson said. “This currently affects profitability.”

“Due to this situation, the board have taken the decision, very reluctantly, to no longer have an abattoir manager but replace this with a part-time role.”

 

Shetland Times 

JBS, the world’s largest meat producer, will invest 150 million reais (US$29.2 million) to double-fold processing capacity at its Campo Grande II beef plant to 4,400 cattle heads per day, the company announced Friday in a statement.

The announcement, which comes after the plant received the green light to export to China in March, was made during a visit by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to the unit, located in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul.

JBS said the capacity expansion should be completed within a year and will make Campo Grande II one of the company’s three largest plants in the world and the largest meat complex in Latin America. The firm added that it will also double the plant’s workforce to 4,600 people.

 

America Economia

(Bloomberg) — The billionaire Batista brothers’ stunning comeback is thrusting them into Brazil’s highest circles of power less than three weeks after their appointment to the board of JBS SA. 

Wesley and Joesley Batista — who grew their family butcher shop into the world’s largest meat producer with crucial help from Brazil’s development bank during President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s past administrations, then became involved in a massive graft scandal that brought down thousands of politicians including Lula — are now hosting the leftist leader in one of their plants that will start exporting to China.

Friday’s encounter in Campo Grande, a center-west capital in Brazil’s agricultural heartland, is part of Lula’s bet that increasing agricultural exports to the world’s second-largest economy can help reproduce the commodities-fueled good times he oversaw in the beginning of the century.

They met at a JBS factory that is set to make the first shipment of meat to China as part of a new export agreement reached in the wake of Lula’s trip to the country last year. A total of 38 Brazilian plants recently received authorization to send products to the Asian nation.

JBS plans to invest roughly 150 million reais ($29 million) to double daily production capacity at the Campo Grande facility to 4,400 cattle heads, Chief Executive Officer Gilberto Tomazoni said during Friday’s ceremony.

Brazil already relies on China for more than half of its beef exports and 70% of its soybean shipments. But Lula last year sent hundreds of leaders from the country’s influential agribusiness sector to Beijing in hopes of convincing Xi Jinping’s government to further deepen its dependence on Brazilian farm products.

 

Simone Iglesias and Gerson Freitas Jr | Bloomberg News

The spike in demand for lamb from Easter and Ramadan may be passing, with Eid al Fitr ending proceedings on 10 April. However, deadweight lamb prices have continued to hold strong, with tight supplies carrying the trade.

Deadweight lambs averaged 829.5p/kg this week, back from the March peak of 838.8p/kg, but by historic standards the lamb trade remains incredibly firm, with prices up 224p/kg on year-earlier levels.

Jonny Williams, joint operations director of marketing co-operative Farmstock Scotland, said the lamb trade is very volatile but is being driven by an emerging shortage of hoggs.

See also: Soaring lamb trade reaches new record high of £8/kg

“We’ve got massive demand from the Continent for exports of UK lamb, so we’ve seen these huge prices never seen before.

“Instinctively, you think wow, this is great for the industry, but obviously you need to see what’s going to happen in the long term to see what the implications are for the next lamb crop,” he said.

 

Charlie Reeve | Farmers Weekly

Scotland’s apprentice butchers are benefiting from a focus on innovation provided through the Scotch Butchers Club, run by Quality Meat Scotland (QMS). It recently partnered with industry leaders to provide learning and development opportunities for 24 apprentice butchers across Scotland, with a focus on value-added products.

The events, at Yorkes of Dundee and Strachans Craft Butchers in Larkhall, were led by industry experts Erin Conroy from herbs and spices specialist Verstegen, and Peter Rushforth from butchery supplier Innovative Food Ingredients.

After Erin and Peter demonstrated creating the value-added products, apprentices had hands-on experience making them. These included Scotch Beef chilli enchiladas, Specially Selected Pork peppercorn tenderloin, and a Scotch Lamb balti, allowing them to gain insights and skills to enhance their craft.

Gordon Newlands, Brand Manager at QMS said: “Product innovation remains key to enhancing profitability for Scotch Beef, Scotch Lamb, and Specially Selected Pork. By aligning with consumer preferences and offering innovative meal solutions, the butchery sector continues to thrive.

“Collaboration with industry partners, including Verstegen and Innovative Food Ingredients, highlights QMS’s commitment to empowering young butchers and driving sales within independent butcher shops.”

Sarah McLauchlan, an apprentice butcher from Strachan Craft Butchers in East Kilbride attended the event. She said: “It was great meet other apprentices and share ideas. Being able to learn from each other was motivating.

“I’ve noticed a growing demand from consumers for kitchen-ready products, which fits in perfectly with my role within the butcher shop and I have a real passion for it. I’m really excited about making dishes that customers want.

 

Quality Meat Scotland 

Prices reported as quoted or paid to IFA Members.

Strong demand. Factories paying above quotes. Steer base €5.20/5.30/kg. Heifer base €5.25/5.35kg. Young Bulls R/U €5.10/5.50/kg. Higher prices for larger and specialised lots. Cows €4.10/€4.90/kg. In-spec bonus 20c/kg for under 30 months and 8c/kg for 30 to 36 months. 12c/kg bonus for under 30 month steers and heifers grading O- and those with a fat class of 4+ that meet all other in spec criteria.

FACTORY BASE QUOTES C/KG

	Steers	Heifers	Cows
Dawn Slane	520	525	420-480
Kepak Athleague	515	520	430-470
Moyvalley Meats	515	520	420-460
Euro Farm Foods	520	525	420-490
Liffey Meats	520	525	420-480
Slaney Foods	520	525	420-480
Kepak Kilbeggan	520	525	420-480
Dawn Ballyhaunis	515	520	400-470
Foyle Meats *incl 10c 300 – 400kg	530	535	410-440
Ashbourne Meats	520	525	420-490
Meadowmeats Rathdowney	515/520	520	420-460
Charleville Foods	515/520	520	420-460
Kepak Watergrasshill	515/520	520	420-460
ABP Bandon	515/520	520	420-460
ABP Cahir	515/520	520	420-460
ABP Waterford	515/520	520	420-460
Dawn Grannagh	515/520	520	420-460
ABP Nenagh	515/520	520	420-460

 

Irish Farmers Association

Many of the staff at a Black Country pork producer and wholesaler have been laid off with no supply of pigs for slaughter given as the reason.

The measure at F A Gill at Parkfields, Wolverhampton, took effect on Monday and affected staff, including 40 butchers, have been told it may remain in place until at least May 6.

The 86-year-old former family company, which trades as Gills and is well known for its sausages, was sold in April last year.

 

John Corser | Express & Star