Milling News
Universities Federation for Animal Welfare Award winner
Harry Appleby at Writtle University College, Chelmsford, England
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project that has the potential to make ‘the greatest contribution to animal welfare science’ has gone to First Class Animal Science graduate, Harry Appleby at Writtle University College, Chelmsford, England. He was awarded the Universities Federation for Animal Welfare award on September 9, 2016. The research Harry Appleby carried out ‘aimed to provide an alternative to the slaughter of approximately 4.2 billion day-old male chicks’. He comments “this current situation is possibly the biggest ethical issue within the animal industry.” The methodology behind the research was based upon hormone analysis and Harry told Milling and Grain that he quantitatively evaluated the concentration of oestrone sulphate within the allantoic fluid of developing ISA Brown chicken embryos during the early stages of development. Crucial to the justification of this project, Harry said “the analysis of hormone concentrations and accurate sex identification of female and male embryos in ovo, was achieved prior to the development of pain perception.” The main results of the research suggested that a breed difference in hormone concentration may exist between domestic poultry breeds. Conscious that the world population is expected to reach an estimated 9.5 billion by 2050, Harry stated that achieving sustainability and providing an ethical form of food production should be the ultimate goal of all sectors within the livestock industry. Whilst he is confident that a cost effective, practical alternative to the slaughter of day-old male chicks will soon become standard practice he reminds us “this can only be achieved through strong cooperation between the
scientific community, UK government, and the poultry industry.” Despite the current process of slaughtering 50 percent of all incubated eggs is, as Harry describes, “unethical, unsustainable and uneconomical,” with the results of his research and further investment, he summarises that ‘a solution may well be on the horizon’. Harry has subsequently found himself a job with a top poultry company. It is promising to hear industry leaders of the future may include such individuals as Harry, who has been successful in striving towards implementing alternative approaches within the industry.
Final share payments made following Wessex Grain takeover
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efetra Ltd confirmed recently that final payments due to the farmer shareholders of Wessex Grain following the acquisition have been processed, drawing the takeover to a successful conclusion. Cefetra, a leading UK agri-business, acquired the entire share capital of Wessex Grain through a multi-million pound bid after receiving almost 100 percentapproval from shareholders in November 2015. The remaining 50p balance of the £5.75 per share was paid in cash to the holders in August 2016. Since the acquisition, Wessex Grain has reported growth in its export programme with an increased number of grain vessels completing their journey to European ports with malting barley, OSR, milling oats and feed barley.
12 | October 2016 - Milling and Grain
Simon Wilcox, previously managing director at Wessex Grain, commented, “The process of becoming part of Cefetra has developed well and I now feel the two businesses have fully integrated, with significant benefits to Wessex Grain and our farmer growers already evident. “Our export programme has expanded with additional vessels being loaded out of south coast ports increasing our total tonnage by some 20%. Cefetra has also invested significantly, injecting a six-figure sum into the business to improve facilities at the Henstridge store and office. “The Wessex Grain team are now playing a key role in developing Cefetra’s grain origination business that is expanding nationwide. New farm grain buyers are covering East
Anglia, the North-East and Scotland and further recruitment is ongoing. Cefetra provides farmer growers access to key markets within the UK and across Europe.” Andrew Mackay, managing director at Cefetra, added: “This deal benefitted all parties; shareholders by an immediate cash return, Wessex Grain by enhancing its position as a strong regional grain buyer and more crucially farmers across the region by offering them a major independent and financially strong business to work with to market their grain. Shareholders will now get the remaining balance as agreed and on schedule. “Moving forward we plan to build upon the success of this acquisition to continue expanding both the farm grain origination business across the UK and tonnage, alongside the range of operations for Wessex Grain and its farming suppliers.”