14 RotecnaWorld

ROTECNAWORLD NUMBERFOURTEEN2012

SUMMARY FUTURENEWS

MAP OF ADAPTATION TO THE EUROPEAN LEGISLATION ON ANIMAL WELFARE TECHNOLOGY

The new generation: tr4 and tr5 feeders TECHNOLOGY

feeding ball, whith new plastic support

LETTERFROMTHEEDITOR PIG PRODUCTION IN...

Impossible. This year is impossible. We cannot stop talking about the animal welfare laws. Even if we try not to. It is the subject. The European Union still insists on the 1st of January 2013 as the deadline and that there will be no moratorium. Some countries are already ready, with 100% of their farms up to date, with the breeding sows in groups, which is really the most important part. The other countries that have still to do their homework are going to have a very bust second half to the year to be able to comply with the deadline at the last gasp.

THAILAND

GLOBALPIG

Gener Romeu Rotecna's President

A LOOK AT GLOBAL PIG MARKETS

One of the questions about all these changes in European pig farms is to know what the final panorama will be like: production figures, herds, etc.. So a study by the British BPEX that we summarise in this edition is interesting, as it considers three possible scenarios after the 1st of January 2013. It is worth keeping them in mind to know how to act in time and with skill, whichever of the three arises, although we suppose that pour representatives in the European Union must already have the safety prepared in case there is a slip. They have the prior experience of the layers.

ROTECNA WORLD 14 JULY 2012 EDITION: Rotecna, s.a.

POL.IND. NAU-3, 25310 AGRAMUNT (LLEIDA) SPAIN DIRECTOR: GENER ROMEU EDITION/PRODUCTION/DESIGN: Montse GUERRERO (MG) EDITORS: montse PALAU (MP) BEGOÑA GIMÉNEZ (BG) TRADUCTION: CHRIS BOSWELL NADIA YUREVA

Taking a look at the world pig markets and we go further into this in this edition, we can only mention that given the fall in production for the global figures from the EU for 2012, the rise in the USA will balance out western production while we prepare for the effects the power of the herds in China, specifically, and the emerging Asian countries in general, will have. We will se how these forces balance out.

In this edition, we turn our attention to Thailand, one of these Asian countries that have undergone a continuous growth in pig production over recent years. This growth is the result of stricter policies on health checks and animal welfare by leaders looking to internationalisation and producers who have increased their investments in more sophisticated equipment and installations, with a view not only to domestic production but also to the export market.

Print: Imprenta barnola ISSN: L-41-2007

Gener Romeu Rotecna's World's editors accept no liability for contributor's opinion

ROTECNANEWS

Getting ourselves ready for another 20 years In 2011, Rotecna celebrated our 20th anniversary.

Twenty years during which the installations have also suffered from the passing of time. To initiate a new cycle of at least two more decades, the management took the decision to update the plant.

Last year, Rotecna began refurbishing the installations. The interior of the offices not only changed colour but also the Rotecna philosophy was also captured in a series of famous quotes that, among other aspects, emphasise the special value of the team and its energy as the sum of all guarantees is the work well done.

The façade has also been done up with special attention given to the company’s most representative icons: the “piglets” that hang from the upper part of the building, welcoming visitors who find it almost impossible not to enter Rotecna without a smile on their faces.

Despite the time they spent exposed to the elements, the piglets were still in very good conditions, which shows that they were made

by a professional team who guarantee high standards.

Lastly, the Rotecna brand that had crowned the central offices with the logo since the beginning was also changed. In 2004, the logotype was restyled and then applied to the corporate image with only the sign on the facade of the building still to be changed.

Knowing the difficulty that reproducing the new logotype meant, the task has been a special aspect of the improvements to our installations.

Finally, a good proposal and an adequate structure have resolved what was pending for the image of Rotecna. In Rotecna we are ready for the new times and looking forward to the coming twenty years. n Editor (MG).

SOMETHINGABOUT...

Barça a factory of emotions “More than a club” is the slogan the FC Barcelona began to use in 1968 as a symbol of identity. And that FC Barcelona, is what it has more than a become.

More than a club, a club. It is the factory of most e m o t i o n s . representative Emotions and dreams, especially sports over the last four institution of years. When Pep Guardiola arrived Catalonia and as the manager of one of its the first team in July 2008, it meant leading consolidating a ambassadors model, a way of understanding around the football. Pep had world. come up through La Masia, the youth-squad training centre, and played for the first team throughout most of his professional career. Then

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he started managing Barça B before becoming the only manager in the world to win all the possible titles in a single year. The King’s Cup, the Spanish League, the Champion’s League, the Spanish Super Cup, the European Super Cup and the Club World Cup. That’s he become a hero, a role model for players and society at large. Because Guardiola gave the people hope, created emotions and not false ones, but with dedication, humility and a lot of hard workvalues that reinforce the Barça philosophy of being “more than a club”.

The players from La Masia have been essential in this stage. Some of the leading players of the Guardiola period: Iniesta, Piqué, Cesc Fàbregas and Messi himself. Clubs from all over the world want to follow a similar model. This sports school was founded in 1979, at first as a residence for players from outside

Catalonia. Nowadays, it is six thousand square-metre centre on five floors equipped with the latest technologies, all the comforts possible and, the most important, a place to train players as sportsmen and also people.

All this has allowed Barça to project its image internationally and win supporters all over the world.

According to the latest figures published in 2011, it has 180,000 members, the second club in number of associates in the world (after SL Benfica). It is one of the teams with most fans. According to the latest numbers, there are 1,375 official supporter’s clubs spread over the five continents. From the beginning it has always maintained itself as a non-profit making sports association and its participation in charitable activities has been recognised on various occasions. It gives 0.7% of its income to the Foundation that

contributes to UNICEF’s humanitarian mission.

Beyond its ideals, FC Barcelona moves millions and despite not being a company, it generates large profits.

According to the study “Football Money League” by the consultant Deloitte, the annual turnover of Barça is 450 million euros. This allows large investments in players and installations. The Camp Nou Experience, or the museum of emotions, has the third highest number of visitors in Spain. Over one and a half million people visited it in 2011. The last season has been one of “records, excellent and exciting”seventeen official titles and, for the first time ever, the four sections of the club have all won their leagues. A new season is about to begin at Barça, one that guarantees the continuity of the successful model.

The Guardiola cycle has finished, at least for now…” n Editor (BG).

FUTURENEWS

Map of adaptation to the European Legislation on Animal Welfare Sixteen members states expect to meet the deadlines.

Luxembourg was the meeting point for the European Union agriculture ministers on the 26th and 27th of April. Among other subjects, the Council had asked each member state for updated percentages for compliance with the animal welfare regulations that will come into force on the 1st of January 2013.

According to European Union sources, 16 of the 27 members are convinced that they will comply 100% with the normative on the above-mentioned date, especially regarding groups of sows. These are Belgium, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Ireland, Hungary, Lithuania, Malta, Holland, Rumania, Sweden, Slovakia and the United Kingdom.

However, according to the same sources only 30% of the farms currently comply with the regulations in Belgium, Germany and Ireland, “which” the same source stated, “means they will have difficulties to reach the target”. In the case of Spain, the Union believes that only 90% of farms will be in compliance at the beginning of 2013. The EU currently has no data referring to such members as France and Portugal.

According to the data presented, in January 2012, 53% of the farms in Spain had been adapted to the legislation on pregnant sows. In Luxembourg, Sweden and the United Kingdom, the percentage is up to 100%; the 95% in the Czech Republic, 75% in Denmark, 70% in Germany and Holland, 60% in Austria, 50% in Belgium, an estimated 30% in France (given a lack of data) and 40% in Italy.

In the Council of Ministers in April, together with the Commission, many member states expressed the need for strict compliance with the deadline to implement the animal welfare legislation for pregnant sows.

They consider that there is a high demand among European consumers on this subject a so “everything must be done as projected to avoid any distortion of competition among the states on the 1st of January 2013”, according to the Council.

Given the current figures on adaptation, another theme that generates concern in the short term is to know how this legislation will affect the European productive sector. In this sense, the British entity BPEX has published a study that envisages 3 possible scenarios: one in which European production falls by 5%; the second, with a 10% drop in production; and the last under which European pig production would be reorganised.

British producers are well aware of what a change in the census implies and its consequences on the market. In 1999, the United Kingdom implemented news animal welfare standards, which meant a 40% reduction in herds. This situation led the traders to opt for imports of cheaper products than the domestic ones.

The report states that the first scenario is the most desirable, given that despite the drop in production, there would be a rise in the price of fattening pigs, especially in those from farms that comply with the normative.

Scenario 1 Total E.U. production pork meat would drop by 5% compared with 2011.

This would lead to an increase of at least 10% in the price of fattening pigs for those farms who comply with the normative.

The prices for pigs from farmers who did not comply would drop as many traders and processors would be reluctant to purchase this product.

As there is still surplus capacity in the processing sector in the European Union, the expected fall in pig production would reorganise the sector.

In the second scenario, the less real according to BPEX, a greater drop in production (between one and two years of lower production) could lead to a shortfall in the European Union and thus, the consumers will pay more for pork meat.

Scenario 2 Strict application of the regulations throughout the EU, which would mean a fall in production of up to 10%.

A loss of production on this scale would affect the price of pork meat in the European Union and could provoke a significant increase in prices for processors and traders who would have to compete for this meat.

Sure supplies could become a priority above that of prices.

The price increase would inevitably be passed on to the consumers, possibly putting pressure on politicians to react to increase the supply of pork (especially in countries with comparatively high per-capita consumption).

In this case, the options would be to stimulate the expansion of production in the EU (difficult in the current economic situation) or open new markets for importing from third countries. In the latter case, it would be difficult to find countries that comply with the animal welfare norms.

In the long term, the implications of these political movements will lead to changes in the structure of the European supply chain.

Under the third scenario, balancing production would be fundamental, as

although production would initially fall in some E.U. countries (like those in the north), others could cover this drop. For example, eastern European countries.

Some EU countries already comply with the welfare normative.

Scenario 3 The possible third scenario would involve a reorganisation of EU production with the breeding and fattening of pigs concentrated in different member states.

The initial decrease in farm sizes in northwest Europe would be compensated for with other parts of the E.U. rapidly covering the shortfalls.

Many producers in eastern and southern Europe would opt for fattening piglets from northwest Europe.

The legislative changes will also lead to changes in European pig production.

This could lead to a sort of integration (with producers from northwest Europe supplying piglets to cost low feedlots in eastern and southern Europe) and could also mean a general reduction in production costs.

A great obstacle would remain regarding animal welfare given the reluctance to the large-scale transport of piglets across Europe. n Editor (MP).

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TECHNOLOGY

A new generation of:

TR5 and TR4 The TR dry feeders for weaners.

A new generation of the TR feeders for weaners: TR-5 with 5 outlets and TR-4 with 4 outlets taking over their large advantages that have been prooved during 12 years and that have made the TR feeder the best option of dry feeding for weaners.

Now the TR feeder has grown and been improved to continue to be essential for the most demanding farmers.

The new version of this ROTECNA classic has added advantages:

TR-4

MORE HEIGHT, MORE VOLUME

RAISED FEET, MORE HYGIENE

BETTER ROBUSTNESS

This prevents the access of weaners inside the feeder. With the incremented height the new TR feeder for weaners has now more capacity up to 120L.of feed.

Thanks to the raised feet the new TR feeder is now more elevated. Also taking into account the absence of sharp corners inside the feeder, the tasks of cleaning and hygiene have become easier as well as keeping the sanitary conditions.

The incorporation of ondulated elements in the design of the front part of the feeder makes the structure more robust and resistant to possible deformations.

Slide gate Sandwich system.

Easy regulation.

As well as these novelties, the TR feeders still have the same characteristics as always, the ones it has built its reputation on: Easy to adjust. The exclusive slide gate (sandwich) system allows the feeder to be adjusted when it is full of feed and lets the feed slide easily inside it as there are no obstacles or sharp angles.

Greater durability from being built completely from plastic (high-density polypropylene) and stainless steel. It is very resistant to wear from the use by the animal and the corrosive and oxidising agents (water and feed). To optimise space during transport, the TRs for weaning are stacked and palletized.

given the changes the piglets undergo after being weaned, especially in the aspect of feeding. That is why it is worth paying attention to the feed dispensing equipment. Over the years, the TR5 and TR4 have shown that they are the best options for dry feeding. Their capacity and adjustment have been two of the key aspects that have turned them into the ideal feeder.

30

• View packaging of TR5/TR4: 30 units/pallet.

TECHNICAL DETAILS: • Feeder outlets

pallet size: 110x140x222 cm.

14,5

67

11,5

• Animal live weight, kg

5

4

15

27

25 6-30

6-40

• Feed Capacity, L

120

• Feeder height, cm

70

• Feeder height + extension, cm

80

• Feeder length, cm

80

• Feeder width, cm

30

• Outlet length , cm

The weaning phase is one of the most delicate in the production process

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TR-4

• Nº animals for feeder

80

75

TR-5

15

18,7

TECHNOLOGY

FEEDING BALL New support, greater versatility.

In 2012, ROTECNA have optimised their Feeding Ball, with a new support that gives the farmer new possibilities for installation. It is optimized for litters and also for group gestation.

With the Feeding Ball the animal can choose its feeding rate with a simple easily-learned movement as it simulates the natural rooting action.

The great difference with the previous support for the Feeding Ball is that the new one is made of plastic, while the earlier version was built of stainless steel. The new support makes the positioning of the product in the pen much more flexible, thus making more types of fixings valid without the need to change or adapt them. The optimised design gives the farmer even greater access to the feeder, making it even easier to handle. Moreover, the unit is very simple to dismount for cleaning.

The Feeding Ball lets the animal dose the amount of feed assigned to it with the dose control, depending on its appetite, without wasting a single gram and always

eating fresh feed. The animal gently hits the ball of the mechanism and the quantity of feed stipulated in dose control falls into the Sow Bowl or channel.

Whatever option is chosen (stainless steel or plastic support), the farmer is guaranteed a good result, as both supports hold a product that, since its launch in 2004, has become a very good option for increasing feed consumption in maternity.

One of the outstanding aspects of the Feeding Ball is that it has the necessary compliments for filling, either from a dispenser or a feeder.

Rotecna have developed the perfectly adapted sets for either loading option.

The Feeding Ball is apt for: Farrowing and gestation

ADVANTAGES OF THE NEW SUPPORT: • INSTALLATION VERSATILITY The plastic support provides the product with more installation versatility in the crate and allows mounting it with other fixing elements with no necessity of changing or adaptation.

• ECONOMIC

FEEDING BALL IN FARROWING: • Very easy learning.

• Helps to avoid feed wastage.

• Possibility of two types of feeding: restricted and Ad Libitum.

• Provides for fresh feed 24 h. a day.

• Prevents sow stress.

• Increases the feedintake.

View of the position of the Feeding Ball in the maternity pen.

It is more economic than the stainless steel one as it is made of plastic.

• EASY ACCESS Its design allows improving the access to the mechanism and the regulation providing for easier manipulation. It is very easy to dismantle the device for cleaning.

Feeding Ball installed in a farrowing room.

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PIGPRODUCTIONIN...

Pig production in Thailand

A constant rise in pig breeding in this Asiatic country.

In recent years, pig production in Thailand has tended to grow, although more or less progressively. It was in 2010 and 2011 when the growth of the herds as at its highest, showing its potential. Despite this, the country still has shortfalls in safety and hygiene, key points for exports. Investment in this has begun but there is still a long way to go.

In recent years, pig production in Thailand has tended to grow, although more or less progressively. It was in 2010 and 2011 when the growth of the herds as at its highest, showing its potential. Despite this, the country still has shortfalls in safety and hygiene, key points for exports.

Investment in this has begun but there is still a long way to go.

The importance of The food safety and modernisation hygiene was the of Thai farms, a starting point for challenge for restructuring the the government. pig industry in Thailand.

The government and industry have made extensive improvements in the farms, slaughterhouses and food processing chains. The Department of Livestock Development includes protecting consumer health in its targets by reinforcing access to safety in all the The rise in food products derived safety in from animal breeding, a key Thailand is point for exports.

One of the measures responding to taken was the the demand for decision to establish at least one healthier and slaughterhouse more hygienic modern in each of 76 municipalities pork meat. This around the country.

is of special

In recent years, the importance to pig industry Thailand has grown rapidly, the large and the industry is aware of its potential companies with on both the domestic access to and international markets. Thai farmers overseas and processors have markets. increased their investments in modern technology and new equipment with an eye to the opportunities to export, although the economic requirements are high.

The pig industry in Thailand is dominated by a few large companies.

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Only these large companies distribute pork meat and other products on the domestic and external markets. The small producers mainly supply the local market and small and mediumsized slaughterhouses are scattered all over the country.

PIG PRODUCTION IN THAILAND PRODUCTION (NUMBER OF PIGS)

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010 (p)

2011 (f)

QUANTITY (MILLION)

10,4

11,6

10,5

10,2

11,5

12,5

VOLUME PRODUCTION (THOUSAND TONS)

787

880

795

772

871

946

IMPORT OF SWINE

319,0

234,0

257,0

39,0

N/A

N/A

HOUSEHOLD CONSUMPTION

776

869

783

761

858

930

12,4

13,8

12,3

12,0

13,0

14,1

EXPORT OF SWINE

QUANTITY (THOUSAND TONS)

11,0

10,2

12,3

11,0

12,9

16,0

AMOUNT (MILLION OF BAHT)

1.539

1.435

1.739

2.015

2.418

2.988

% EXPORT ON OUTPUT

1,40

1,16

1,54

1,42

1,48

1,69

(THOUSAND TONS)

Production: domestic consumption and exports Regarding production, the data from the end of 2011 (see table) indicate that there were 12.5 million pigs, a million more than in December 2010, which shows the country’s potential for growth. In 2010 production increased by 1.3 million pigs more than 2009. However, not all news from Thailand was good in 2011, as an outbreak of PRRS caused a drop in production, estimated at 30%.

Without this, the figures would have been even better. Naturally, the outbreak and the consequent shortage also affected prices, which hit 160 bath per kilo, when the 2010 average was 90-100 bath.

The per-capita annual domestic consumption of pork meat in Thailand in 2011 (see table) was 14.1 kilos and this is soon expected to reach 15 kg per person per year, according to the president of the Swine Raisers Association of Thailand, Mr. Surachai Sutthitham. The data for the end of 2011 place domestic consumption at 930.25 thousand tonnes, 7.56 thousand more than in 2010. Another data that confirms the growth that the country is undergoing. Although pork consumption has risen over recent years, it is expected to do so even more, thanks, for example, to the expected rise in salaries. Another of the direct causes of this rise in consumption was the avian flu outbreak, which benefited pork over poultry.

Regarding exports, the final figures for 2011 (see table) show how these were 1.69% of total production, a growth of 0.22% over 2010. The most positive export figures are from 2002, when they reached 1585 tonnes,

PER CAPITA CONSUMPTION/YEAR (KG)

Source: Department of Livestock Development, Swine Producers and Processors for Exporting Association y Swine Raisers Association of Thailand.

2.3% of that year’s production. Most of these exports are prepared food that is sent mainly to Japan and Europe. Singapore, South Korea and Malaysia are the new overseas markets that Thailand is keenest to export to. That is where they can grow if there are no health or food safety problems. An important reason why the government is attempting to modernise the sector is to increase exports, especially to Hong Kong and Japan, which are already customers.

In the case of the European Union, has yet to give its approval to the conditions on Thai farms, so fresh meat is not allowed into the EU, and this does not seem to be about to change in the near future unless there is a heavy investment in food safety and the modernisation of the methods used in the slaughterhouses.

Situation of the market The majority of the municipalities manage their own pig slaughterhouses, while the large slaughterhouses orientated towards exports are in the hands of large Thai companies. In the first case, the municipalities use manual procedures to sacrifice the pigs with veterinarian supervision, although the hygiene checks are still simple if compared with those in the developed countries. In 2009, Narai Chimmi, vicepresident of Bangkok Food Products Co said, “Over 80% of the pork is produced with scant health checks and without animal welfare methods”.

The slaughter costs in the municipal slaughterhouses are low, this being the main reason why they are still working. This goes against the efforts by many farmers who are attempting to modernise their farms to increase efficiency. Their merits are dissipated when the pigs arrive in these slaughterhouses. It is, however, true that efforts have been made in recent years to overcome the problem of the Thai slaughterhouses: collecting funds to modernise them or build new ones, this being vital for Thailand if exports are a target.

The small slaughterhouses sacrifice 15 pigs/hour, the mid sized ones, 100, and the large installations 200 pigs/hour.

Opportunities The opportunity for exports to Hong Kong and Japan is another of the challenges for the Thai pig industry, as these are seen as an economic advantage for the country. However, as mentioned above, this will be closely linked to modern technologies and equipment that can offer overseas markets, with a guarantee of food safety and hygiene. The investments are being done and these are expected to increase in the coming years. n Editor (MP).

REFERENCES: • “Equipment and Technology for Pig Slaughterhouses in Thailand”, Royal Danish Embassy Bangkok, marzo 2009.

• Pig Progress, agosto 2011.

• www.thepigsite.com, agosto 2011

GLOBALPIG

A look at global pig markets In May, Rabobank presented a report about the pig markets for the next quarter.

The Dutch company Rabobank expects the second quarter of 2012 to be stable, with slight pressure on the prices in the pig sector, and a modest recovery in the second half of the year. The report states that the “success” of the intense season in the northern hemisphere and the prospects of imports from Asia will be the keys that determine the market factors during 2012, without forgetting that the producers will need to control the raw material harvests, to detail the margin of error in feed supplies.

In line with the expectations, the Rabobank index for five countries (Brazil, China, United States, Canada and the Union European) continued with its tendency to fall in the first four months of 2012 with 4.3% less than in July 2011. The recovery of Chinese production and the reduction in imports were the main causes, with a slight rise expected in global production.

The world pig market is getting back to a “normal” situation, now that the imports related to disease in Asia have dried up. This has mainly affected the United States, where the optimistic rise in exports in 2011 stopped, which reflects the drop in prices in China. It is also notable that exports from the European Union were still strong in January-February 2012 with an increase of 17% compared with the same period in 2011, but a certain pressure is expected in the coming months.

The interruption of trade is still playing an important role in the global industry. The fact that Brazil still does not allow exports of pork to Russia and the strength of the Brazilian currency are the leading reasons why pig prices are low there.

Similarly, the fall in prices has led farmers to protest against imports in South Korea and Taiwan.

Everything points to a drop in production in Europe in 2012 in contrast with the rise in the United States and the potential of Chinese herds.

China Chinese pig supplies continued to pick up after the fall in 2011, with 3.8% growth in the first two months of 2012 compared with the same period of 2011. Although the census of pigs dropped during 3 consecutive months from December 2011, the number of sows increased until January 2012. This shows that the producers are optimistic about 2012.

Prices are expected to pick up in the short term after the health problems have been solved.

Pig prices are expected to tend to decrease, with periodical fluctuations, throughout the remainder of 2012. It is probable that prices drop by 15 to 20% in summer, the season with lowest meat consumption, compared with the 2011 average. The fall in pig prices will affect the profitability of the farms and will reduce the replacement of stocks, which will recover next winter. The result will be another peak in prices at the high point of the next season of high consumption, the fourth quarter of 2012 and beginning of 2013.

United States Prices fell considerably in the last week of April, by 10% and closed 25% below last autumn’s peak.

Production costs are still high, due to high prices for corn and flour. The main theme in America is perhaps exports, which seem to have gone back to normal after the last year of strong sales to Korea, China and Japan. American demand in the restaurant trade is still low and has weakened in small businesses.

With the panorama of low prices for the animals, farmers’ profitability has also dropped. With weak demand, the prospects for profitability for both producers and processors fell modestly at the end of last year, but the margins are expected to stay positive. The factors that can affect profits during 2012 are the corn and soy harvests, and exports, especially to China.

European Union The prospects for prices in the EU are positive, especially if we take into account the upcoming European Cup in Poland in June and the London Olympics in July, together with the piglets prices 19% higher in March.

However, we must also bear in mind the resistance of shops to these high prices and the pressure of exports and the purchasing power of consumers.

Still, the higher prices for piglets were due to a lower number of sows (-3.4%), according to the inventory of December 2011. Rabobank expects a 1% reduction in pig production in the EU during 2012. In 2013, the leading question will be the impact of the suppression of sow crates and its effect on sow herds. Nevertheless, the high piglet prices encourage those producers who planned to stop

trading in 2013 to continue until the end 2012.

Canada

Global pig prices have remained stable in recent weeks after the Chinese government announced that they had begun to build up stocks of frozen pork.

The Canadian pig herd are stable at about 1.3 million head. The number of sows has remained constant since early 2010 and will remain so into the future.

The growth in production is closely linked to exports, which do not seem to be increasing, as they must face the weakness of the dollar.

Exports are expected to fall by 12% in 2012, while imports will rise by 5.4%.

Brazil Since the start of 2012, pig prices have fallen by 14% in Brazil. Weak domestic demand and an increase in supply have had strong effects on prices. Consumption has fallen (as usually happens in the Easter The United period) and the States and China producers have increased their will have offer to mitigate pressures for the losses resulting from the exports, the high price of and the EU, for pigs together with the high the high prices. feed costs.

The outlook is brighter for exports, as these have grown 5% in the first quarter, despite the difficulty of sales to Argentina. In contrast, they have grown in Hong Kong and Ukraine.

Prices will remain weak for the second quarter of 2012, but should recover in the third and fourth. n Editor (MP).

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The most extensive range of products for pig equipment

PANS MAXI PAN MAXI HOPPER PAN MAXITAINER for MAXI PAN TECNA PAN initiation pan EASY PAN initiation pan MINI PAN MINI HOPPER PAN MINITAINER

FEEDERS GROW FEEDER MAXI GROW FEEDER MINI SOW FEEDER SWING R3 DUO SWING R3 WET SWING R3 TUBE TR2 FEEDER TR5 FEEDERS SOW BOWL FEEDING BALL

DISPENSERS CLUTCH DISPENSER DOSIMATIC SIMPLEX D-2 FOUR CLUTCH ADAPTER LINE SIMPLEX ADAPTER LINE DISPENSER OUTLET ADAPTER

DRINKING BOWLS & VR-H VALVE VR-H SWING DRINKER EASY DRINKER DUO EASY DRIKER MINI EASY DRIKER MIDI PVC PVC PROFILES (50,25,10 cm) CLOSE PVC PEN DIVIDERS OPEN PVC PEN DIVIDERS DOORS FAST LOCK BRACKETS U BRACKETS SOLID GRIP

FLOOR DELTA BEAM PROFILE T PROFILE DELTA NET SYSTEM ERGOFIX BASIC POST BEAM CLICK-IN

SPLAYLEG STOP

CORNER 50Ø / 60Ø

ZINC-PLATED STEEL CHAIN 50Ø / 60Ø

CHAIN AND DISK SYSTEM

NITRURATED CARBON CHAIN 50Ø / 60Ø

• Shock absorbing teeth system.

• Easy adjustable chain tensioning system with graduation scale.

• Corners with easy aperture system.

• Silo extraction system with an agitator.

SLATS DROP KITS 55Ø / 75Ø / 90Ø

MOTORES CON UNIDAD DE CONTROL

AUGER SYSTEM AUGERS 55Ø / 75Ø / 90Ø

The silo outlet system consist of a silo boot, a transfer unit and a slide gate assembly that allows horizontal and inclined installation.

WEANER BLIND PARTIAL BLIND SOW TRAP SLAT WEAN TO FINISH 1200mm ELECTRIC HEATED PLATE 60mm WATER HEATED PLATE CAST IRON FERROCAST LEVEL BED / RAISED