29 Rotecna World

ROTECNAWORLD NUMBER TWENTY NINE 2016

SUMMARY TECHNOLOGY

DOSITRONIC, COMPREHENSIVE ELECTRONIC FEED MANAGEMENT SYSTEM EUROTIER2016

ROTECNA SUCCESSFULLY PRESENTS ITS LATEST NOVELTIES AT EUROTIER PIGPRODUCTIONIN...

RUSIA SEEKS SELF-SUFFICIENCY IN PIG PRODUCTION ROTECNANEWS

LETTER FROMTHEEDITOR 2016 has been a special year. We celebrated our 25th anniversary together with a large number of our domestic and international clients, and we have decided to open Rotecna to new shareholders, with the aim of continuing to grow and add new collaborators to our great family.

DESPATCH SECTION SOMETHINGABOUT

LA GARROTXA, VOLCANIC AREA

Gener Romeu Rotecna's President

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DECEMBER 2016 EDITION: ROTECNA, S.A.- POL. IND. NAU-3, 25310 AGRAMUNT (LLEIDA) SPAIN DIRECTOR: GENER ROMEU EDITOR: TAMARA LOMBARDO PRODUCTION/DESIGN: MONTSE GUERRERO TRADUCTION: CHRIS BOSWELL PRINT: IMPRENTA BARNOLA L-41-2007

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Unfortunately, the pig sector is not going through the best of times, especially regarding the European market, where a surplus of pig meat has kept prices low, and the extra production costs for environmental and welfare questions has reduced the profit margins for farmers and thus, their ability to invest. However, we must be optimistic and trust that better times will come. The forecasts indicate that world pig meat consumption will continue to rise, thanks mainly to the increase in demand in China, where there are also important projects underway to move towards increasingly industrial and sustainable pig production.

In this line, in Rotecna we are working to establish new strategic alliances in the Asian market.

On the other hand, the good reception and the interest generated by the novelties we presented at EuroTier makes us especially optimistic about 2017. The Dositronic, the SIX-D, the new drop dispenser and slat models were among the products we launched. The product that sparked special interest was the Dositronic (electronic system for integral feed management), given its capacity to improve feeding in such vital phases as farrowing, with a very intuitive handling system. Another product that generated a lot of expectation was the slurry separator, part of the new line of business that we have set up for optimum and profitable treatment of livestock waste. Our bid for innovation is still our best asset to continue growing.

Gener Romeu

Rotecna's World's editors accept no liability for contributor's opinion.

ROTECNAWE CELEBRATE 25 YEARS WITH...

DESPATCH PROFILE: · Year of creation: · Number of workers:

1991 13

(11 preparers and 2 drivers) · Trucks and containers despatched / year: 1,500 · Products despatched /year:

4.5 million

From left to right, Abdenasser Mellah, Jonathan Rojas, Joan Marc Brusi, Pablo Sebastián Mozzi, Jordi Hortet, Eduard Artigas, Germà Comella, Joan Bosch, Pedro Cobos and Octavio Bedoya. Photo: RotecnaPress.

In 2013, the company extended its installations and designed the project for a new despatch area that came into service at the end of 2014.

From the operator’s memory to a smart warehouse. This has been the evolution of the despatch department in Rotecna since its creation in 1991.

Nowadays, a team of eleven preparers and two drivers take care of managing the despatch of all the material clients order. The beginnings of the despatch section were in shed in

Rotecna, a place that served as both a storehouse and for despatching. In the early years, the range of products was not very wide, so all the material came directly from the factory to be distributed and could be left on the floor without problems until it was sent out. Then, when an order came in, the operator prepared it in the

SOMETHINGABOUT...

store and noted down the despatch of the material. Everything was done by memory and on paper, and there was a weekly inventory of the products in the warehouse to know what was in short supply and thus what had to be produced.

Over the years, the increase in production made it necessary to add shelving and acquire a forklift to obtain more space and make use of the height of the sheds. Despite this, everything was still manual and every time an order arrived, the operator had to look for each of the products and note down its despatch. It was not until 2008 when the investment was made to computerise all the product codes and create an intelligent warehouse to improve the process of despatching the products.

This way, the section went from doing everything completely manually to having an IT system and ‘pistols’ that inform the operators where each product is and how much stock of each item is available. This advance has optimised the everyday working of the department while also improving and speeding up service for the clients.

Despite these improvements, a lack of space continued to be a problem for despatches. The company was creating new products and investing in new machinery, which meant an augment of production and stock for sale, as there was more and more finished products and less space to store them. After temporary solutions to make room for all the material, in 2013 the company decided to extend its installations into land next to the production plant and to design a new despatch area that would come into service at the end of 2014.

Capacity to have 14 loads prepared The new despatch area meant a large qualitative leap for both workers and clients. Thus, the new area has three sheds (two for storing sealed pallets

LA GARROTXA What to see

Image of the Croscat volcano. Photo: Turisme Garrotxa.

FORTY VOLCANIC CONES, CRATERS AND LAVA STREAMS 2

Between the Pyrenees and the beaches of the Costa Brava lies the Volcanic Area of La Garrotxa (Girona). With landscapes that are unique in Europe, the Garrotxa Natural Park stretches over eleven municipalities, and contains some forty volcanic cones, craters, basalt walls (formed when lave cools down) and lava streams under its forests, proof of the volcanic activity in the area thousands of years ago. The last eruption registered took place 11,000 years ago, and, although the risk is low nowadays, the probability is there, as the experts consider that the volcanic area of La Garrotxa is still active.

There are many possibilities for tourism in the Garrotxa Natural Park. However, if you don’t have much time, there are some places that must be seen to get an idea of the size and value of this volcanic area. So, if we want to discover what is considered the best example of volcanic landscape in the Iberian Peninsula, we can begin our tour in the town of Olot, visiting the Montsacopa volcano in the town centre. At the top of this 120-metre diameter volcano is the church of Sant Francesc with excellent views over Olot and the volcanic area of La Garrotxa. We can also use our stay in the town to visit the Parc Nou (New Park) to see the characteristic flora of the area and to find information about the natural park in the information point in Torre Castanys, a fine modernist building. Before leaving Olot, it is recommendable to walk around the old centre with its buildings and historical monuments built after the earthquakes of 1427 and 1428.

Our route continues to Castellfollit de la Roca to see the impressive view from the village perched on top of a huge basalt cliff over 40 metres high. As you stroll around the streets, you will see that most of the buildings are

ROTECNANEWS

SECTION and one for individual items of finished products), where each operator also has a work-station with a table and the required tools.

Outside, there is a large open area mainly for storing slats, and a covered area for the loads for the trucks and containers, with 14 lanes and two loading bays.

Everything is registered On the other hand, with the rise in production and the volume of despatches, it became necessary to manage well any possible claims from clients for incomplete orders or disrepair. That is why, two years ago, it was decided to install cameras on all the forklifts to record all the loading of trucks and containers. Thus, given a claim, it is always possible to check the images of the material that was loaded. The despatch department assure that this option has served to reduce the claims that were processed for possible errors in the loads drastically.

1,500 trucks/containers despatched / year The despatch department loads an average of three containers and between two and three trucks a day, as well as processing smaller orders. Thus, over a year, some 1,500 trucks and containers are despatched. The international destinations with the highest demand are Central and South American countries like Guatemala, Colombia and Mexico.

Regarding the products, in 2016, the 60x80 weaning slat and the panels are the star products.

Wide loading bay in the new despatch installations. Photo: RotecnaPress.

We keep growing The work in the despatch section goes on from first thing in the morning to five in the evening when loading finishes for the day. Given the large volume of work and the company’s expectations for growth, the future of the department involves being able to offer more hours for loading.

Jordi Hortet, head of the section Ten years ago, Jordi Hortet, an IT technician and programmer, decided to leave his long career in a direct marketing company to work for Rotecna. On the 26th of October 2006, he began a new professional stage as the head of the despatch department.

“Rotecna has always had a great capacity for innovation, continually launching new products, which has placed it in a leading position in the pig sector. Precisely, despatches have grown as the company has added its new products, as the production increases and we are left without space to store the finished product”, he explained.

Jordi Hortet, head of the section.

Foto: RotecnaPress.

VOLCANIC AREA made mainly of volcanic material, and the pavements and furnishing of the old centre are all basalt.

Leaving Castellfollit de la Roca behind and, in full nature, you find Croscat, the youngest volcano in the Garrotxa volcanic area. It erupted twice, the first and most important time 17,000 years ago, and the second about 11,500 years ago. This horseshoeshaped volcano is at the head of a lava flow over 6 kilometres long. One of its main characteristics is that the cone of Croscat is totally covered by vegetation except for a cut produced by mining activity in the area and that enables us to see the internal structure of the volcano.

‘La Fageda d’en Jordà’ For lovers of walking and nature, the Fageda d’en Jordà is a magical place, a huge beech forest growing on rivers of petrified lava. This forest grows on the lava flow from the Croscat volcano, and stretches to the municipalities of Santa Pau, Olot and Les Preses.

It is relatively flat, with rounded hills and a height of 550 metros. It has been a source of inspiration for renowned artists, like the poet Joan Maragall, who wrote a poem that made the Fageda d’en Jordà famous.

The path around the Fageda is fully signposted and takes approximately 30 minutes (1.5 kilometres). The route is always covered in leaves and runs over small hills.

28 itineraries There are many possibilities for tourism in the Garrotxa Natural Park, with up to 28 marked itineraries on foot that cover the most interesting places in the park. The list of places of interest where you can contemplate the whims of nature and their endurance despite the passing of the centuries is longer: the basaltic flows of Sant Joan les Fonts, the Sant Marc and Santa Margarida volcanoes, the viewpoint of Puig Rodó and Juvinyà Castle. The park has a protected area of 15,000 hectares, which includes up to 28 nature reserves.

View of Castellfollit de la Roca. Photo: Turisme Garrotxa.

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TECHNOLOGY

ELECTRONIC FEED MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

DOSITRONIC Y DOSITRONIC PLUS, INDIVIDUALISED AUTOMATISATION IN GESTATION AND FARROWING TO OPTIMISE THE FEEDING OF THE SOWS Improving the productivity and prolificacy of sows in farrowing requires control of the quantity of feed they eat.

Improving the productivity and prolificacy of sows in farrowing requires control of the quantity of feed they eat. This premise is shared by all the professionals in the pig sector, but at the same time, is complex to deal with successfully. There is a wide range of manual and semiautomatic feed systems currently on the market designed to cover this necessity, although with deficiencies. Faced with this challenge, Rotecna has created the Dositronic, a new electronic dispenser that enables the feeding parameters of the sows to be individualised and controlled in situ (Dostrinonic Plus version) easily and intuitively.

After detecting the requirements of farmers in such a delicate phase as farrowing, the R+D department at Rotecna has developed the Dositronic, which provides an effective solution to all these needs. Thus, the new electronic system for integral management of feeding allows:

• The feed to be supplied in function of the lactation curves, • The daily dose to be fragmented into small intervals to avoid overeatings, • Tthe wastage of feed to be minimise, 4

Its software offers unlimited possibilities for designing lactation curves for feeding. Thus, farmers can design strategies that adapt best to the genetics of their sows and the working system of the farm.

Regarding the productive benefits, the use of the Dositronic in farrowing and the possibility of adapting feeding to the necessities of each sow, enables us to increase the daily intake of feed, so the sows produce more milk, which lets them wean piglets with a good weight. On the other hand, we reduce the loss of bodily fitness of the sows during lactation, which means a better entry into heat, the interval between weaning and covering is reduced and the prolificacy of the next litter is increased.

Very intuitive With the aim of making the management system a practical right from the start, Rotecna has designed the Dositronic Plus, a very intuitive

• A reduction in the labour required, • Individualised control of the feeding of each saw, • Easy the detection of changes and/or anomalies in the feeding behaviour of the sow.

TECHNOLOGY

Characteristics of the SYSTEM • Software with unlimited possibilities for designing feeding curves.

• Equipped with a sensor in the feeder that transmits the information about the sow’s feeding behaviour to software that is managed centrally.

• Control from anywhere on the farm through a PDA or mobile device.

Characteristics of the DOSITRONIC • Adaptable to most existing hoppers and dispensers.

• Available with a panel of buttons (Dositronic Plus) to modify the basic parameters in situ.

Advantages for the SOW • Maximises feed consumption.

• Feed is always fresh.

• Better milk production and more welfare for the sows.

• Greater fertility, rate of birth and prolificacy in the following litter. Increase in the number of litters per sow per year and their longevity.

• Shorter weaning-heat interval, and higher percentage of sows coming into heat.

• More homogenous piglets with higher weight on weaning.

• More piglets weaned per sow per year.

Advantages for the FARMER • Individualised customisation of the feed curve.

• Less feed waste.

Farrowing room with the electronic feed management system Dositronic Plus. Photo: RotecnaPress

model with coloured LED lights to facilitate control of the feed intake by the sows and avoid the need for skilled technical training. So, in a question of seconds, and depending on the colour of the light, we can see in situ (also from the central computer) how the consumption by the sows is evolving (see table). With this information, the farmer can detect possible problems in feeding rapidly and adjust the curves to optimise the individual feed consumption of each sow and thus obtain better results in farrowing.

Possibility of ‘in-situ’ management All the information gathered by the Dositronic and the Dositronic Plus in farrowing is transmitted automatically to a central computer, from where the farmer can control all the sows, process the data, modify the parameters, etc. These changes can be done from anywhere on the farm using mobile devices like smartphones or PDAs. However, one of the main advantages of the Dositronic Plus is that this model allows the basic parameters of the feed curve for each sow to be modified in the pen itself, through a simple and easy-to-use panel of buttons.

This capacity for in-situ management enables the feeding behaviour of the sows over the last few hours to be visualised instantaneously to detect if they still have feed waiting to be dispensed, modify the feed curve or switch off the device when the pen is empty.

Sensor in the feeder The Dositronic is installed next to a sensor in the feeder, thanks to which we obtain the information about the feeding behaviour of the sows. Without this, it is impossible to control and optimise individual feeding. This sensor, which the sow has to actuate with her muzzle every time she wants to eat, allows us, on one hand, to know when the feeder is full or empty and, on the other, to know when the sows are hungry. These are two essential data in the design of feeding strategies, when fragmenting the daily dose into intervals and regulating it, depending on the intake rate of each animal.

Moreover, this system reduces feed waste and ensures that the feed available is always fresh.

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TECHNOLOGY

TECNAPUR, THE MOST ECONOMICAL

AND EFFECTIVE SOLUTION FOR SEPARATING SOLID-LIQUID SLURRY

Solid residues from the separator TP-01. Photo: RotecnaPress

The good management of livestock waste can generate profits and contribute to environmental sustainability.

Good management of slurry is one of the main challenges for the future of the pig sector. Given rising numbers and increasingly strict administrative permits on the environmental level, manure and slurry restrict the possibilities for growth for the farms, especially where pig production is concentrated into small areas. Having efficient and profitable equipment on the farm to separate the solids is posited as the best solution to this problem.

How can we reduce the costs of handling slurry?

Slurry is normally used as an organic fertiliser for direct application on fields. This model of handling requires areas of land that are increasingly difficult to find, especially in places with a high livestock density, as well as increasing transport costs when the slurry has to be carried ever further to be applied.

In-situ separation of the liquid and solid phases of the slurry enables us to handle the same amount of slurry with up to 20 % less land while also earning money from the solid phase.

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treatment of farm residues. This has led to the appearance of TecnaPur, a solid separator built entirely of stainless steel and which performs the three basic operations - filtering, pressing and scraping in a single unit.

The TecnaPur has a large filter area that allows up to 20 m3/h to be treated (depending on the solids present) with a consumption of under 0.75 kw/ hour, much lower than the average consumption of the other machines currently on the market, which means important savings in energy costs.

The TecnaPur solid separator works automatically and, thanks to its design, requires no maintenance and has very little wear.

What are the advantages of separation?

Separation enables up to 30% of dry material to be obtained. The solid phase is odourless and has up to 20% of the total Kjeldhal nitrogen (TKN), 50% of the total phosphorus (TP) and 20% of the potassium (K) of the original slurry. This means the solid phase can be composted or burnt as fuel, and sold and transported long distances at low cost.

TecnaPur with the Rotecna, S.A. guarantee

How does the TecnaPur separator work and what advantages does it offer?

With its philosophy of supplying high added-value solutions to farmers’ needs, Rotecna has expanded into a new line of business aimed at the

A pump pushes the slurry through a chamber with a flow regulator. This is adjustable depending on the density of the slurry to be treated, allowing

TECHNOLOGY

SOLID SEPARATOR

FOR HANDLING FARM RESIDUES

ADVANTAGES • Can treat very thick (with a lot of solid material) and very liquid slurry (with little solid material).

• High separation flow due to the large filter area.

• Does not become obstructed, thanks to a cleaning system of adjustable brushes.

• Retains most bristles from the pigs and expels them with the solids.

• Retains all the plastic and solid pieces the suction pump may absorb.

• Does not require specialised labour.

• Very low consumption.

Solid separator machine TP-01.

• Maintenance free and with very little wear. both very thick and very runny slurry to be treated in the same unit with no need for pre-filtering ramps to concentrate liquid slurry with low amounts of solids.

This reception chamber is equipped with an exclusive patented system for retaining undesired plastics and solids, without the need to install grinder pumps, thus allowing high quality compost to be generated to avoid contaminating the soil with plastic from ear-tags, catheters, etc.

Then, the slurry passes through an innovative and unique patented system of sieves with double pressing and scraping. This has round holes that do not let the animals’ bristles through (range from of 500 microns to 2 mm).

The system of pressing and scraping (that prevents blocking of the sieve without the need to add water) is adjustable and made of rubber, so that there is no friction between metal parts in contact with the sieve, meaning

high durability and low maintenance of the sieves of the system of scraping and pressing.

All this is powered by a single 1-CV motor. That means the TecnaPur solid separator has the lowest consumption and highest efficiency on the market.

TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS: • Built totally in stainless steel.

• 1-CV gearmotor at 220/380 V. • Capacity to treat from 8 to 20 m3/h (depending on the solids present).

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TECHNOLOGY

SIX-D,

THE DISPENSER FOR DOUBLE FEED LINES The family of Rotecna dispensers keeps growing, and it is now the company in the sector with the widest range on the market, with six completely different models. With these, Rotecna covers all the needs of farmers for automatic feeding.

Double feed line Rotecna has launched the SIX-D, a new dispenser that facilitates the management of feeding in those phases, like gestation, farrowing and fattening with restricted feeding, when we may have to supply more than one type of feed. Thanks to its design that allows it to be connected simultaneously to two different feed lines with direct drop into the body of the dispenser, the SIX-D offers farmers the possibility of changing from one feed to another very easily.

Possibility of very small doses Furthermore, one of the main advantages of the SIX-D is that it enables very small doses of feed to be supplied, a very practical option in farrowing for the first days after the birth. Thus, the dispenser enables minimum quantities of 0.22 litres of granulated feed and 0.19 litres of meal to be dispensed (see table).

Clutch with optical signal Like its big brother, the Clutch Dispenser, the SIX-D has a clutch system with an optical signal that enables a dispenser from the general line to be deactivated individually. This alternative is very useful in phases with a lot of movement of animals like the insemination area, or the farrowing rooms where we may sometimes need to close some dispensers to move animals, as this allows us to supply feed to the rest of the sows, thus reducing their stress and avoiding feed waste.

TABLE : CAPACITY SIX-D Type of feed

Meal

Granulated

Minimum capacity (litres)

0.19 l

0.22 l

Maximum capacity (litres)

5l

6l

CHARACTERISTICS • Double feed line.

• Clutch system with optical signal. When it is activated, the feed drop is deactivated individually.

• Allows the dosification of very small amounts of feed (0.19 l of meal / 0.22 l of granulated).

• Precise and easy to regulate.

• Good interior visibility.

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EUROTIER 2016

ROTECNA SUCCESSFULLY PRESENTS ITS LATEST NOVELTIES AT EUROTIER EuroTier has again beaten its own record for the number of participants, with over 163,000 visitors and 2,629 exhibitors from 58 countries. Rotecna has again been present at this, the most important international fair for the livestock sector, held every two years in Hanover (Germany). In this edition of ‘Rotecna World’, Óscar Toledano, the head of European sales at Rotecna, assesses the company’s presence at the fair and the presentation of its latest novelties.

What is your impression of the pig sector from EuroTier?

In general, there is a certain confidence that world pig meat consumption will continue to grow, especially thanks to China, and it is hoped that this will reduce the tensions in the market concerning supply. However, the degree of optimism varies depending on the geographic area. So, in Europe, we have the problem of oversupply combined with extra costs in production for environmental and welfare questions. These mean that pig production will be more sustainable in the long term, but in the short term, these factors increase costs and the difficulty of competing on price in the Chinese market. Then people are more optimistic in America, given that their production costs are lower and, finally, in Asia there is a lot of optimism, as the growth forecasts are good, to the degree that they are below the rate of growth that would be required to absorb the increase in domestic demand.

How does this affect Rotecna?

As a producer of equipment for pig farms, Rotecna destines a large part of its products to new farms and large reforms and so everything that implies being in growing markets is good for us. Besides, as an added value, in the world of farm equipment, we are specialised in large-scale farms, with products adapted and designed for a model of industrial and sustainable farm, which is what is in demand in the Asian countries, which means that, in this sense, we are optimistic.

Rotecna presented its latest novelties. What was the reaction of the visitors?

It was good, especially for the Dositronic and the slurry machine, which generated a lot of interest among professionals in the sector.

These two products solve problems that imply losses in pig production (feeding in farrowing and treatment of the slurry), and so, a priori, we expect them to work very well. Moreover, they can be installed in either existing farms or new builds.

What would you highlight about each of these products?

Regarding the Dositronic, we must first bear in mind that electronic feed systems will triumph as they

Rotecna’s stand at the latest edition of EuroTier. Photo: RotecnaPress.

enable us to control the production and supply a level of efficiency manual systems do not offer, given that the latter depend highly on the personnel, and on large farms, there is an increasing turnover of workers, which hinders good handling. Add to this that the addition of sensors in the equipment is the future for improving feeding in farrowing.

With all that, the Dositronic system is very advanced technologically, with good software to optimise the consumption by the sows and it is especially easy to use, so there is no requirement for specialised personnel to use it, which is a great step forward. Although the slurry separator is a totally new product for us, we can highlight that it has an innovative system in its field that enables a higher flow of slurry to be treated with lower energy

consumption. The potential of this machine is enormous, as it supplies a solution to the treatment of slurry, something very necessary in areas with high pig production concentrated in a small area.

Finally, what is the sales department’s assessment of Rotecna’s stay at EuroTier?

Our assessment is that it has been very good. Over the four days, we had visits from clients from all over the world, and who represent between 70 and 80 % of our turnover.

On the other hand, although there are no prospects of much movement in Europe, things are looking brighter in America and Asia. In fact, we are working to collaborate with one of the world’s leading pig producers in China.

FUTURE NEWS

THE COMMISSION TACKLES ANIMAL WELFARE DURING TRANSPORT After successfully implementing the animal welfare norms on EU pig farms, the welfare of the animals during transport is one of the challenges for the near future for the pig sector and livestock in general.

The transport of live animals is perhaps one of the most critical parts of the production chain. During transport, loading and unloading, hunger, thirst and noise are among the factors that can generate stress in the animals and affect the final quality of the meat and thus, produce important financial losses.

Given the need to tackle this question, the Council of Agriculture Ministers of the European Union placed the need to improve the existing legislation on animal welfare during transport on the table at the end of 2016, on request from the Swedish delegation, and with the backing of Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands.

The European Commission is calling for better application of the existing norms, which, it recalls, contemplate instruments and sanctions to promote

the welfare of the animals during transport. Thus, for example, the actual legislation, agreed in December 2004, sets out the requirements for vehicles and the obligations the organisers, transport companies, drivers and carers must comply with, as well as the establishing density, duration of the journey, etc. However, some voices have noted the need to reinforce the existing norms and even the possibility of including changes.

In this context, on the 25th of November, the Cabinet passed a Royal

decree that updated and integrated all the current norms in question of animal health and welfare during transport into a single text. The aim of this decree is to comply with the principles of market unity and to simplify and eliminate unnecessary administrative charges. Accordingly, the obligatory approval of the register of activity has been eliminated and it explicitly establishes the validity in all the country of authorisations and other measures of intervention by the distinct regional authorities.

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PIGPRODUCTIONIN...

Sources: USDA / ICEX España

A pig farm in Russia with Rotecna equipment. Photo: Archivo RotecnaPress.

RUSIA SEEKS SELF-SUFFICIENCY

IN PIG PRODUCTION The Russian Federation has increased its pig meat production by 26 % since 2011, and is now the world’s sixth largest producer.

Over the last four years (2011-2015), pig production in Russia has jumped by 26 %. In the same period, imports of pig meat have dropped by 80 %, with which Russia has gone from being a large importer of pork carne to being the world’s sixth largest producer.

This increase in pig meat production is the result of a government programme launched more than ten years ago to support the pig sector and local agriculture and livestock farming in general.

Production

Pig stocks in Russia have increased considerably over the last decade due to the technification of the farms and the breeding of pigs in large installations.

This rise in the number of animals on large farms has more than compensated for the drop in the number of pigs on smaller farms caused by African Swine Fever.

As the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) reports, the Russian stock could reach 20.2 million head by the end of this year, a figure that would mean an increase of 4 % compared with the 2015 census.

On the other hand, according to sources of the Russian Ministry of Agriculture, the country produced 3.1 million tonnes of pig meat in 2015 against 2.5 million in 2012, and 1.5 million produced in 2010. Following this tendency of growth, it is possible that Russia will manage to produce enough to become self-sufficient in pig meat and could even reach a position of having a surplus.

Imports The Russian veto on European pig meat, especially relevant for the Spanish pig sector, came into force in August 2014 as a consequence of the sanctions imposed by the European Union for Russian actions in Crimea (Ukraine). In April 2016, Russia made it clear that there would be no prompt opening of its market and later, it began to prepare the documentation necessary to maintain the embargo until 2017.

Gestation shed dispensers Four and VRH-3 valves.

Photo: Archivo RotecnaPress.

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The loss of the Russian market has meant one of the worst crises of the pig sector, as Spain was one of the main exporters of high-quality meat

products, with good acceptance on the Russian market.

The other side of the coin is the beneficiaries of the Russian veto. These have been the South American countries, especially Brazil, which has now become the main supplier for Russia. According to data from the British AHDB, Brazil increased exports of pig meat by 86 % in the first quarter of this year compared with the same period in 2015. Chile has also increased its pig meat exports to Russia enormously, according to AHDB data, a rise of 56 % in the first quarter of 2016, in comparison with the same period in 2015.

Exports Russia does not, for the moment, export pig meat, although the forecasts are that, from 2018 on, part of its production could be destined for foreign markets. In this sense, it is envisaged that in 2020, the volumes of exports could reach around 10,000 tonnes.

In the international market, Russia can position itself as a low-cost producer of pig meat. The Russian Federation is the country in the world with most land for growing grain, and has oil and gas and cheap labour, which combine to give it a great advantage when it comes to producing at lower costs.

Consumption The per-capita consumption of pig meat in Russia is currently half that of the level in the European Union, which is around 40 kg per person. Moreover, the Russia market is seeing a fall in consumption and, despite the expectations of permanent growth in pig production, it is forecast that consumption will continue to fall in coming years because of the drop in imports and the rise in consumption of other, cheaper, meats, like chicken.

PIGPRODUCTIONIN...

DATA ABOUT RUSIA • Capital: Moscow • Area: 17,125,246 km.

• Population: 146,020,031 Gestation shed with electronic feed machines. Photo: Archivo RotecnaPress.

Challenges for the future Russia continues to pursue its aim of becoming selfsufficient in pig production. To this end, it is making important investments in new large-scale farms and slaughterhouses and in the country’s food industry as a whole. This expansion and renovation of production will give Russia greater food security for

the future and reduce the historical dependence of the domestic market on imports of foreign pig meat.

However, the Russian pig sector faces great challenges, especially in health, such as dealing with the cases of African Swine Fever (ASF), a complex disease that is very difficult to eradicate and that affects the country.

• Population density: 8.3 people/square km.

• GDP: $3,558,640 million • Economy: Services (55.9 %).

• Agriculture and livestock: 4.5 % of GDP.

GLOBALPIG

PIG MEAT EXPORTS FROM THE EU TO CHINA SLOW The exports of pig meat from the Union European to China fell slightly in September compared with the previous months. However, the total exported that month was still 20% more than in September 2015. Sales to Hong Kong also fell, while they rose to Japan and South Korea.

Despite the situation in the Asian markets and specifically the fall in Chinese demand (the EU’s main client), European exports of pig meat to third countries continued the upward tendency. This is reflected in the figures for September published by the European Commission, with a volume of exports of 349,552 tonnes. Moreover, in the first 9 months of the year, exports reached 3,103,880 tonnes, 30% above the same period of the previous year.

Besides, the average price of exports from the European Union also followed this rising tendency.

Thus, total exports over the first three quarters of the year reached 1.76 million tonnes, a rise of 44% compared with the same period of 2015.

Spanish exports Regarding the Spanish market, pig meat exports reached 1.35 million tonnes between January and August, an increase of 23.9%, according to data

Spanish pig exports were close to €2,900 million between January and August. Photo: RotecnaPress.

from DATACOMEX drawn up by the Interprofessional for Spanish white pork meat (Interporc).

In money terms, these overseas sales meant a turnover of €2,885 million, 15.3% more than in 2015.

The director of Interporc, Alberto Herranz, highlighted that “the rising trend has continued month after month, which reinforces our idea that the Spanish pig sector will finish another year with

record export figures, which may reach and surpass €4,500 million and 2 million tonnes”.

By countries, China has become consolidated as the main market for Spanish porcine exports, with over 277,000 tonnes, so for the first time, France is the second destination by volume with 239,000 tonnes.

Behind China and France come Italy, Portugal and Japan. These five countries represent over 55% of total Spanish exports.

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THE MOST EXTENSIVE RANGE

PANS MAXI PAN MAXI HOPPER PAN MAXITAINER FOR MAXI PAN TECNA PAN INITIATION PAN EASY PAN INITIATION PAN MINI PAN MINI HOPPER PAN MINITAINER

OF PRODUCTS FOR PIG EQUIPMENT

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

ELECTRONIC FEED MANAGEMENT SYSTEM DOSITRONIC DOSITRONIC PLUS

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

DRINKING BOWLS & VRH-3 VALVE VRH-3 SWING DRINKER EASY DRINKER DUO EASY DRIKER MINI EASY DRIKER MIDI

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

COVER NI-2 POR PIGLETS NI-2 CORNER NI-2 MOBILE LAMPHOLDER LID WITH LED LIGHT, 5W

PANELS BLIND PANEL 1200X1000 VENTILATED PANEL 1200X1000 BLIND PANELS MADE TO SIZE VENTILATED PANELS MADE TO SIZE MIXED PANELS MADE TO SIZE FAST DOOR KIT POLIAMID UNION BRAKETS FOR PANELS PROFILES FOR PANELS

PVC PVC PROFILES (50,25,10 CM) CLOSE PVC PEN DIVIDERS OPEN PVC PEN DIVIDERS DOORS FAST LOCK BRACKETS U BRACKETS SOLID GRIP

CHAIN AND DISK SYSTEM

• SHOCK ABSORBING TEETH SYSTEM. • EASY ADJUSTABLE CHAIN TENSIONING SYSTEM WITH GRADUATION SCALE. • CORNERS WITH EASY APERTURE SYSTEM. • SILO EXTRACTION SYSTEM WITH AN AGITATOR.

AUGER SYSTEM

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

THE SILO OUTLET SYSTEM CONSIST OF A SILO BOOT, A TRANSFER UNIT AND A SLIDE GATE ASSEMBLY THAT ALLOWS HORIZONTAL AND INCLINED INSTALLATION.

SPLAYLEG STOP