From the editors of Feedstuffs
Cattle prices resilient as feedlots defy gravity again Aided and abetted by the drought, feedlots put together another month of large placements in July, according to Oklahoma State University Livestock Marketing Specialist Derrell Peel.
USDA’s July “Cattle on Feed” report showed placements were 101.8% of last year, despite growing indications that feeder supplies are declining. July 1 estimated feeder supplies outside of feedlots were down 2.7% year over year.
“Drought continues to force cattle to market sooner than planned,” Peel noted. “Oklahoma auction volumes of feeder cattle for the past six weeks are up 10.9%, consistent with the unexpectedly large placements in July.”
July feedlot placements included a 2.5% decrease in feeders weighing over 700 pounds, which was more than offset by a 9.5% increase in feeders weighting less than 700 pounds. Peel noted that this is the third month in a row with increased placements of lightweight feeders and decreased placement of heavy feeders. Read more Study finds organic dairy farming can reduce GHG emissions A new study in the August issue of the Journal of Cleaner Production reveals that it is possible for farms to sequester carbon and reduce their overall greenhouse gas emissions. A University of Wisconsin Madison research group unveiled a dairy lifecycle assessment conducted on Organic Valley farms that shows small organic dairy farms, which focus on grazing and organic production techniques, are low greenhouse gas champions. Read more
Pork supply chain invests $6.5 million in novel vaccine platform
Genvax Technologies, a startup dedicated to bringing advances in self-amplifying mRNA vaccine production to animal health, has secured $6.5 million in series seed funding. This funding moves the company toward USDA and international regulatory approval of its vaccines in anticipation of any foreign animal disease outbreak in order to increase health and profitability in livestock production. The company's proprietary saRNA platform allows for rapid development of herd or flock-specific vaccines matched 100% to the variant strain circulating in an animal-production operation. By inserting a specific transgene or "gene of interest" matched to the variant strain into the platform, the saRNA can generate an antibody response without requiring the whole pathogen. Read More and Watch our interview.
Steakholder Foods initiates cultured pork development
Steakholder Foods Ltd., an international deep-tech food company at the forefront of the cultured meat industry, is pleased to announce that it will begin developing cultured pork products from a new line of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPS) porcine cells.
The new stem cell line was derived from sampled cells that were reprogrammed back into an embryonic-like pluripotent state. This enables one cell bank to become an unlimited and highly scalable source for developing any type of muscle or fat cells for cultured meat production.
Steakholder Foods has partnered with a leading iPS cell line provider in order to shorten its development timeline for structured pork products, such as bacon, pork chops and ham. Through a unique process of cell cultivation and 3D bioprinting, the company expects to achieve the taste, texture and mouthfeel of conventional pork.
Steakholder Foods’ proprietary 3D-bioprinting technology can produce structured meat with any muscle-to-fat ratio at an industrial rate of production and with pinpoint precision based on any desired shape, width or design.
Steakholder Foods’ venture into cultured pork adds to the company’s already diverse product development activities which include cultured beef, chicken, fish, and seafood.
Steakholder Foods Ltd., formerly MeaTech 3D Ltd., initiated activities in 2019 and maintains facilities in Rehovot, Israel and Antwerp, Belgium. The company is currently in the process of expanding activities to the U.S.
Study finds pulsed light technology kills pathogens in food
A light-based, food sanitization technique successfully eliminated multiple harmful pathogens in a new study carried out by Pennsylvania State University researchers. The pulsed light technique shows promise as an effective alternative to the chemical, heat and water-based antimicrobial technologies commonly used in the food industry — and could be applicable more generally in sanitized environments such as hospitals, water treatment facilities and pharmaceutical plants, according to the researchers.
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Tyson Foods invests $200m in Amarillo beef plant
Tyson Foods announced it is investing $200 million at its Amarillo, Texas beef plant to expand and upgrade operations and build a new team member well-being area. The project will begin this fall and involves construction of a 143,000-square-foot addition to the existing beef complex to house upgraded team member well-being areas. The project will also expand and enhance the facility’s existing operations floor. Read more J.M. Huber Corporation acquiring Biolchim Group
J.M. Huber Corporation (Huber), a global, family-owned specialty engineered materials manufacturing company, announced this week that it has signed a binding agreement to acquire full control of the Biolchim Group from NB Renaissance, Chequers Capital and the Biolchim Group management team. The Biolchim Group, managed and headed by Galileo Quattro SARL, has its main operating base in Italy and is a leading producer and distributor of a full range of specialty plant nutrition and biostimulants. Read more
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