From the editors of Feedstuffs
Seven states voice opposition to Kroger, Alberstons merger
Seven secretaries of state have submitted a letter to the chair of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) voicing opposition to Kroger Company’s proposed $24.6 billion acquisition of Albertsons Companies Inc. Representing a total of 4,996 potentially effected stores, the letter was signed by Colorado Secretary Jena Griswold, Arizona Secretary Adrian Fontes, Vermont Secretary Sarah Copeland-Hanzas, Minnesota Secretary Steve Simon, Rhode Island Secretary Gregg Amore, Maine Secretary Shenna Bellows and New Mexico Secretary Maggie Toulouse Oliver.
According to the letter, the merger would result in Kroger-Albertsons controlling nearly a quarter of the entire U.S. food retail market. While Kroger has projected the merger would generate a household “savings” of $5.88 per year, the secretaries said the consolidation would mean Kroger-Albertsons will have no competitive incentive to bring down prices. Despite KrogerAlbertsons’ claims, “consumers will be powerless to hold the company accountable to promises of keeping prices low,” the secretaries wrote.
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TARGAN, Wayne-Sanderson Farms collaborate
TARGAN Inc. (TARGAN) and Wayne-Sanderson Farms announced Aug. 15 a multi-year agreement for the integration of TARGAN artificial intelligence (AI) poultry systems in various Wayne-Sanderson Farms’ broiler hatcheries across the United States.
“We are pleased to have Wayne-Sanderson Farms, a well-respected company with a long history and exceptional expertise in the poultry industry, as our first commercial collaboration,” said Ramin Karimpour, founder and chief executive officer of TARGAN. “We have built a company with notable strengths in both engineering and biology, and we are confident our technology will enhance operations and positively impact the poultry industry for years to come.”
TARGAN poultry systems utilize AI, machine learning and high-speed vision systems to create efficiencies for protein producers and optimize hatchery processes while also enhancing global food sustainability and animal welfare. The first units from TARGAN are scheduled to be installed in Wayne-Sanderson Farms’ hatcheries during the third quarter of 2023.
Neogen Corporation launched this week Igenity Enhanced Dairy, a new and progressive genomic data management tool.
Igenity Enhanced Dairy is a new digital service that empowers dairy producers to make better selection and mating decisions. By integrating in-herd phenotypic data, pedigree information, and existing predicted transmitting abilities (PTAs) from the Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding (CDCB), the platform delivers a genomic evaluation of dairy cattle.
Producers are able to utilize the data provided by Igenity Enhanced Dairy to make an in-herd assessment of the genetic potential by pairing each animal's performance data with the results received from an Igenity Select profile. The ability to apply on-farm phenotype data to a standard genetic assessment leverages the management and geography of the individual animals to ultimately enable better decision-making.
JBS posts $53 million net loss in second quarter
By Krissa Welshans
JBS released its Q2 2023 financial results this week, revealing a net loss of $53 million in Q2 2023, down sharply from a net profit of $803 million in Q2 2022. The decline was the result of an oversupply of poultry and tighter beef margins in the U.S., as well as an overall challenging global protein complex, JBS CEO Gilbert Tomazoni said.
Despite the challenging quarter, Tomazoni said the company remains confident that margins are recovering. “In this second quarter, we've doubled our margin over the first quarter. Looking ahead, we see a scenario of more balance in poultry supply with potential positive impact on the sector prices.”Read more
Zoetis opens new state-of-the-art facility in Nebraska
Zoetis recently marked the official opening of its new monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) expansion with a ribbon cutting ceremony at its site in Lincoln, Nebraska. The ceremony was attended by local officials, including U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts, Lincoln Mayor Gaylor Baird and key company leaders including Zoetis CEO Kristin Peck, and Nick Ashton, president of Global Manufacturing and Supply.
The new facility will enable the Lincoln manufacturing site to increase production of products that control osteoarthritis pain in dogs and cats – the company’s largest growing area of need for pet care customers. It will also be a home for future innovation and serve as a Veterinary Medicine R&D registration facility for the company as it looks to expand its portfolio with future innovations.
