From the editors of Feedstuffs
2025 IPPE to proceed as planned
The International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE) announced today that it will proceed as planned, Jan. 28-30, 2025 in Atlanta, following recent detections of highly pathogenic avian influenza in Georgia.
On Friday, the Georgia Department of Agriculture suspended all poultry exhibitions that display live birds, shows, swaps, meets and sales (e.g., flea market or auction market). However, Commissioner Tyler Harper confirmed that this does not apply to IPPE, given that no live birds will be present.
“After reviewing the programming scheduled for IPPE and confirming that no live birds will be present at the Expo, we have determined that none of the programming at IPPE could be considered a “suspended” activity. As such, we look forward to having IPPE proceed as scheduled, and I look forward to joining you and the many others at the Expo which will showcase the future of the poultry industry,” Harper said.
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Smithfield Foods Inc. has announced that the company has commenced the roadshow for an underwritten initial public offering of 34,800,000 shares of its common stock. The initial public offering price is expected to be between $23.00 and $27.00 per share.
The offering consists of 17,400,000 shares of common stock to be sold by the company and 17,400,000 shares of common stock to be sold by the company’s existing shareholder identified in the registration statement. In addition, the underwriters of the offering will be granted a 30-day option to purchase from the selling shareholder up to 5,220,000 additional shares of the company’s common stock at the initial offering price, less underwriting discounts and commissions. The company will not receive any proceeds from the sale of the shares by the selling shareholder.
The company has applied to list its shares of common stock on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the ticker symbol “SFD.”
Animine, Feedworks collaborate on U.S. precision mineral portfolio
Animine, a supplier of precision minerals, announced its collaboration with specialty feed ingredient distributor Feedworks USA in the U.S. market.
“This is an exciting time for Animine as the United States represents a vast region with enormous growth potential. We need to work with a strong strategic partner who understands the market opportunities and challenges to meet our business objectives. We are proud to work towards this common goal with Feedworks USA,” said Stéphane Durosoy, founder and chief executive officer of Animine.
Established in 2005, Feedworks USA distributes research-backed specialty feed ingredients designed to enhance the health and performance of both monogastric and ruminant animals. The Feedworks team brings a wealth of expertise in animal nutrition, ensuring the delivery of exceptional products and technical support to swine, poultry and dairy producers across the U.S.
By Kristin BakkerFederal and state lawmakers from Georgia are urging the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) to provide more regular updates during the investigation into an explosion at the Tyson Foods poultry processing plant in Camilla, Ga., late last month that caused the facility to go up in flames.
It took the fire department until the middle of the night on Dec. 27 to put out the fire, according to a news release issued during the situation by the Retail, Wholesale & Department Store Union, the union representing the Camilla facility. A boiler was reported to be the suspected cause of the explosion.
The explosion and fire injured several people working at the poultry plant on that night and caused one fatality, the wife of an employee who had been outside the facility in a vehicle. Now, the Georgia Democrats – U.S. Sens. Reverend Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff and state Rep. Sanford D. Bishop Jr. (GA-02) – are seeking more information on the findings of the ongoing investigation and are requesting a briefing.Read more
By Ann HessNebraska has become the next state in line to bring forth legislation banning cell-cultured meat. Senator Barry DeKay will be introducing a bill to keep lab-grown meat from being manufactured, distributed or sold in Nebraska. The bill defines “cultivated food protein” and requires those products to be labeled “adulterated food products” under the Pure Food Act.
"There are clear, recognized benefits of meat as a source of protein. It is uncertain whether manufactured meat protein is a substitute for natural meat sources as essential dietary needs. I question elevating lab meat to a level of equivalency with real meat,“ said DeKay. “Until or unless there are clear labeling rules that adequately disclose that cultured meat is not real meat, its sale allows lab meats to unfairly benefit from industry investments in marketing and production. What’s more, this industry is supported by organizations that want to do away with animal production in Nebraska and the United States. This is part of the process that we’re going to go through to make sure our way of life, our livestock, and our product that we can put on the dinner table stays intact going forward."
Governor Jim Pillen says bills like this are critical to preserving and protecting agriculture in Nebraska. “It's important we get on the offense so that Nebraska farmers and ranchers are not undermined," Pillen said.
IFF launches DFM solution to boost poultry welfare
IFF announced the launch of Enviva DUO, a state-of-the-art direct-fed microbial (DFM) solution for poultry production. This innovative blend of two non-spore forming bacterial strains is designed to support the growth of beneficial gut bacteria during challenging conditions and encourage a favorable nutribiotic state ─ the interaction between nutrition, microbiome and gut and immune function ─ for optimal bird performance. “Enviva DUO gives our customers a significant edge against evolving production challenges and offers the flexibility to target specific houses or farms through its waterline application,” said Kirsty Gibbs, poultry innovation platform lead for Danisco Animal Nutrition & Health, IFF.