Thursday, February 17, 2005, Vol. 5, Issue 7
Please add Drovers Alert or [email protected] to your e-mail-filtering software or address book.
Welcome to this week's edition of Drovers Alert®, published by Drovers® magazine and cosponsored by Animal Agriculture Alliance and American Gelbvieh Association. Drovers Alert and its core sponsors are committed to providing you with the information you need to make informed and timely business decisions. If you are having trouble seeing images in this newsletter, follow this link.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fourth Annual Stakeholders Summit
Animal Welfare Initiatives, Needs, Regulation and Communication: Building on the Past, Preparing for the Future
March 21-23, 2005 | Marriott Crystal City | Arlington, VA
For more information from Animal Agriculture Alliance, call (703) 562-5160, e-mail [email protected] or use the following links: More information | Register
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Top Stories:
Smithfield, ContiBeef to merge cattle-feeding business
ContiBeef LLC, a subsidiary of ContiGroup Companies Inc., and MF Cattle Feeding Inc., a recently acquired subsidiary of Smithfield Foods Inc., have agreed to form a 50/50 joint-venture cattle-feeding business. The new entity, whose name has yet to be determined, will include all six feedyards currently owned by ContiBeef and the four feedyards owned by Smithfield since October 2004. The new entity will have facilities in five states (Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas) with a one-time total feeding capacity of 811,000 head. The company expects to sell cattle to multiple U.S. beef-packing firms throughout the United States, using a variety of marketing methods, consistent with the manner in which ContiBeef's feedyards have operated historically. To read more on the joint venture, follow this link.
Smithfield Beef Group is the fifth largest beef processor in the United States, processing over 2 million head annually and generating sales of $2.4 billion. Smithfield is also the largest U.S. processor of hogs. Smithfield Foods Inc. has annualized sales of $10 billion. ContiBeef LLC is part of the ContiGroup Companies, which has facilities and affiliates in 10 countries. It operated Continental Grain Company from 1921 to 1999, when it sold its commodity-marketing operations and turned its principle focus to meat proteins. ContiBeef has a one-time feeding capacity of 497,000 head in six feedyards and markets over one million head of cattle annually. — Greg Henderson, Drovers' editor
Senators file resolution against import rule
Nine U.S. Senators, led by Kent Conrad, D-N.D., have filed a joint resolution of disapproval this week in an attempt to stop imports of Canadian beef and live cattle. If both chambers of Congress pass the resolution, and the President does not veto it, the USDA's Final Rule regarding BSE and Classification of Minimal Risk Regions would become null and void, according to the American Meat Institute. Senators Thomas, R-Wyo.; Baucus, D-Mont.; Salazar, D-Colo.; Johnson, D-S.D.; Dorgan, D-N.D.; Reid, D-Nev.; Bingaman, D-N.M.; and Domenici, R-N.M. co-sponsored the resolution. For more information, follow this link.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gelbvieh — the SmartCross® to add pounds.
Click here to learn how SmartCross tags can add to your bottomline.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
News and Notes:
Kyoto treaty goes into effect
The United States and Australia won't participate, but the Kyoto global-warming treaty went into force Wednesday. Negotiated seven years ago in Japan's ancient capital of Kyoto, the treaty was ratified by 140 nations to target carbon dioxide and five other gases that can trap heat in the atmosphere and are believed to be behind rising global temperatures. The United States, which scientists claim is responsible for nearly a quarter of greenhouse-gas emissions, has refused to ratify the agreement. Bush Administration officials say the treaty would harm the economy and is flawed by the lack of restrictions on emissions by emerging economies such as China and India.
The Bush Administration says that the long-term benefit from the Kyoto treaty will not be worth the immediate economic cost. They say millions of jobs will be lost, many of them in Third World countries. However, the State Department said the United States was devoting nearly $5.8 billion this year to scientific research, new technology, foreign aid and tax incentives for non-polluting energy development. The Kyoto agreement was delayed for years because of a requirement that countries accounting for 55 percent of the world's emissions must ratify it. That goal was reached last year with Russia's approval. — G.H.
Nose jobs and chin lifts for pets?
Known in Hollywood as the "veterinarian to the stars," Dr. Alan Schulman, a California board-certified orthopedic veterinary surgeon, has gained some notoriety for his plastic surgery on pets. "Pets are no longer considered property, but family members," he says. "With the evolution of this emotional bond, people with a discretionary income are taking advantage of technology and veterinary expertise to give their animals medically indicated reconstructive surgery resulting in a better quality of life." Common procedures are performed to surgically reduce the size of skin folds, particularly around the eyes. Pugs, bulldogs and Boston terriers are frequently candidates for nose jobs to alleviate breathing problems. And eyelifts are a common reconstructive procedure in breeds like the sharpie and chow to correct defects that can affect vision.
The procedures generally cost about $1,000, which would be modest by Hollywood standards. But Schulman says he draws the line at requests to perform unnecessary cosmetic procedures. In other words, liposuction for pets is not an option.
Implants for your pet, however, are available. A cosmetic device known as "Neuticles" are testicular implants designed to replace the parts removed by a veterinarian during the neutering procedure. That's right, dog implants. In fact, about 148,000 implants have been sold worldwide. The implants are FDA approved and are inserted at the time of neutering. According to the inventor, Gregg Miller, "the owner has a pet that retains his identity and self-esteem in the dog park." Thank goodness we've solved the issue of low self-esteem in neutered dogs. — G.H.
Please add Drovers Alert or [email protected] to your e-mail-filtering software or address book.
Welcome to this week's edition of Drovers Alert®, published by Drovers® magazine and cosponsored by Animal Agriculture Alliance and American Gelbvieh Association. Drovers Alert and its core sponsors are committed to providing you with the information you need to make informed and timely business decisions. If you are having trouble seeing images in this newsletter, follow this link.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fourth Annual Stakeholders Summit
Animal Welfare Initiatives, Needs, Regulation and Communication: Building on the Past, Preparing for the Future
March 21-23, 2005 | Marriott Crystal City | Arlington, VA
For more information from Animal Agriculture Alliance, call (703) 562-5160, e-mail [email protected] or use the following links: More information | Register
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Top Stories:
Smithfield, ContiBeef to merge cattle-feeding business
ContiBeef LLC, a subsidiary of ContiGroup Companies Inc., and MF Cattle Feeding Inc., a recently acquired subsidiary of Smithfield Foods Inc., have agreed to form a 50/50 joint-venture cattle-feeding business. The new entity, whose name has yet to be determined, will include all six feedyards currently owned by ContiBeef and the four feedyards owned by Smithfield since October 2004. The new entity will have facilities in five states (Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas) with a one-time total feeding capacity of 811,000 head. The company expects to sell cattle to multiple U.S. beef-packing firms throughout the United States, using a variety of marketing methods, consistent with the manner in which ContiBeef's feedyards have operated historically. To read more on the joint venture, follow this link.
Smithfield Beef Group is the fifth largest beef processor in the United States, processing over 2 million head annually and generating sales of $2.4 billion. Smithfield is also the largest U.S. processor of hogs. Smithfield Foods Inc. has annualized sales of $10 billion. ContiBeef LLC is part of the ContiGroup Companies, which has facilities and affiliates in 10 countries. It operated Continental Grain Company from 1921 to 1999, when it sold its commodity-marketing operations and turned its principle focus to meat proteins. ContiBeef has a one-time feeding capacity of 497,000 head in six feedyards and markets over one million head of cattle annually. — Greg Henderson, Drovers' editor
Senators file resolution against import rule
Nine U.S. Senators, led by Kent Conrad, D-N.D., have filed a joint resolution of disapproval this week in an attempt to stop imports of Canadian beef and live cattle. If both chambers of Congress pass the resolution, and the President does not veto it, the USDA's Final Rule regarding BSE and Classification of Minimal Risk Regions would become null and void, according to the American Meat Institute. Senators Thomas, R-Wyo.; Baucus, D-Mont.; Salazar, D-Colo.; Johnson, D-S.D.; Dorgan, D-N.D.; Reid, D-Nev.; Bingaman, D-N.M.; and Domenici, R-N.M. co-sponsored the resolution. For more information, follow this link.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gelbvieh — the SmartCross® to add pounds.
Click here to learn how SmartCross tags can add to your bottomline.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
News and Notes:
Kyoto treaty goes into effect
The United States and Australia won't participate, but the Kyoto global-warming treaty went into force Wednesday. Negotiated seven years ago in Japan's ancient capital of Kyoto, the treaty was ratified by 140 nations to target carbon dioxide and five other gases that can trap heat in the atmosphere and are believed to be behind rising global temperatures. The United States, which scientists claim is responsible for nearly a quarter of greenhouse-gas emissions, has refused to ratify the agreement. Bush Administration officials say the treaty would harm the economy and is flawed by the lack of restrictions on emissions by emerging economies such as China and India.
The Bush Administration says that the long-term benefit from the Kyoto treaty will not be worth the immediate economic cost. They say millions of jobs will be lost, many of them in Third World countries. However, the State Department said the United States was devoting nearly $5.8 billion this year to scientific research, new technology, foreign aid and tax incentives for non-polluting energy development. The Kyoto agreement was delayed for years because of a requirement that countries accounting for 55 percent of the world's emissions must ratify it. That goal was reached last year with Russia's approval. — G.H.
Nose jobs and chin lifts for pets?
Known in Hollywood as the "veterinarian to the stars," Dr. Alan Schulman, a California board-certified orthopedic veterinary surgeon, has gained some notoriety for his plastic surgery on pets. "Pets are no longer considered property, but family members," he says. "With the evolution of this emotional bond, people with a discretionary income are taking advantage of technology and veterinary expertise to give their animals medically indicated reconstructive surgery resulting in a better quality of life." Common procedures are performed to surgically reduce the size of skin folds, particularly around the eyes. Pugs, bulldogs and Boston terriers are frequently candidates for nose jobs to alleviate breathing problems. And eyelifts are a common reconstructive procedure in breeds like the sharpie and chow to correct defects that can affect vision.
The procedures generally cost about $1,000, which would be modest by Hollywood standards. But Schulman says he draws the line at requests to perform unnecessary cosmetic procedures. In other words, liposuction for pets is not an option.
Implants for your pet, however, are available. A cosmetic device known as "Neuticles" are testicular implants designed to replace the parts removed by a veterinarian during the neutering procedure. That's right, dog implants. In fact, about 148,000 implants have been sold worldwide. The implants are FDA approved and are inserted at the time of neutering. According to the inventor, Gregg Miller, "the owner has a pet that retains his identity and self-esteem in the dog park." Thank goodness we've solved the issue of low self-esteem in neutered dogs. — G.H.
