May 4, 2024 | 04:30 GMT +7

  • Click to copy
Saturday- 11:29, 30/12/2023

ASF delays Rusagro’s expansion plans in the Far East

(VAN) An outbreak of African swine fever (ASF) in the Russian Far East has prevented RusAgro’s pig cluster in the region from reaching full production capacity in 2023, Alexander Tarasov, financial director of RusAgro, said.
Photo: Vincent ter Beek.

Photo: Vincent ter Beek.

RusAgro has been building a pig cluster in the Mikhailovsky territory of priority development since 2016. It includes 9 pig farms, a feed mill with grain storage, meat-processing plants and a semi-finished product workshop. The cluster’s production capacity is set at 75,000 tonnes of pork in slaughter weight, though the company reported it could be expanded in the future.

“Most likely, we will reach full production next year, especially if the potential for pork export to China is realized,” Tarasov said.

China

Speaking about the possible expansion plans in light of the Chinese withdrawal of the 15-year import ban on pork from Russia, Tarasov claimed that the company “have already built enough to develop this direction.”

RusAgro has a Far Eastern cluster development programme, but so far, the company has approached it relatively cautiously. “We will make concrete decisions when we understand the export potential,” Tarasov explained.

ASF is still a factor to reckon with

In May 2023, an ASF outbreak was registered at the pig farms Leninsky-1 and Leninsky-2 in the Primorsky Krai, the regional authorities disclosed. The veterinary authorities lifted the quarantine at the facilities only in early November.

The outbreaks cost the Primorsk Krai nearly 12% of its pig population, the regional government said, not providing concrete figures. The outbreak has not impacted the food security in the region, Andrei Bronts, Primorsk Krai Agricultural Minister, reported.

New outbreaks

ASF seemingly is not losing its grip on the Russian pig industry. In November, the veterinary authorities registered 5 outbreaks in the Voronezh region, as a result of which 120,000 heads of pigs are due to be culled.

Voronezh is among the top-3 Russian pork producing regions, Alexander Gusev, the regional governor said, adding that the region is making a lot of effort to contain the spread of the disease.

“The main thing that we managed to do was to prevent the spread of viruses to new areas and beyond the region,” Gusev said.

2 pig farms

The virus was detected at 2 pig farms of AgroEko, a prominent pig farming company. In addition, ASF was found at the Bobrovsky meat processing plant, operated by Rusmeat Group. The infection was detected in seven refrigeration chambers and a workshop for the production of protein and vitamin concentrates.

HD

(PP)

CDC, FDA, USDA answer big questions about the growing bird flu outbreak

CDC, FDA, USDA answer big questions about the growing bird flu outbreak

(VAN) Representatives with multiple agencies including the CDC, the United States Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration on May 1 discussed the latest news about bird flu in the U.S.

FAO welcomes the celebration of the International Year of the Woman Farmer in 2026

FAO welcomes the celebration of the International Year of the Woman Farmer in 2026

(VAN) Approved by the UN General Assembly, it will increase awareness of the crucial role women farmers play in agrifood systems.

China halves rice-growing cycle in deserts of Xinjiang, opening new front in food security drive

China halves rice-growing cycle in deserts of Xinjiang, opening new front in food security drive

(VAN) Chinese scientists have cut the growth cycle of a conventional rice variety in half in a desert greenhouse in Xinjiang, a welcome agricultural innovation for Beijing as it seeks new methods to ensure food security.

Bird flu testing shows more dairy products are safe, US FDA says

Bird flu testing shows more dairy products are safe, US FDA says

(VAN) Preliminary results of tests on additional dairy products show that pasteurization inactivates the bird flu virus, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said on Wednesday.

El Niño and La Niña: four crucial steps to build climate resilience

El Niño and La Niña: four crucial steps to build climate resilience

(VAN) At UNGA-ECOSOC event, FAO Deputy Director-General emphasizes the key role of anticipatory action in protecting and equipping communities ahead of shocks.

More performance with reduced protein!

More performance with reduced protein!

(VAN) Despite protein reduced poultry feed – better performance parameters and less burden for the environment!

Hybrid rice market expands in Asia

Hybrid rice market expands in Asia

(VAN) The increased yields of a hybrid rice strain developed in China have helped countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative to bolster their food security.

Read more