Livestock

China's Pork Imports to Double in 2019, Rabobank Analyst Predicts

China’s pork imports are set to double from last year to 2 million metric tons in 2019, a Rabobank analyst said on Thursday, as African swine fever (ASF) sweeps through China. Industry insiders say the 113 reported outbreaks in China are grossly underreported. Chinese pork production is expected to fall by up to 20% in 2019, said Oscar Tjakra, a director of food and agribusiness research at Rabobank. China typically accounts for around half the world’s output of pork. The U.S. agriculture...

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Bovine Tuberculosis Found at Dairy Associated to Texas Calf Ranch Case

Animal health officials in Texas have confirmed the presence of bovine tuberculosis (TB) at a dairy located in the Panhandle region of the state. Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) put out a press release on March 14 to announce that a case was confirmed on a Sherman County dairy farm. The investigation has revealed that the Sherman County case is related to a confirmed bovine TB case on a Dallam County calf ranch. The two farms that have bovine TB are currently...

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China Makes First Major U.S. Pork Purchase in Two Years

It’s finally come. China made its largest purchase of U.S. pork in nearly two years last week, according to USDA data released Thursday, reports Reuters. Chinese hog prices continue to climb as the country deals with an ongoing outbreak of African swine fever (ASF). The sale of 23,846 tons of U.S. pork in the week ending March 7 comes with a 62% import tariff imposed by China on U.S. pork, as part of the recent trade war between the two countries. China...

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27,800 Cattle Unaccounted for in South Dakota Foreclosure

A court-appointed investigator reports a South Dakota man involved in a foreclosure case sold the same cattle to as many as four different parties, leaving 27,800 cattle unaccounted for. The multi-million dollar case began unfolding last month when First Dakota National Bank filed a foreclosure against Robert and Becky Blom, Corsica, S.D. At a hearing in Armour, S.D. on Feb. 14, nine law firms filed notices of appearances in the case representing 17 additional parties. Lew Dirks, an investigator from Sioux...

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Chinese Minister Says Trade Talks Have Been "Difficult"

A China minister says working-level trade discussions continue with U.S. counterparts. The Chinese Commerce Minister says the talks so far have been "difficult", but he also said there had been a breakthrough in some areas and called on both sides to meet halfway if they wanted a deal. He also reiterated one view of the talks: that they have to be based on the principle of mutual respect and equality. Washington insiders say President Trump and Chinese President Xi...

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