featured in this issue - NZIFST - The New Zealand Institute of Food ...

• Meat companies report profits - Both Alliance Group and
AFFCO reported profits at the companies’ 2008 September
year ends. Alliance Group’s chairman, Owen Poole,
announced an improvement of over 300% in operating
profit before distributions to shareholders of $67.9 million
(compared to $16 million for the 2007 September year
end) from a turnover of $1.3 billion (1.1 billion in 2007).
The Group’s operating surplus after tax and before pool
surplus was $54 million ($10.9 million in 2007). The
result maintained Alliance’s performance as a consistently
profitable meat company, Poole said. AFFCO also reported
a net profit after tax of $60.2 million (comprising $40.8
million from trading activities and $19.4 million from
non-recurring items. The company put the result down to
more favourable conditions than expected in trading in the
second half of the year. AFFCO continues to benefit from
improved management focus and through its strategy of
being a broader food group, the company says.
• The eye says it all - A world-first non-invasive tool to
measure stress and pain in animals could have significant
applications in assuring the welfare standards of New
Zealand’s agricultural industry and boost the value of
products overseas. A team from AgResearch’s agricultural
systems section has shown that emotional responses
of cattle can be detected and quantified non-invasively
through measurement of eye temperature, using infrared
thermography. Tests conducted on cattle during routine
farm practices such as disbudding and castration showed
a rapid and acute drop in temperature in the capillaries
around the eye area as the animal’s body responded
to stress or pain. Used in conjunction with other tools,
including cardiac responses and behaviour, the research
gives a unique insight into the emotional response of
animals that could also have implications for assessing how
effective certain analgesics are in providing pain relief for
animals. Project leader Mairi Stewart has won a KuDOs
Emerging Scientist Award for work on the project.
Peter Storey (standing): AsureQuality’s new training
manager in action.
MIA NEWS
World-first research from AgResearch gives a unique tool for scientifically and
non-invasively assessing stress and pain in animals.
• AsureQuality appoints training
manager - Peter Storey is
AsureQuality’s new training
manager. In his new role, he will
take over full management of
the company’s training services,
including development and
implementation of a businesswide
training infrastructure. He
will also be actively involved in
facilitating system improvements
and strategy options aimed at
improving customer service
efficiency and delivery of new
industry training programmes.
Prior to joining the provider
of food quality assurance and
biosecurity services, Peter was
principal lecturer and horticulture
programme manager at Wintec
(Waikato Institute of Technology).
• MIA 2009 conference dates for your
diary - The 2009 MIA conference
will be held in Auckland from 6-7
September. Information will be
posted at the MIA’s website www.
mia.co.nz in due course.
For further information on any of the above items contact the Meat Industry Association on 04 473 6465 or by
email info@mia.co.nz. Visit the web-site www.mia.co.nz.
February/March 2009
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