July 2012 - Iowa Pork Producers Association

New swine ID tags nowavailableMetal swine identification tags, longa bane of the industry, may soon be athing of the past.Iowa State University Extension andOutreach swine veterinarian JamesMcKean said the Iowa Departmentof Agriculture and Land Stewardshiphas developed a new plastic versionas a replacement for metal tags.This will be good news for manyproducers.“The tags are available from Iowapracticing veterinarians and areconsidered official ID for bothintrastate and interstate transportof swine,” McKean said. “Theplastic tags should be easier toapply and retain for show pigs,feeder pigs and others that may bemoved.”The new tags, manufactured byAll-Flex, are triangular in shape,approximately an inch and a halffrom top to bottom and from sideto side at the widest point.European gestationstall ban will decreaseproductionEven though the United Kingdomalready is fully compliant witha European sow stall ban thattakes effect Jan. 1, 2013, industryestimates are that fewer than halfof the EU member states will be atthat stage come the first of next year.Those farmers unable tocomply, described as “significantnumbers,” are expected to leavethe production business. Fewerproducers means fewer animalsto market and higher prices forconsumers.A recent report from BPEX warnsof the legislation’s consequences,“BPEX has for some time beenwarning of the likelihood oftighter supply and higher pricesas pig herds across Europe declinein numbers as a direct result ofthe new legislation. … This reportmakes clear that the pig herd inthe EU will decline, that supplyof pig meat will tighten and thatcosts will increase. It looks at anumber of possible outcomesfollowing the introduction of thenew rules on 1 January 2013.”JULY 20127