Zoetis Joins The Sustainability Consortium to Lead Efforts in Sustainable Pork
The Sustainability Consortium (TSC) has announced that Zoetis has joined TSC to focus on increasing supply chain transparency and sustainability with U.S. pork producers, according to a release from the company.
Zoetis is committed to the health of animals and supporting the people who care for them. With the firm belief that healthier animals will help create a healthier future, Zoetis uses its expertise in animal health innovation to solve sustainability challenges facing animals and people. Zoetis will be a leading voice in the development of protein-related key performance indicators for TSC’s THESIS Index, the release said.
“We are excited to join The Sustainability Consortium and its members in support of science-based sustainability efforts,” said Shari Westerfeld, vice president of U.S. Pork at Zoetis, in the release. “We are committed to playing a key role in producing a safe and sustainable global food supply. We are excited to expand our collaboration with pork community leadership to enhance the work that has already been done in this area. We will be actively engaged in supporting efforts to refine and develop key performance indicators that enable suppliers to better communicate their story to retail customers.”
There are more than 100 members of TSC, and Zoetis will focus its membership on supporting U.S. pork producers by helping to anticipate their needs, align with packers’ goals, understand retailers’ perspectives, and assist pork producers with greater supply chain transparency. The company will be one of the first animal health companies to join TSC and will collaborate closely with other TSC animal protein members, including the National Pork Board and Pipestone Systems, the release notes.
“Pork producers realize that we’re stronger together than we are apart,” said Brett Kaysen, vice president of sustainability for the National Pork Board, in the release. “The Sustainability Consortium is a good example of how collaboration is key to making our industry more sustainable, and I commend Zoetis for taking a leadership role by joining the consortium.”
Topigs Norsvin Adds Selection for Primal Yields to its Breeding Program
Topigs Norsvin has added selection for primal yields with CT scanning data to its breeding program. This makes it possible to increase carcass value by selecting for higher yields of the most valuable primals. It also adds value for the integrated pork chain, in particular, for whom carcass value is based on the value of primals such as the shoulder, loin, belly and ham, a release from the company said.
The company has added primal values to its breeding program for all major sow and terminal sire lines. Young breeding boars of these lines are CT scanned in our test centers in Canada and Norway. These CT images construct a highly accurate representation of the primal composition of live breeding boar. This gives a highly reliable estimation of the genetic merit of these boars for primal value. After the CT scan, the boars are used in the breeding program, the release says.
Farmers Business Network Launches Animal Health and Nutrition Platform
Farmer’s Business Network, Inc. (FBN®), an independent farmer-to-farmer network, has launched its animal health and nutrition platform and acquired the Prairie Livestock Supply businesses to provide more choice for independent livestock producers and more competition for their business, according to a release.
For years FBN has brought unparalleled transparency, insights and competition to large and small farms across dozens of crops. Today FBN further extends this Farmers First® focus to our members who raise livestock, the company says.
The Prairie Livestock Supply acquisition adds 40 team members, including veterinarians, animal health sales specialists and nutritionists with expertise in swine, beef, dairy and poultry.
“Independent family livestock producers are at a critical crossroads,” said Charles Baron, FBN VP of Livestock and Co-Founder, in the release. “Improving both the producer economics and environmental sustainability of livestock is the best way to ensure farms are family run for generations to come. FBN is now uniquely able to do both.”
FBN’s multi-species livestock platform now provides farmers with an array of transparently priced, high-ROI products and services, the release said.
The FBN Pharmacy has a full line of animal health pharmaceuticals and supplies from branded and generic manufacturers, which give producers control to choose the products that best fit their operation. Animal health products are supported by a team of veterinarians and shipped direct to the farm in 41 states and counting.
Its growing feed portfolio includes transparently-priced dry feed, liquid supplements, lick tubs and nutritional services for beef cattle, swine and poultry — is available in select states. Bulk and bag feed is delivered direct to the farm with 0% interest financing available to those who qualify*.
FBN Finance and FBN Insurance are available to producers for financing inputs and purchasing livestock insurance. Through a partnership with Southwest Veterinary Services, FBN members will be able to access full clinical veterinary service capabilities for dairy, swine operations and beef cattle, as well as access to autogenous vaccines.
“The combined capabilities we can now bring to the table can help solve the most complex animal health challenges, whether it’s for a 100-head or 100,000-head operation,” said Dr. Steve Dudley, DVM, CEO and veterinarian at Prairie Livestock Supply, in the release.
The network will also create opportunities for better disease tracking to identify management inefficiencies for livestock producers, said Dr. Brian Dorcey, DVM and Head of Veterinary Strategy at FBN, in the release. “Data can be the core link between animal health, nutrition and performance in the future.”
