World meat industry news

World leaders have signalled an unprecedented level of attention to curb the spread of infections that are resistant to antimicrobial medicines, in a pledge agreed by 193 countries at the United Nations headquarters in New York.

Countries reaffirmed their commitment to develop national action plans on antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Leaders recognised the need for stronger systems to monitor drug-resistant infections and the volume of antimicrobials used in humans, animals and crops, as well as increased international cooperation and funding.

They pledged to strengthen regulation of antimicrobials, improve knowledge and awareness, and promote best practices - as well as to foster innovative approaches using alternatives to antimicrobials and new technologies for diagnosis and vaccines.

"AMR is a problem not just in our hospitals, but on our farms and in our food, too. Agriculture must shoulder its share of responsibility, both by using antimicrobials more responsibly and by cutting down on the need to use them, through good farm hygiene," said Dr José Graziano da Silva, Director-General of the UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation.

In disease news, another outbreak of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhoea (PED) has been reported in Manitoba, Canada.

This is the 10th outbreak for the province and the affected finisher farm is within 5km of the last outbreak at a sow farm. 

All farms within 5 km of the farm have been notified and all are being tested, as well as any farms that have been in contact with the positive farm.

Pig producers in Canada are also being warned to keep an eye out for pigs with vesicular lesions after the US Department of Agriculture informed the Canadian Food Inspection Agency that 13 Canadian sows exported to the US had vesicular lesions.

Vesicular lesions are one sign on seneca valley virus. Both countries are now investigating the findings.