Although medical professionals are happy with the new proposed law (bill) to ban the use of in feed antibiotics within 2 years time in the US, pig producers on the other hand are afraid that this measure will bring them even more rules to follow.

Despite the ban on the use of in feed antibiotics, Dutch broiler farmers showed better technical results in 2006, compared to 2005, according to new data from Dutch feed producer ForFarmers.

The average feed conversion in Dutch fattening pigs increases with 0.02 to 2.93 in 2006, compared to 2005. The higher feed conversion together with higher costs for raw materials, the total feed costs increased with 3 Eurocents to 47 Eurocents per kilo growth, according to preliminary data from Dutch feed company ForFarmers and software company Agrovision.

German Biotech company Novoplant plans to carry out field trials with newly developed medicinal peas, that can be used as raw material in animal feed.

Dutch poultry, pig and veal calf farmers still use antimicrobial growth promoters, according to the Institute for Disease control (CIDC) in Lelystad, the Netherlands.

The Taiwanese government has not yet decided whether it would allow pork on the market raised with the feed additive Clenbuterol. The local media had reported that the government would allow feed additives for imported meat but continue to ban it on local farms.