by Carlo Antonio Chua on November 3

DATE 2017, focuses on Livestock, Hogs, Poultry, Gamefowl and Aquaculture. It aims to bring together global and national agricultural experts that will provide essential ideas, best practices, updates on agricultural standards, emerging markets, both local and global and wide prospects & networks that will contribute to Mindanao’s sustainable agriculture industry.

The 19th edition of the Davao Agri Trade Expo bridges the gap between agri-traders, businessmen and consumers alike. Highlights of the 3-day event were the Agri-Trade Exhibit, Free Technical Seminars, Business Matching and the 2nd Agri Marketing Conference in Mindanao. The event was attended by IFC group’s sister companies; MS Schippers and Primevet

 

Here are a few photos provided by Lynn of Schippers:

 

 

 

 

 

by Carlo Antonio Chua on October 26

Last Friday, we celebrated the 70th birthday of our beloved Chairman; Tony Ng Chua. There are many reasons to celebrate, not only 1TC’s life but the countless lives he’s touched and impacted throughout the years. He built Infarmco from the ground up, from nothing into the country’s leading Swine Genetics company. With all these achievements under his belt, he remains humble and sticks to his principles.

He has taught me to put God first, family second and a note journal to jot down and keep everything organised. Kidding aside, this man has a very big heart, a heart of gold and a heart that cares. He cares so much about other people that often times he looks past his own needs and wants. That’s the kind of person 1TC is, that is the kind of man each of us should aspire to be.

Words cannot express how much we can thank you for everything that you’ve done, not only for the Chua family but for every employee in this company. Infarmco wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for your forward thinking vision, and 1JNC’s leadership behind you. You have fought the good fight, lived a good life and will continue to do so, that we know for sure. May your continued success keep on inspiring like minded individuals, to always strive for better.

 

Here are some photos and videos from the event:

 

 

 

 

 

Kindly click on the link to see the birthday highlights:

1tc1

by Carlo Chua on October 25

The most fun-tastic, animal-human awesomeness showcase was held last Sunday, October 22 at the plaza in Imus, Cavite. Our sales staff were also present to educate the masses and to sell some of our pet products along with our distributor, Cavite Pet Shop. Here are some photos of the day’s event. Enjoy!

 

 

 

by Carlo Antonio Chua on October 24

 

The 23rd Philippine Animal Hospital Association was held last October 8 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Ortigas. Naturaleza, the distributor of wonderzyme’s pet products were part of the exhibitors who joined the event. There were a number of exhibitors’ booth providing medical supplies, dental supplies, food and medicines. Here are some shots of the event:

 

 

 

 

 

 

by Carlo Chua on October 27

With a concerted team effort, Wonderzyme was able to penetrate through the market, yet again. Here are some of our newest stockists and products:

 

 

• Pet spray
• Pet soap

 

• NS
• MPC
• Citronella
• Pet soap
• Pet spray
• Pet cologne

 

 

• Pet soap
• Pet spray
• Pet breath spray

by Malou Darvin on October 26

Wonderzyme, the official partner of PAWS (Phil. Animal Welfare Society). A volunteer-based non-gov’t organization whose advocacy is focused on animal shelter, welfare and protection.

The pilot project of the WZI-PAWS partnership was the much-awaited annual fundraiser event entitled “Scaredy Cats & Dogs: Year 14”, held last October 22, Sunday at the Fisher Mall Atrium.

The formal turnover of PETZYME gift packs and sponsorship donation were attended by 1MS, 1WC and Malou Darvin, at the PAWS Animal Rehabilitation Center in Katipunan, QC.

 

 

 

 

 

edited by Carlo Chua

by Carlo Antonio Chua on October 23

One of the most anticipated agricultural events of the year, Agrilink has been providing opportunities for agri-businesses and other avenues related to agriculture, to present their products and services. Agrilink has been at the forefront of the Philippine agribusiness exhibitions.

For 24 years since its inception as the then “Piglink,” they have been pulling off wonderful surprises showcasing the best of agricultural products, information, technologies, market linkages and promotions to the whole agribusiness community and the general public. We were also graced by the presence of his excellency, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, who made the opening remarks for the 2017 Agrilink and Senator Cynthia Villar (as seen in the photo).

I’m here to give you a sneak peek into the daily visit at the 2017 Agrilink, show you around the supplier’s booth and of course head on over to the Bitrade booth, one of the companies under the IFC group. This event paves the way for other companies to see how Agri-link can be of big help, for brand awareness and marketing. It also brings in new businesses and connections alike. Connections that can bridge the gap and make every business flourish.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“It’s carbs, not fats that are bad for your health.”

 

By DENNIS THOMPSON HEALTHDAY August 29, 2017

A large, 18-country study may turn current nutritional thinking on its head. The new research suggests that it’s not the fat in your diet that’s raising your risk of premature death, it’s too many carbohydrates — especially the refined, processed kinds of carbs — that may be the real killer. The research also found that eating fruits, vegetables and legumes can lower your risk of dying prematurely. But three or four servings a day seemed to be plenty. Any additional servings didn’t appear to provide more benefit. What does all this mean to you? Well, a cheeseburger may be OK to eat, and adding lettuce and tomato to the burger is still good for you, but an excess of white flour burger buns may boost your risk of dying early. People with a high fat intake — about 35 percent of their daily diet — had a 23 percent lower risk of early death and 18 percent lower risk of stroke compared to people who ate less fat, said lead author Mahshid Dehghan. She’s an investigator with the Population Health Research Institute at McMaster University in Ontario. The researchers also noted that a very low intake of saturated fats (below 3 percent of daily diet) was associated with a higher risk of death in the study, compared to diets containing up to 13 percent daily. Is low-carb or low-fat better for your health? At the same time, high-carb diets — containing an average 77 percent carbohydrates — were associated with a 28 percent increased risk of death versus low-carb diets, Dehghan said. “The study showed that contrary to popular belief, increased consumption of dietary fats is associated with a lower risk of death,” Dehghan said. “We found no evidence that below 10 percent of energy by saturated fat is beneficial, and going below 7 percent may even be harmful. Moderate amounts, particularly when accompanied with lower carbohydrate intake, are probably optimal,” she said. These results suggest that leading health organizations might need to reconsider their dietary guidelines, Dehghan noted. But not everyone is ready to throw out current dietary guidelines. Dr. Christopher Ramsden is a clinical investigator with the U.S. National Institute on Aging. “There’s a lot more information that’s needed. They did a great job and they’re going to have a lot more coming out of it for years to come, but it’s hard to get it down to recommendations regarding food at this point,” he said. “It really highlights the need for well-designed randomized controlled trials to answer some of these questions,” Ramsden added. The key to living longer? It’s all about what you eat. The researchers noted that their study did not look at the specific types of food from which nutrients were derived. And, that, said Bethany O’Dea, constitutes a “major flaw from a nutrition standpoint.” O’Dea is a cardiothoracic dietitian with Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. “For example, eating a healthy carb like an apple is more nutrient dense and better for you than eating a bag of processed potato chips,” O’Dea said. “Furthermore, the study did not take trans fats into account, which hold heavy evidence of being unhealthy and contributing to cardiovascular disease,” she pointed out. Current global guidelines recommend that 50 percent to 65 percent of a person’s daily calories come from carbohydrates, and less than 10 percent from saturated fats, the researchers said. Dehghan suggested that “the best diets will include a balance of carbohydrates and fats, approximately 50 to 55 percent carbohydrates and around 35 percent total fat, including both saturated and unsaturated fats.”

All foods contain three major macronutrients essential for life — fat, carbohydrate and protein. The optimum amounts a person should eat has been the focus of debate for decades, with the pendulum swinging from low-fat to low-carb diets over time.

Good foods for brain health

For this study, Dehghan and her colleagues tracked the diet and health of more than 135,000 people, aged 35 to 70, from 18 countries around the world, to gain a global perspective on the health effects of diet. Participants provided detailed information on their social and economic status, lifestyle, medical history and current health. They also completed a questionnaire on their regular diet, which researchers used to calculate their average daily calories from fats, carbohydrates and proteins. The research team then tracked the participants’ health for about seven years on average, with follow-up visits at least every three years. The investigators found that high-carbohydrate diets are common, with more than half of the people deriving 70 percent of their daily calories from carbs. High-carbohydrate diets have been linked with increases in both blood cholesterol and in the chemical building blocks of cholesterol, Dehghan said. While the experts continue debating what’s the best diet, what should you be eating? O’Dea said, “Your diet should consist of healthy carbs, lean protein, and plenty of fruits and vegetables. Remember to avoid processed snacks that contain trans and saturated fats, and opt for a healthy carb source. “The study was scheduled to be presented Tuesday at the European Society of Cardiology annual meeting in Barcelona, Spain. The research was being published online as two studies on Aug. 29 in The Lancet.

 

Content Source: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/large-study-suggests-carbs-not-fats-bad-for-you/

 

Submitted by: Carlo Antonio Chua

The Philippines is undeniably one of the more interesting countries in Asia. With over a 100 million souls and a rapidly developing economy, there is a constant demand for pig meat and pork. What are the opportunities for the Philippines?

The swine industry of the Philippines is one where jobs and economic opportunity seem guaranteed for the next decade for those who want to commit to a career or investment in modern pig production and processing. Demand is growing, in line with population and income (and tourism), and meat consumption is expected to grow in parallel. And, on the supply side, there is a deficit in pork and pig meat for the processing industry at the moment. The industry is a ‘hot zone’ for an expanding and growing supply chain from farm to fork (genetics, AI, feed, animal health, and equipment) and for foreign suppliers and importers/processors of pork.

A farm in Luzon’s General Trias province, showing many modern, tunnel-ventilated pig buildings. Photo: Vincent ter Beek

Second largest economic activity

The swine sector is the second largest economic activity in the Philippines’ agricultural sector. Domestic pig production has been rising in both backyard and modern commercial farms. In 2016 (July 1), the total hog inventory in the Philippines was reported to be almost 12.5 million head – an increase of 1.4% compared with 2015.

Backyard farms accounted for 64% of these animals and commercial farms made up 36% of the total hog population. Approximately 35% of the total breeding herd (1.68 million sows or 560,000 head) were on commercial farms (July 1 census 2016).

The total breeding herd increased by 2.6% in 2016 and by 5.3% in 2015. The key regions for pig production are Central Luzon and Calabarzon which, together, account for almost two thirds of all commercial pig production. This proportion falls to around 30% of all pigs when backyard pig production is considered since these smaller units are spread more evenly around the Philippines. Although a lot of domestic pig meat is sold through wet markets there is a growing and vibrant meat processing sector which serves foodservice, retail and export customers. The Philippines’ Association of Meat Processors (Pampi) has around 50 company-members and claims that they account for more than P300 billion in revenues (US$ 6 billion) and provide jobs to more than 300,000 Filipinos.

Investments are evident

Investment in new production and processing capacity is evident. A recent example of this is the announcements by PIC of a new sire and dam line nucleus facility on the main island of Luzon, Hormel/San Miguel’s US$ 1.2 billion investment in doubling its meat processing capacity (to 120,000 tonnes) at General Trias, Cavite and the Charoen Pokphand Group’s (CP Group) plan to invest around US$ 2 billion on swine and poultry production in the Philippines in the next 5 years.

However, it’s not all plain sailing since the domestic swine industry has a record of low productivity and has only recently begun expanding albeit the majority of local producers (mainly backyard and small farmers) are unlikely to be part of ‘commercialisation’. A particular challenge for the Philippines is the high feed and energy prices that are prevalent: these affect all producers and contribute to a relatively high cost of production for the domestic industry (estimated at US$ 1.80 per kg).

San Miguel is one of the country’s largest conglomerates and meatpackers. The company aims to double its processing capacity in General Trias province. Photo: Vincent ter Beek

Although the Philippines has some significant export markets (mainly Middle East) pig meat imports have grown to meet these export customers’ needs (up by circa 12% from the EU in 2016) and this may put some parts of the local supply chain under significant cost pressure in the future. The meat processing sector complains that locally produced raw pig meat does not meet its quality or presentation requirements and those imports of suitable pig meat are the only way that it can satisfy its export and domestic customers and this may be the main reason why new investments in integrated production and processing capacity are being seen (Figure 1).

Reports of corruption and irregularities in customs processing are not uncommon as are complaints about unwieldy and bureaucratic SPS procedures and this may also be encouraging domestic investment. Lastly, the ever present threat of typhoons can seriously disrupt local production and this aspect of the weather’s behaviour affects decisions on location for new capacity.

Figure 1 – Breakdown of pig meat imports into the Philippines, 2015.

Hog Industry Roadmap

Under the auspices of the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) the swine industry’s supply chain has signed up to a ‘Hog Industry Roadmap’ which describes the major challenges facing the domestic industry and the way to meet them over the next decade.

This 26 page ‘action plan’ is most interesting and has been put together after consultations with commercial businesses and, if carried through, signals significant changes for local producers, their supply chain, and the value chain for pig meat in the Philippines. This plan envisages a growth of per capita consumption of pork in the Philippines from 14.9 kg/capita in 2015 to 16.4 kg/capita in 2017. This is relatively modest but still implies a growth of +30% in the domestic herd. The technical KPIs for production are also targets for improvement in the roadmap.

The number of pigs sold/sow/year is required to increase from 18.8 in 2015 to 30 in 2027, and the FCR needs to shrink from 3.7 to 2.27 in the next decade. A final, ambitious, target worth mentioning is to get carcass meat production per sow per year up from 1.7578 tonnes to 3.5445 tonnes in ten years. That’s an improvement of just over 100%. It’s easy to see why these target figures imply that the Philippines is a ‘hot zone’ for investments in modern pig production.

The Philippines at a glance

The Philippine archipelago is made up of 7,107 islands. Together, the total area is 298,170 km2, which makes the country slightly smaller than Poland or Italy. The country’s capital Manila has about 13 million inhabitants; the economy’s growth rate is around 6% per year (2011-2015). The Philippines has a tropical marine climate with a northeast monsoon from November to April and a southwest monsoon between May and October. The country is usually affected by 15 typhoons and directly struck by five to six cyclonic storms each year. About 41% of the country is used for agriculture. Currently, the Philippines has a population of roughly 101 million, which grows 1.6% per year.

Big challenges

In conclusion, the Philippines is, classically, facing some big challenges if it wants to supply itself with more pig meat but it’s also clear that this is a country where opportunities beckon – and where the local industry has ambitions.

These challenges and the potential to grow have not gone unnoticed by the local supply chain. The investment decisions of the CP Group and others noted earlier are a sign that moves are afoot to develop the pig and pig meat industry but there are other straws in the wind.

A recent announcement of new power supply agreements between Aboitz Power Corporation and four of the largest members of Pampi; Foodsphere (CDO), Virginia Food, LIIP Food Processors (Century Pacific) and GenOSI (McDonald’s) is more evidence that wheels are turning and investments are being made. These major businesses need reliable and competitive power supplies to support their growing meat processing operations.

That Hog Industry Roadmap for 2017-2027 has an ambitious vision – a sustainable and globally-competitive hog industry by the year 2027. The Philippines is one country where we can expect plenty of action for the swine industry in the years ahead.

 

Dr John Strak

Editor Whole Hog

Content source: http://www.pigprogress.net/Finishers/Articles/2017/4/Swine-sector-in-the-Philippines-set-to-grow-123507E/

Submitted by: Carl Antonio Chua