WOA "Members Only" Section
Newsletter #33 - Part 2, December, 2005
Issue No: 33 - Part 2
3. Need for International
Cooperation
4. Supply
5. Price
6. Technology
7. Decrease Costs of Production and
Improve Quality of Products
8.
AGM
9. Avian Influenza
10. Thank You and More
Contributions
3. Need for International
Cooperation
Quote: He impelled on the
basis of mutual benefit all the world’s ostrich breeding enterprises to be
united, exchanging techniques, developing market and making full use of
advantages.
This congress stressed market, trade, cooperation, the union as
well as mutual benefits; prospected development of world ostrich industry;
analyzed regional advantages of developing ostrich industry and emphasized
information communication and importance of the union. The conference with
strategy significance was a distinguished one in the history of Asian and East
European ostrich industry. End quote:
Quote: Union of ostrich industry is necessity. ....... Only by
union can ostrich industry realize the unification of breed, management, process
and brand and achieve intenisveism, industrialisation, standardization and
commercialisation. End quote
Your directors agree that
there is a very strong need for greater cooperation and have been advocating this approach for a
number of years. The World Ostrich Association is an important
component development of cooperation and a strong environment for
market development.
Stan Stewart, your
Chairman, proposed the development of WOMRAD in January to act as a mechanism to
develop marketing and cooperation - WOMRAD is the solution to the
aspects that Mr. Yang Haomin has identified. It was first discussed
in the January Newsletter, No. 22. http://www.world-ostrich.org/member/news22.htm
4. Supply
Quote:
Now they stop because of lack supply and high
price. end quote
Quote: From the above it can be concluded that currently, two main
markets for skin and meat have opened up, which are in urgent need of large
supply of goods. end quote
Quote: The current problem exists in Chinese market is high demand and
low supply. end quote
The factor of LACK OF
SUPPLY is the key issue that needs to be addressed by our industry. There
is a market interested in our products, but it is very difficult to market a
product that is inconsistent in supply, variable in quality and variable in
price. For the most part Ostrich continue to be produced under 1950
and 1960 technology and this makes it very difficult to be competitive in
today's market. We have a specie that with the ability to be as efficient
as the poultry and pig industries have achieved over the past few
decades.
5. Price
Prices for ostrich meat, if
supply is available, is strong. We can strengthen our marketing by
following the grading system we have in place. A grading system
has two main functions:
- It is a producer/processor program
to enable processors to reward producers for quality
- It is a
marketing program to enable the buyers and consumers to understand more
about the product they are buying
Buyer and consumer
education is required as this is a new meat product and it has been very
variable. This type of education would form part of a marketing
program. Developing strong marketing campaigns cost a great deal of
money. Global Ostrich production today is fragmented and at a level that
it can measured only against single production units of other
specie. This is another reason for cooperation and the need for a
commercial entity like WOMRAD to consolidate and unite the current
production.
It will be necessary to
maintain a strong price for our meat while we build up our breeder herd and
raise the standards of production to become more efficient.
6.
Technology
Quote: According to the Madrid
Congress and from personal visits, it can be said that every country dealing
with ostrich breeding has mature technology. End
quote
If the most mature technology is being
used:
- Why is average production considered good if 20 slaughter
birds per hen are achieved for a bird that is known to produce in excess of
100 eggs in a season and herd averages of 60 plus per annum are well
recorded?
- When average meat yields remain at 25 - 30 kilograms when over 50
kilos have been reported as achieved on a regular basis in birds of 12
months.
- Why chick mortality continues to be considered a major threat to
the industry?
The way to bring down the costs of production is to increase
the production.
7. Decrease Costs of Production and improve
quality of products
Quote: In addition, the way to decrease the cost of managing,
breeding, processing and marketing, combined with improvement in the quality of
the products need to be tackled as a matter of urgency. End
quote
All readers will know this
to be the same message that your directors have been sending for many years and
providing solutions.
Some members have already
expressed their support for the development of such a program. Are there
any more of you who would be interested in developing WOMRAD (World Ostrich Marketing Research and Development)
as a mechanism to solve these issues?
8. AGM
The AGM took place on 15th
November, with follow up discussions on the list for topics that feel under Any
Other Business. Topics discussed were:
1. To organise WOA
conference in different WOA regions.
2. Reorganisation of WOA
regions (yes or no and suggestions).
3. How to become more
engaged with other associations and societies.
4. Suggested ways to help
WOA members to market their products
5. Research Projects
update
The Minutes and AOB
supplement to the minutes are now available on the web site.
9. Avian
Influenza
The H5N1 high pathogenic Avian Influenza strain that is
currently hitting the headlines is a cause for concern for producers of any
birds, including ostrich producers. Your directors are receiving requests
for information and advise.
DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) here in
England are currently holding meetings around the country to enable producers
and processors to ask questions, learn what is known already and take advise on
how to minimise risk of contamination on their units.
The key factors:
a. Transmission is through faecal material.
b. The only aerial transmission is through dust containing
infected faecal material.
c. Maximum transmission 1/2
kilometre
d. Wild birds are the major threat to transmission on a global
basis.
e. High standards of biosecurity is the first line of
defence.
f. Where possible feed and water birds
indoors
g. Minimise exposure to wild birds
h. It is essential to discuss vaccination with your local
veterinary services as each country has their own rules and regulations on
vaccination.
i. At this time no vaccine is EU approved for birds destined
for human consumption or for birds producing eggs for human
consumption.
We will publish shortly some guide lines on how the advise should be
applied to Ostrich.
10. Thank You and
More Contributions Please
Thank you Mr. Yang Haomin
for your detailed report. As always, I ask for contributions from Country
Liaisons and other members. Please can more of you take the time to
contribute. Any contributions for inclusion in future news letters please
send to Fiona at [email protected].