Asian Agribiz Podcasts Asian Agribiz

Interest in crate-free gestation, or sow group housing, has increased recently due to animal welfare concerns. In Southeast Asia, most gestating sows are still confined in stalls that limit their movement during pregnancy. However, some key regional producers have already started converting parts of their operations to sow group housing. Asian Agribiz speaks with Nigel Godde, Director of Sales for Big Dutchman Asia, to learn more about crate-free gestation systems and their viability in the region.

The May 2024 Chief Economists Outlook, which explores key trends in the global economy, was launched last week amid a mood of cautious optimism tempered by uncertainty about geopolitical and domestic political developments. The latest results indicate growing business challenges despite a positive near-term growth outlook. However, the long-term prospects are encouraging. We recently observed a similar climate of cautious optimism at Ildex Vietnam and Thaifex-Anuga.  Innovation and solutions are at a high point, but are producers investing?

Doug Korver, Professor Emeritus at the University of Alberta and President of Alpine Poultry Nutrition Inc in Canada, is doing a study on layers that are kept longer. As these are high producing birds and are relatively small, the practice puts pressure on their skeletal system and shell quality.
In this podcast, Dr Korver discusses with Asian Agribiz the nutritional interventions for these birds, including calcium and phosphorus supply, enzymes, and the physiology and bone biology as they go through a long production cycle.

India, a distinct entity within Asia, likely accounts for the region’s largest workforce, which is steadily seeing upward economic mobility. The country accounted for 4% of global GDP growth between 1991 and 2021. As the Indian economy advances, the demand for food production, convenience, and flavor is on the rise. Producers are not just keeping up but also confidently aligning with consumer trends, leading to improvements across the board.

Demand for duck meat in Indonesia has surged over the past decade and continues to grow annually, but the production system is struggling to keep up.
 In this second podcast with Dr Hardi Prasetyo, a consultant for duck breeding companies in Indonesia, learn about:
 • his insights on the duck meat industry in Indonesia
• the challenges facing the industry
• his recommendations for duck meat producers on developing their business.

Anticipating and responding to consumer demands is always challenging, especially in the fast-changing retail environment. However, recent financial reports show that Asian animal protein producers have certainly been responsive to market desires. Some healthy figures emerge after what seems like a ‘long Covid’ of earnings. Generally, across the region, from Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia to India and Sri Lanka, we have positive earnings, leading also to investment in growth.