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Schothorst Feed Research On 1 April, René Bone- kamp started as senior re- searcher and product man- ager swine with Schothorst Feed Research in the Neth- erlands. In these roles, he is responsible for maintaining and developing the swine service portfolio.
Smithfield From 4 April, Andrea Tucker has been the new plant manager of Smithfield Foods’ Tar Heel facility in North Car- olina, US – the world’s largest pork processing operation. She replaces Donovan Owens, who had been plant manag- er since 2018. He is being promoted to a new corporate role within Smithfield.
AB Agri AB Agri has recruited busi- ness development specialist Graham Wong to head up operations in SE Asia. His new remit as head of SE Asia includes recruitment, technical development and innovation.
DanBred Tinna Frisk Bech Jensen has just started in DanBred’s quality and selection team. She will focus on the hand- ling of exporting animals from the export facilities and selection of animals at the suppliers.
Skiold Skiold has appointed Andreas Sloth-Kristensen in a new role: aftermarket manager. Together with the compa- ny’s aftermarket team, he will assist customers with advice, service and spare parts.
Vilofoss Group After 22 years at the helm of the DLG Group’s vitamin and mineral business, Ja- cob Holm, age 62, has re- signed as CEO of the Vilo- foss Group. On 1 March, he left the reins to Boudewijn Morelissen (pictured), age 51, who resides in the Netherlands. He will join DLG’s group management as executive vice president of premix and nutrition.
64 ▶ PIG PROGRESS | Volume 38, No. 3, 2022 Large sum for Covid-style ASF test
A grant of $ 1 million has been made available for US-based researcher Mo- hit Verma (pictured), to further develop a rapid, pen-size test for African Swine Fever (ASF) virus. Verma is assistant professor of agricultural and biological engineering at Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA. Quick identification and containment are key to stopping the spread of the virus. Prof Verma said, “A rapid test that can be done in the field is needed for surveillance and diagnosis of ASF. When it hit China a few years ago, it wiped out 50% of the country’s pig population. It is a devastating disease, and hours, even minutes, matter in containing it.”
The research funding was included in the US Farm Bill. Prof Verma comment- ed, “This was the first time to my knowledge that a joint operation be- tween two organisations was included in the farm bill. It shows how seriously the US is taking the risk from ASF.” The project follows in the footsteps of similar tests that have been developed for Covid-19, for example, using a saliva or blood sample. He said, “We are work- ing on a test that will detect the virus within 30 minutes and indicate results through an easy-to-see colour change on a paper strip. The ease of use, test timing and size are similar to those of an at-home pregnancy test or Covid-19 test.”
British project to reproduce sociable pigs
Researchers at Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC), Queen’s University Belfast and PIC will conduct a project that will look at whether the “social compe- tence” of pigs – and in turn their wel- fare – can be improved through man- agement and breeding. Social competence is described as covering the range of decisions an animal makes in different social situa- tions – such as whether to fight or flee or play or not. Traditionally, the effects
of these social decisions have been studied in isolation, but in the real world they are likely to combine to in- fluence the animal’s welfare. The study will use the idea of social competence, and whether it can be passed from one generation to another, to try to improve animal welfare. The research will focus on pigs, which have com- plex social lives involving a range of positive and negative forms of social interaction.
PHOTO: VILOFOSS
PHOTO: AB AGRI
PHOTO: SCHOTHORST FEED RESEARCH
PHOTO: PURDUE UNIVERSITY
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