Of a herd of around 170 village pigs in the region of Zaporozhye in the south-east of the country, three are reported to have shown some signs of fever and died suddenly, and two more pigs were destroyed. Cause of death has been confirmed as ASF. The area is under quarantine in order to try to contain the virus. Its entry into the village has been blamed on meat brought in illegally by holiday-makers.

In the Tver oblast of the Russian Federation, meanwhile, 33,000 pigs are to be destroyed as the result of ASF. The fate of a further 90,000 pigs at the breeding complex was doubtful. At a press conference a week ago, the head of the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Supervision of Russia, Rosselkhoznador, Sergei Dankvert, said that back in 2011 an extremely difficult situation with African swine fever had developed in Tver Region.

Several pig meat companies have been in the news in the last week.

Cherkizovo of Russia reports that sales volumes in the pork division in the first half of 2012 increased by 14 per cent to 46,764 tonnes of live weight, compared to 41,070 tonnes in the first half of 2011.

In Brazil, the final stage of the asset swap agreement between Marfrig and Brasil Foods has been completed. Marfrig has now taken control of two industrial plants, three distribution centres and nine brands previously owned by Brasil Foods.

It has also been reported by Marfrig Group that it has just completed its first Scope 3 Global Greenhouse Gases (GHG) Emissions Inventory. The inventory includes all sources of emission not under the Company’s direct control, such as the production of the grains used in feed, enteric emissions by ruminants and third party transportation of product to clients, among other sources.

UK pork processor, Cranswick saw sales for the three months to 30 June 2012 increased by 7.4 per cent to 3209 million, in line with the board’s expectations.

And finally, Hungary’s oldest meat processor, Gyulai Húskombinát, has requested an injection of one billion forint (around US$4.5 million) from the government to keep its operations stable at home and abroad. Talks with the government and the town of Gyula on a possible financial lifeline are reported to be ongoing.