Did you know the blog attracts a number of enquiries from overseas for product, from time to time? These are posted at the MeatExportNZ LinkedIn group, which individuals can join for free if they are working in or for the New Zealand meat industry (and are LinkedIn, of course!).
This year started with the debt crisis in Europe, went through droughts, the finding of the Higgs Boson and the first probe to land on Mars and ended with Gangnam style everything (watch the PetersonFarmBros putting the word out for food producers all around the world). It’s hard to tell what 2013 will bring!
Thanks to all of our readers who have stopped by MeatExportNZ this year. As of today, we’ve had over 7,600 views in our first busy six to seven months, which is really pleasing. There will be more to report in 2013.
As is customary in New Zealand, we will be taking a break for the festive season and the summer holidays and we’ll be back on stream in late-January. The meat business itself of course will carry on through its busy period.
Here’s to a great 2013! But first …
Merry Christmas, safe journeys and Happy New Year to you all from MeatExportNZ. Ho, Ho, Ho!!!
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A big congratulations to all those who took part in Movember, especially to the NZ Veterinary Association team, which included Surveillance editor Phil Stewart. To date, they have raised over $2,500, with team captain Callum Irvine topping $500. Stewart says … Continue reading
Movember is upon us, so that means men are growing facial hair to raise funds for men’s health charities.
Good on ya, Gerry le Roux who’s covering his mo’ experience at his Sciencelens blog. You can support him by making a donation here.
Also, Phil Stewart editor of Vetscript and Deer Industry News magazines and the whole New Zealand Veterinary Association team. Support Phil and the team here.
If you’re taking part, let us know – and send pics!
Find out more about Movember and donate to a good cause.
Let the itching begin!
One of our most recognisable Mo’s in New Zealand has adorned the respected upper lip of Sir Richard John Hadlee, MBE since his tour to Pakistan in 1976. The former New Zealand cricketer, who’s regarded as one of the greatest fast bowlers and all-rounders in cricketing history (and top bloke) has laid down the challenge to all Mo Bros to get involved with the campaign ahead and spread the hairy word! Watch his Mo-message below.
You can find out more about the Movember campaign and how to register here.
Improve your breeding regime with the help of text messaging from your cows.
Everyone knows information technology holds great promise as an enabling technology in various fields. Well, mobile phones and text messaging may soon take on a whole new meaning for cattle farmers. Let’s just say farmers may soon start getting text messages from the cows in their herds, writes Gerry le Roux of Sciencelens.
According to a recent New York Times article, researchers in Switzerland are in the final testing stages of a device that implants sensors in cows to alert farmers when the cows are in heat. The electronic heat detector, which is implanted into the genitals, measures the cow’s body heat. This gets transmitted to a device around the cow’s neck which determines her motion activity. The results from the two measurements are combined using specially calibrated algorithms, with the correct combination of increased body heat and increased restlessness being an indicator that the cow is in heat. When this happens, an SMS is sent to the farmer’s phone, alerting him to the fact that the cow is sexually active.
The device, which is expected to be brought to market in Switzerland in early 2013, is the brainchild of several academic researchers at a technical college near the Swiss capital Bern. It is claimed that the device can play an important role in breeding, particularly in the dairy industry, since dairy cows, which are placed under ever increasing stress to produce more milk, are showing less and less signs of heat. This makes it difficult for farmers to use visual inspection to know when to introduce the bull, or artificial insemination. The new system is claimed to have a recognition rate of about 90 percent.
The main drawback of the device, at least initially, will be cost, which is expected to be about US$1,400 per unit and some farmers are skeptical whether it will be worth the investment.
It will be interesting to keep an eye on this technology, to see to what extent it will be accepted in the industry and how this will affect the cost of the units.
One of our most recognisable Mo’s in New Zealand has adorned the respected upper lip of Sir Richard John Hadlee MBE since his tour to Pakistan in 1976. The former New Zealand cricketer, who’s regarded as one of the greatest fast bowlers and all-rounders in cricketing history (and top bloke) has laid down the challenge to all Mo Bros to get involved with the campaign ahead and spread the hairy word! Watch his Mo-message below.
You can find our more about Movember and register here.
One month to go before Movember, the time when men’s faces get hairier around the world as they grow moustaches in support of a worldwide charitable men’s health initiative.
It’s happening here in New Zealand again. The organisers tell us that this year, the theme is, quite simply, what it means to be a better man: Movember & Sons.
Organisers are encouraging all men to seek and share knowledge and wisdom with loved ones, to learn their family health history and predispositions and to understand the risks they face. “These simple actions can have a significant impact on the quality and longevity of your journey through this life,” they say.
In addition to its support for prostate cancer and depression initiatives by the Cancer Society of New Zealand, Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand and Awareness and Education, this year Movember has launched a new campaign, the Global Action Plan (GAP – see video below). This brings together prostate cancer researchers from around the world, facilitating a new and unprecedented level of global research collaboration, not previously seen within the prostate cancer community. Over 100 of the world’s top prostate cancer researchers have joined Movember’s GAP, all of them committed to working together on research and sharing their knowledge in the area.
Last year, Movember had its most successful year to date with over 850,000 Mo Bros and Mo Sistas around the world raising a phenomenal NZ$156.1 million for prostate cancer and male mental health. The hairy movement will continue to grow in 2012 as 21 countries across five continents unite to have an everlasting impact on the face of men’s health.
So. Time to grow that mo’. You can find out more and sign up at www.movember.com. Find out more about GAP below.
Sciencelens has mathematical proof that sheep can speak English! Read on …
Firstlight Foods has shared a neat little clip from the Chipotle Mexican restaurant chain in America on its blog.
