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DJ Livestock Update: German Poultry Sales Dn But Stabilizing(Comtex Business Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge)FRANKFURT, Mar 02, 2006 (Dow Jones Commodities News via Comtex) --TOP STORIES German Poultry Sales Down 10-15% On H5N1; Stabilizing Chicken sales in Germany took a dive after the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu reached Europe, but sales have stabilized despite the virus being discovered in Germany. UPDATE: Bird-Flu Fears Damp US, Europe Poultry Sales Fears of the spreading bird-flu virus put more pressure on poultry sales in the U.S. and Europe, while a top U.S. government official warned the flu could soon infect U.S. wild and commercial flocks, although there is no indication the virus can spread from human to human. Immune Disorder Drug Could Help Against Bird Flu -Lancet LONDON (Dow Jones)--Chemotherapy for a disorder of the immune system may, in theory, be effective against human avian influenza infection, suggest scientists in an article published online Thursday by The Lancet. Eight Canadian Poultry Farms Quarantined After Imports MONTREAL (AP)--The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has ordered a quarantine of eight Quebec poultry farms that recently imported live ducks and hatching eggs from France, the latest country hit by a deadly avian influenza virus. INTERVIEW:Australia Beef To Retain Most Of Japan Mkt CANBERRA (Dow Jones)--Australia can retain a larger-than-expected share of the lucrative Japanese beef market in the face of wobbling consumer confidence about U.S. beef, David Palmer, Managing Director of marketing concern Meat & livestock Australia Ltd. (MANDL.YY) said Thursday. Natl Pork Forum To Address Disease, Other Indus Issues KANSAS CITY (Dow Jones)--Pork producers from across the U.S. will meet at the National Pork Industry Forum to discuss such varied issues as how to protect their herds from diseases, revised environmental standards and the status of mandatory price reporting. USDA Attache: Croatia Implements Measures Against Bird Flu On Feb. 27, the Croatian Veterinary Institute - Poultry Center laboratory detected avian influenza virus H5N1 in a dead swan found near the Dalmatian town of Trogir. This is the third confirmed H5N1 infection found in wild fowl in Croatia. Since this is the second confirmed case in the same geographical area in the last week, the Croatian Ministry of Agriculture issued new and updated measures for preventing the spread of AI in the whole of Croatia, according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture attache report dated Feb. 28, but posted Wednesday on the Foreign Agricultural Services Web site. Serbian Authorities Report First Suspected Bird Flu Case BELGRADE (AP)--Serbia's agriculture ministry said Thursday that initial tests conducted on a wild swan found in northwestern Serbia revealed that it had died of the H5 strain of bird flu. Sweden Tests Another 20 Dead Birds For Bird Flu STOCKHOLM (Dow Jones)--The Swedish Board of Agriculture late Wednesday said another 20 dead birds have been found in the area where the two suspected cases of bird flu were discovered Tuesday. China To Set Up Bird Flu Monitoring Network In East BEIJING (AP)--China is setting up a surveillance system in an eastern province to monitor wild birds in an attempt to halt any spread of bird flu on a major migration route, the government said Thursday. China Sees More Possible Bird Flu Outbreaks -Xinhua BEIJING (AP)--China's vice premier on Thursday forecast possible bird flu outbreaks and more human cases during the coming spring migratory season. STORIES OF INTEREST: French Trade Minister Says Japan May Soften Poultry Ban PARIS (AP)--France's trade minister said Japan may loosen its ban on French poultry products, and urged other countries Thursday to relax import restrictions imposed after the lethal H5N1 bird flu strain was found on a French turkey farm. Bahamas Investigates Suspicious Bird Deaths - Report CHICAGO (Dow Jones)--Officials in the Bahamas launched an investigation Tuesday into the mysterious deaths of 15 flamingos and six other birds on the southern island of Inagua, fearing it could be the first appearance of H5N1 in the Western Hemisphere, the New York Daily News reported on its Web site Wednesday. Smithfield Foods Sees Building Beef-Processing Plant In US DES MOINES, Iowa (Dow Jones)--Smithfield Foods Inc. (SFD), the nation's largest pork processor, said Wednesday it intends to build at least one beef-processing plant in the U.S. Southwest soon. Croatia Orders Poultry Be Kept Indoors ZAGREB, Croatia (AP)--Croatia has ordered farmers to keep domestic poultry indoors as of Wednesday. The Agriculture Ministry also banned hunting of geese and ducks, as well as exporting poultry if it originates from the area where bird flu has been detected. It also obliges farmers to keep their birds clean and report any suspected cases. THE MARKETS: CME Cattle Outlook: Seen Steady; Waiting For Cash Trade CHICAGO (Dow Jones)--Most Chicago Mercantile Exchange live and feeder cattle futures opening calls Thursday were for steady prices, while the market waits for the week's cash live cattle values to become established. CME Pork Outlook: Hogs, Bellies Draw Mixed Ideas CHICAGO (Dow Jones)--Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures on Thursday are seen opening mixed on follow-through buying and generally steady cash expectations against potential profit taking and pork cutout's setback late Wednesday. Pork belly futures are also expected to open mixed on spillover buying and steady fresh belly prices that may clash with profit taking and May's extremely overbought chart indicator. -By Curt Thacker; Dow Jones Newswires; 913-322-5178; [email protected] (END) Dow Jones Newswires 03-02-06 0946ET |