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DJ Livestock Update:Bahamas Bird Deaths Unrelated To Bird Flu(Comtex Finance Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge)NASSAU, Bahamas, Mar 02, 2006 (Dow Jones Commodities News via Comtex) --TOP STORIES Bahamas Bird Deaths Appear Unrelated To Bird Flu-Officials The deaths of wild birds on an island in the Bahamas appear to be unrelated to bird flu, officials said Thursday. A preliminary report from experts dispatched to the island of Great Inagua to investigate the death of flamingos and other migratory birds this week stated there were fewer dead birds than first thought and that they didn't seem to have died of bird flu, the national park director said. FOCUS: No Dire Consequences From Rising US Meat Output KANSAS CITY (Dow Jones)--Although U.S. beef, pork and chicken production is almost certain to rise in 2006 from that seen in 2005, the consequences to market prices from current levels may not be especially dire, market analysts said. Ohio Judge Orders Destruction Of 4.3 Mln Eggs COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP)--A judge ordered the destruction of 4.3 million eggs that state agriculture officials deemed unfit to eat because they were stored at room temperature at one of the nation's largest egg farms. France Reports 11 New Cases Of H5N1 In Wild Birds PARIS (AP)--France reported 11 new cases of H5N1 bird flu in wild birds Thursday in an area already hit by the virus. Laboratory tests detected the virus in a heron, a duck and in nine swans, raising to 29 the total number of cases found among wild birds in the southeastern Ain region, the farming ministry said in a statement. German Poultry Sales Down 10-15% On H5N1; Stabilizing FRANKFURT (Dow Jones)--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: Serbia Reports First Suspected H5 Bird Flu Case BELGRADE (AP)--Serbia's agriculture ministry said Thursday that initial tests conducted on a wild swan found in northwestern Serbia revealed it had died of the H5 strain of bird flu. Bahamas Govt Says Number Of Bird Deaths Overstated Preliminary field reports overstated the number of unexplained bird deaths in the Bahamas, the government said late Wednesday. Only five birds were found dead, not 21 as indicated in initial reports, reducing the likelihood that the deadly H5N1 strain of avian influenza is the cause, the Bahamas Ministry of Agriculture & Marine Resources said in a statement. 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. STORIES OF INTEREST: 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. 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. THE MARKETS: MARKET TALK: CME Apr Cattle Hits New 5-Mo Low; Awaits Cash 1155 EST [Dow Jones] - CME live and feeder cattle futures are lower, with most-active April live cattle registering a new five-month low. April selling pressure is seen coming from lack of cash live cattle trade and sales tied to the roll of April longs into deferred contract months. RJ O'Brien is the best early April seller. Refco and Cadent are the most-mentioned June sellers, according to floor sources. Volume is low. ADM and RJ O'Brien sold Aug. RJ O'Brien also sold March and May feeder futures. April live cattle are 35 points lower at 86.67 cents a pound. MARKET TALK: CME Hogs Firm Amid Choppy Spread Trade 1041 EST [Dow Jones] - CME hogs are firm in choppy trading consisting of spreading, follow-through buying and steady to $1 per hundredweight higher cash sales at the Missouri direct hog market. April is up 27 points at 62.97 cents a pound. The contract hit a one-week high where it encountered 63.28-cent 40-day moving average resistance. June is up 10 points at 71.45 cents and eked out a 3 1/2-week high. MARKET TALK: CME Bellies Rise To 4-Mo Highs On Cash 1035 EST [Dow Jones] - CME bellies rose to four-month highs following steady fresh belly prices Wednesday, modest front-month lean hog gains and March/May bear spreading. March is up 30 points at 90.70 cents a pound. May is 67 points higher at 91.40 cents. -By Curt Thacker; Dow Jones Newswires; 913-322-5178; [email protected] (END) Dow Jones Newswires 03-02-06 1212ET |