Insights and Stories of P.J. Huffstutter

Oct. 7, 2013 at 3:55 pm CDT

As the federal government shutdown stretches into its second week, veterinary labs at U.S. universities are stepping into a data gap to collect information and publish updates about an outbreak of a swine virus deadly to young pigs, according to the American Association of Swine Veterinarians. The University of Minnesota’s […]

By P.J. Huffstutter

Sep. 30, 2013 at 6:48 pm CDT

U.S. data showing a surprisingly large late-summer hog herd has done little to quell fears in rural America that a virus deadly to baby piglets could spread. The U.S. livestock industry was anxiously awaiting Friday’s release of the Agriculture Department’s quarterly hogs and pigs report on the nation’s swine inventory […]

By P.J. Huffstutter

Sep. 3, 2013 at 3:29 pm CDT

Activist hedge fund Starboard Value LP said it is working with investors interested in paying “substantially” more for Smithfield Foods than the price China’s Shuanghui International Holdings had agreed to. Starboard, a New York-based fund that holds a 5.7 per cent stake in Smithfield, said in a letter to the […]

By P.J. Huffstutter

Aug. 26, 2013 at 4:58 pm CDT

Merck’s decision to suspend sales of its Zilmax cattle feed additive has caused such a surge in demand for rival Eli Lilly’s Optaflexx that Lilly is telling some new customers it cannot immediately supply them, customers told Reuters. Zilmax became the focus of attention in the livestock industry after Tyson […]

By P.J. Huffstutter, Tom Polansek

Aug. 15, 2013 at 2:35 pm CDT

As questions about the health effects of Merck’s Zilmax feed additive intensified in North America’s beef industry, the pharmaceuticals giant on Tuesday unveiled a program to retrain and certify beef producers in administering the weight-adding drug to cattle. The news comes a week after Tyson Foods declared it would stop […]

By P.J. Huffstutter