INDUS TRYNE WS

IEC appoints communications
manager, launches Web site

The International Egg Commission (IEC) has appointed Vikki Milli-

champ as communications manager. She will apply her extensive experience in public relations and copywriting to the promotional activities of the IEC, bene ting both members and associate organizations.

Vikki Millichamp

She can be reached at vikki@internationalegg.com.

New Web site launched

The International Egg Commission, based

in London, has launched a Web site, www.thinkegg. com.

The site will be available in 10

languages and will include information on the health bene ts of eggs, recipes and egg-related news.

Return from alternative
molting cycles

Don Bell of the University of California, Riverside, has circulated Part 13 B of the National Performance Study. This report considered income over feed costs and pullet depreciation for ocks with a rst cycle length ranging from 47 through 91 weeks as the extremes.

Data was collected from 11 companies participating in the National Flock Performance Study. Seven of the 11 companies applied either non-molt or single molt programs. The contribution margin was calculated from the difference between revenue, using standardized prices for grades, minus feed cost and pullet depreciation. This value was multiplied by 52 weeks. The contribution margin ranged from $3.93 per hen housed to $5.37 per hen housed. The

differences among respondents re ected length of the laying cycle, strain selected, and management.

Lower returns were associated with shorter ock aged at either depletion or onset of molt and the higher contribution margins were associated with an extended rst cycle usually with ock depletion at approximately 80 weeks of age. The correlation factor between contribution margin and age was 0.43. Each week of extending the rst cycle from 50-90 weeks of age added 5. 6 cents to the 52-week contribution margin.

Organic food sales increase

A survey conducted by Liberman Research Group on behalf of the Organic Trade Association determined that organic food sales grew by 15.8% in 2008 attaining a retail value of $23 billion.