Here, we experiencing more buyers coming to buy and if sellers hold back or demand slightly higher price, I believe that they shall get their requests......as my friend did after receiving my sms that I was offering him better quote for his nests and immediately, he get a slight increment of price.....or otherwise, he may force to sell even lower than before. Reason is very clear because if the buyer know that he has competition for the nests, he will and most willing to offer better price otherwise, you shall expect the buyers to quote lower for reason like that your nest is not pure white, not big enough and maybe little dirt or any excuses he can throw on you to get you to give in so don't and never fall into the trap as many did and still never learn the lesson cos what they like to see is real cash before the eyes and not nests.

More buyers esp. local ones mean only one thing that is there are oversea buyers require EBN and so, I shall expect increment of price provided that sellers don't undercut others to sell low.

Don't expect a huge increment immediately but certainly increment is on the way and will need all cooperation to ensure increment all the way and in afew months, we hope to attain about RM3K and slowly and hopefully back to the old price we all are hoping for and that's Rm4.5K in a year.

IshaAllah, the cloud will clear and we shall see the moon again.

Hi West Wing, U r right. I received calls from few buyers last and this week. I m sure they see the bright sight in front already.

We have shared our parts in helping. In the name of a BN Association here in Thailand, 2 weeks ago I wrote letters to Dept of Commerce, Dept of Export Promotion, and the China Embassy to Thailand. Later on manage to talk to a guy from Dept of Export Promotion and he said he had already talked to a Thai Authority in Beijing about this and the Chinese Authorities, when inquired, said they treat BN the same as other importing food, which subject to 30 ppm rules. The Export Promo dept. guy later on told me that this Nitrate thing can be categorized as some tactics called NTB (Non-Tariff Barrier) (since we have enter the Free Trade Agreement.) And it doesn't only happen to BN, it happens from time to time to fruit, vegetables and other export to China.

I will continue to call him every week to see what has been done in the Chinese part to resolve this.

Hang in there all friends. Cheers,

actually 30ppm issit reasonable? i have no idea how much ppm of Nitrate contains in the bird nest...

Actually 30ppm can be achieved if check and test in our country after processing. But when BN reach there, no one can guarantee as it can be affected by shipment condition, weather, and most important part is when the sample was taken by the officers there to the lab, how they handle and pack it....u all know lah

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Added on March 23, 2012, 6:59 pmIf it can be adjusted to 70ppm, will be better and protect us if the officer really want to make trouble to us.
U can try to take any food from market to test, they can be easily exceed 100ppm.

This post has been edited by Edward Wai: Mar 23 2012, 06:59 PM

Thanks, Chitchai for sharing as we all are a big happy family before but now alittle sadder but at least we have each other, swiftlets ranchers in the whole world unite and we definitely will create a better future.

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Added on March 24, 2012, 11:32 amFrom information obtained, 30ppm is only possible for processing quality nests using new method but impossible for unprocessed nests and that the trouble. We the owners of BHs will be at the mercy of the nest processing plants as only processed nests will pass the requirement....and here in Malaysia, only a handful are allow to process nests for export. So, we, honest "Farmers" will have to become criminals and "under water" the nests into China.....

This post has been edited by West Wing: Mar 24 2012, 11:32 AM

Try this. Very helpful about BN Nitrate written by some Dr. from Jaho Baru

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=ppm...WpyYCHA&cad=rja

Summary: Birdshit and urine develop Ammonia (NH3). After that NH3 develop in to NO2 (Nitrite) and After that oxidized into NO3(Nitrate).

Average Nitrate in cleaned raw birdnest from Jaho-Baru is 87.5 ppm. And 384.7 ppm for uncleaned raw birdnest! (sigh)

How comes YST birdnest claim their birdnests have only 11 ppm Nitrate?
http://ystnest.blogspot.com/

Any of you know a reliable shipping agent can ship to china?

BN farmers don't be discouraged . Be positive we will ride out the stormy weather. Share with all bros a little secret. Chinese companies realizing that the retail prize of BN remain unchanged while raw nests are rock bottom. Chinese buyers are setting up purchasing and processing centers locally . They will then export the BN legally into china for their own distribution.

I am in negotiation with them to set up 3 BHs and a collection and processing center which is ALREADY IN THE WORKS !!! Eventually will have a total of 10 BHs. They are also in palm oil plantation which I am not involved.

:thumbs: :thumbs: :thumbs:

A reason why some BH's nest nitrate content so high while others aren't, because some ppl's BH the bird droppings like a feet thick also never clean. I clean my BH once every few months, but some sifus say don't clean at all.

The Chinese are here and it's good news now but maybe bad news in years to come as they have the excess money to buy all in what they want like oil palm estate, palm oil mill and refineries and may include BH, prcessing plants and sooner or later even prime commercial area if allow to and in near future future, we all shall rent from the Chinese and not Malaysian.

I have see this coming but not so soon but we did it to our self. We should be happy now that we shall get better price for our nests very soon and who care if the whole economy taken by China Chinese years later cos we, Non Bumi Malaysian never get the fair chance to share anywhere.

If only the Malaysia Govt. believe in fairness and equality; that all Malaysian irrespective of color, religion or creed are Malaysia children; then Malaysia would be a paradise for all.

I don't study economic but understand that for every ringgit generated, 90 sen go back to the state and if the people don't make, nothing go to the state. Let all Malaysian be free to generate wealth as most of it will go back to the state in one form or another. Sorry again for posting some politic here

This post has been edited by West Wing: Mar 25 2012, 02:07 PM

Dame iif you don't. And Dame if you do.! Where does this leave the Beaten bird nests farmers . I thought there is a grimmer of hope .

Thanks BenChai...........at least, we shall have good food on the table at present......Future are all to see for if we don't survive today, where got tomorrow.......

After so many year of independence, we are still lacking behind for because of NEP or Govt. Policies, the greatness of the nation have been neglected and forgo; just like good horses being pull back to allow slower animals to catch up and end up with foreigners getting the goodies which should be ours.

BenChai, we shall drink and sing when we meet to forget and think only of all the great things that we have done. YamSeng!!!!!!

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Added on March 26, 2012, 10:58 amI don’t know how they can obtain such low ppm but I think that one way to do it is to soak them in running water to dilute the nitrite in the nests as nitrite will easily dilute in water and then totally break down the nests and then rinse them again many times, then reassemble them back into half cup. You waste a large percentage of nests but you gain by making super size nests out of small nests, broken nests which are much cheaper than super A nests.

Just a suggestion.

This post has been edited by West Wing: Mar 26 2012, 10:58 AM

well...many calls....many buyers are offering...but..

prices still macam itu juga....ooommm.....nak tidur lagi lah...

2.2 lump sum pergi now offer....oommm....tidur lagi lah.......

any better offer kah?

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Added on March 26, 2012, 11:38 amgreat info bro chitchai,
some small processors that want to research or want to set up QC lab in their own plant to check on Nitrite n nitrate can use this method instead of sending samples to certified labs but though this is only for internal QC check...still need major labs test result when u want to ship to china loh...

maybe farmers can do some QC in their farms using this method..

take 3g of nest, grind it, take 1g n dilute in 10ml deionize water. steam cook in 70-80C warm water for 15 minutes, then use API nitrite n nitrate tester.

if anyone interested, can do the test n shares the result here for those who is keen on researching.



This post has been edited by ChanK: Mar 26 2012, 11:38 AM

The problem with many EBN processors is that they want their processed nests to have the EBN smell.

The achieve this, the water that the EBN is being processed is not changed very often.

The change of ammonia to nitrites and nitrates is by the action of bacteria with the oxygen and water.

We simply get rid of the bacteria by using boiling water to rinse the nest out, several times before picking out the shit and feathers. After this the water used to soak the nests in whilst cleaning has to be chlorinate tap water not filtered water as filtering water (with commercial water filters) usually gets rid of the chlorine. Chlorine will kill any bacteria still present. Chlorine will disappear after drying, besides, they do not test for chlorine and it's compounds. I have also increased chlorine by using sterilizing tablets as used for baby milk bottles.

Everyone please try the above and see if your processed nest will become strong smelling after leaving out for a day or so as compared to one processed without sterilizing.

I have not tried other methods of sterilizing the nests, other than the above, but there are many other methods to stop the action of bacteria. No bacteria no conversion to nitrates and nitrites. Existing nitrates and nitrites will dissolve with water and rinsed away. Low ppm is therefore achievable consistently.

BTW I believe the respective governments are talking of "No Added nitrites" in natural EBN.

Our politicians are too busy worrying about their personal political future to worry about us.

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Added on March 26, 2012, 12:47 pmBe careful, for at any other than that temperature you may be encouraging the production of nitrates and nitrites.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nitrogen_cycle

http://www.bioconlabs.com/nitribactfacts.html

<Temperature

<The temperature for optimum growth of nitrifying bacteria is between 77-86° F (25-30° C).

<Growth rate is decreased by 50% at 64° F (18° C).

<Growth rate is decreased by 75% at 46-50° F.

<No activity will occur at 39° F (4° C)

<Nitrifying bacteria will die at 32° F (0° C).

<Nitrifying bacteria will die at 120° F (49° C)

<Nitrobacter is less tolerant of low temperatures than Nitrosomonas. In cold water systems, care must be taken to monitor the accumulation <of nitrites.

Most processing plants will operate at temperatures that encourage the growth of this bacteria. The bacteria must first be killed then the nitrates and nitrites be flushed away and then re sterilised after handling, before storage.

This post has been edited by tuckfook: Mar 26 2012, 11:05 PM

i always used Ozonated water to sanitize my nests before n after. never use tap water as nests becomes light yellow as soon as it dry or maybe i messed up during the process ( i m newbie in processing though, pls correct me if i m wrong). I only use filtered water to replace boiled water.

thts why when we or consumers are asking too much then processors will also think n do too much liked not changing the water too often....i don't know u, but i don't eat those nests though.....yukkk...

still best to buy nests from small, reputable, trusted processors. go inside the bird nests hotspot kampung area, u will find them..mostly manned by ah kong and ah sum..their minds are pure and healthy, less polluted so don't think too much. they are clever too, they only keep clean one to process n avoid dirty nests.

hmm....maybe TV8 can open a new TV show for nests search special with ah siang to promote kampung style bird nests, healthy, pure, natural taste bird nests. hahahaha...

Ozone treatment of water only disinfects the water, but this effect will not carry on to the nests to be processed. Note that the bacteria needs oxygen to convert the ammonia to nitrates and nitrites and ozonated water supposedly contains more oxygen.

It is not pure/clean water we need alone, we need to KILL the BACTERIA.

Tap water is free from dangerous bacteria unless the water treatment plant is messed up.

Have anyone here clean the nest properly like no nitrite and how it taste? Even thinking of it, Yak!

Anymore of the egg white smell and is the taste remain the same?

I take birdnest so often and hate to destroy the original taste of birdnests...have tried adding many other food to ebn but still prefer the original taste just sweeten with rock suger.

Als, I would like to ask if 0% nitrite, will the birdnest becoming unhealthy after some time to eat as previously, birdnests can be kept for years and still taste OK and healthy....cos, if I am not wrong that nitrite also help to preserve food, right? Would it be still the same with 0 % nitrite if it become possible?

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Added on March 27, 2012, 5:48 pmNow, coming to scientific facts:

1. Nitrates and Nitrites preserve the nests and help to kill bacteria during storage period.
2. Will the favour be the same without nitrite and nitrate.
3. IS the danger of botulum poisoning be present in birdnests without the Ns.

Since that EBN have been safely consumed for hundreds of years and only removing most of it during washing and cooking and now, removing it during processing and then storing them without the Ns, will it cause bacteria to breed and worst, botulinum poisoning in the process.

If removing Ns are the problem, then instruct users to rinse well before cooking EBN to prevent formation of Nitrosamines which occur in cooking in very high temperature which cooking EBN only at 100%C.



This post has been edited by West Wing: Mar 27 2012, 05:48 PM

0% nitrite EBN smells of very very light egg white. It will be like a sweet plain jelly when prepared with just rock sugar. Not a distinct smell and taste as before. You should try it yourself for the experience.

Botulinum is usually associated with meat products so very unlikely to be present in EBN but just think if it were, you could plaster it on your face to remove the wrinkles.

I don't know if nitrites play a part in preserving EBN but if Clostridium botulinum was present in EBN and produced the toxins, it would not make any difference as botulinum toxin is destroyed at tempts greater than 60C or 140F so cooking the EBN will make it safe.

Cooking at high tempts will produce carcinogens from nitrites but of course we do not BBQ EBN. We do BBQ sausages though !

So, there is no real danger from nitrites in EBN just a good excuse to control the whole business. All the authorities are fully aware of the facts about nitrates and nitrites.

Hi to all experienced sifus,

I have a pest problem in my town BH. I chanced to spot a rat like animal with a bushy tail which I think is a kind of shrew. I checked internet and read about the northern tree shrew in south east asia which looks somewhat like the animal I saw but the northern tree shrew is actually Tupai or squirrel which I sometimes saw in the rural area. I saw substantial birds feathers around the hidden areas under the open roof near the entrance; so I believe it or they are attacking the birds much like cats do up in the roof of many shops. At first I tried King Kong pink color poison but someone had experience with shrew told me it do not kill shrew as they survive and only their excrement look pinkish. So I asked around and some advised me to get the category III blue poison for use against large rats at oil palm estate which I deployed and was indeed consumed by the pest at several different spot under the open roof, inside the entrance, at the roving room and even deep inside the nesting area. I had since added more palletes of the blue poison to see if the pest continue to consume or not... it it keep on eating, then I think it might not be effective also. I am thinking the next steps is to set glue traps and even snap traps. Any guys have similar experiences and have effective advices against this kind of pests?