Pigs

Following reports of African Swine Fever (ASF) being detected in Sweden for the first time, industry groups are urging farmers to ramp up biosecurity and called for stricter border control measures to prevent the devastating disease from reaching UK shores.

The latest figures from Defra have revealed total pig numbers in England have fallen by half a million this year, hitting the lowest levels seen since 2011 at 3.63 million head.

A new 50.2m tall animal feed mill will be built in Suffolk, after district councillors approved a planning application from British Sugar Plc and AB Agri Ltd.

As of July, primary pork products including steaks, roasting joints and mince, have been knocked off the best-performing red meat spot as consumers opt for more affordable proteins in an attempt to save money.

A series of advanced workshops for pig workers is set to return this October for the first time in four years to address the growing challenges and responsibilities in the pork industry.

Farmers who import live pigs or semen to the UK are being warned of the risks and reminded to follow protocols around PRRS.

Testing has begun as part of a project to reduce the environmental impact of ammonia emissions from livestock, after ammonia-harvesting technology was put in place at a pig farm running the trials.

Police are investigating the theft, which occurred between 3pm on 4th August and 10am on 8th August.

The UK pig industry is leading the way in the fight against antibiotic resistance, having surpassed the 30% reduction target in total antibiotic use set by the RUMA Targets Task Force (TTF) between 2020 and 2024, AHDB figures have revealed.

Positions are open for three-year terms on the Beef & Lamb, Cereals & Oilseeds, Dairy and Pork sector councils.

Following a scorching summer last year and with temperatures currently on the rise, pig producers are being urged to manage heat stress to avoid the negative consequences it can have on feeding behaviour, growth rates and animal welfare.

On the back of zinc supplies running out and responsible antibiotic use becoming ever more important, getting weaned pigs off to a solid start is vital to protecting their welfare and safeguarding farm productivity. At a webinar hosted by the George Pig Practice and supported by Elanco, three experts discussed the challenges and practical solutions when it comes to weaned pig management.