New project aims to end tail docking
A group of seven European research institutions, including Scotland’s Rural College and Newcastle University, have been awarded €2.5M for their collaborative project ‘FareWellDock’. They hope that by decreasing tail biting risk through environmental enrichment and developing better early warning tools of impending problems they can help farmers to stop tail docking. Tail docking is considered […]
Retailers edging towards next food scandal
NPA has noted a number of pork, bacon and gammon lines being switched back to imported product, because it is marginally cheaper. It is not naming the retailers concerned until it has had meetings with them to find out their reasons for retreating from their post-Horsegate promises to introduce short supply chains. Since the heat […]
We’re backing Britain, says NPA
The association is throwing its weight behind the Back British Farming Charter launched yesterday by the National Farmers Union, which calls for shoppers, food companies and politicians to help reverse the decline in the nation’s food self-sufficiency. “Around 60 percent of the pork products we eat in this country — including bacon, sausages and ham […]
NPA calls for food companies to ban all imports from ‘medieval’ farms
Therefore retailers and food manufacturers must continue to be vigilant, warns Britain’s National Pig Association. It argues that British consumers expect all imported pork and pork products to be traceable back to farms that comply with the European Union’s January 2013 ban on the full-time use of sow stalls. According to new data from the […]
Midland Pig Producers welcomes RSPCA approval of ground-breaking pen
The 360° Freedom Farrower, created by Staffordshire-based Midland Pig Producers (MPP), is an innovative concept in farrowing pen design allowing the sow to move around freely while continuing to protect the piglets and the handlers. Traditional farrowing crates were banned by the RSPCA under their Freedom Food Farm Assurance Codes because they prevent the sow […]
Asda launches PoultryLink seven crop contracts
The new supply chain scheme has been developed to provide security and confidence for Asda’s broiler and Turkey farmers to allow them to grow their businesses and in-turn ensure a sustainable British source of poultry products for Asda stores, explained Asda agriculture manager Pearce Hughes. “PoultryLink farmers will be able to access industry leading seven […]
Report explores poultry sector’s reliance on energy
Mr Tyers, who works for Countrywide Farmers, presented his report entitled ‘The challenge for the poultry sector in meeting the demand for protein when energy is limited’ at the Farmers’ Club in London. The aim of the paper is to highlight the reliance of agriculture and in particular, the poultry sector, on energy. It identifies […]
Waste food campaign poses disease threat warns National Pig Association
National Pig Association has warned that recycling human food by feeding it to pigs must take place only under strictly-controlled conditions, otherwise there is a risk of outbreaks of notifiable diseases, such as foot-and-mouth, classical swine fever and African swine fever. These highly infectious diseases, which can be introduced to Britain in infected meat — […]
NPA Chris Brant Award winner announced
The award is presented annually to someone who goes the extra mile for the British industry. Several west country pig producers nominated Jonathan French. “He is the hardest working, most committed, caring individual you could possibly wish to have associated with your pig business,” said one. Another said, “I appreciate he has a vested interest […]
