Knowledge Transfer

Tip of the week - Lighten Up
On a farm visit one of the BPEX KT Managers spent some time looking at the farrowing houses as a new practice of inducing had been put in place.

Most of the sows were induced so they would farrow together on the Friday; however what the unit had not calculated for was the number of lights needed when all the sows farrowed at the same time. It is essential that you provide lights at the back of the sow when she is farrowing and to the side if you feel the crate needs extra heat.

When sows all farrow over a short period the need for every crate to have 2 lights is realised, spread out farrowing means you can juggle the lights within one room. Have you checked your stock of lights recently? Check for damage, spare bulbs and total light numbers this week.

DIY AI Workshop
BPEX would like to invite your DIY-AI technicians to a forthcoming workshop. The main focus areas are to review best practice principles of boar management, collection and processing, and to practice basic laboratory techniques for semen assessment. 

The workshop is on Wednesday, October 1, at Grayingham Grange Farm (Lincs), starting at 18:00. Places are limited so contact Angela Cliff ASAP to guarantee yours: 01908 844744 or angela.cliff@bpex.org.uk.

Please bring samples from your own boars to the workshop. You will be able to collect PIPR points for this workshop.

Money is Waiting
Get those applications in for the BPEX Innovation Fund. A budget has been set aside to finance innovative projects covering improving herd health, complying with environmental legislation and generally improving production efficiencies. Applications close October 31 and will be announced in the week commencing December 22. Talk to the BPEX Knowledge Transfer team or see the BPEX website for details.

IPPC Ammonia Reductions
Those farmers originally given permits with Improvement Conditions to reduce ammonia emissions, should have received letters with revised conditions.  These letters are all dated 8 August 2008, it would appear some have not been delivered, therefore if this applies to you, please check and follow-up.

Appeals process - the permit revisions allow appeals to be lodged within a 2 month window, this ends on 8 October 2008. 

If you plan to appeal, BPEX have a copy of Defra Guidance to the process, contact Nigel Penlington for a copy 01908 844276.  If you plan to appeal, you are advised to first seek legal advice on your case and its chance of success.  Make sure you know what it is you are appealing against and the desired outcome. 

Some aspects of the permit conditions may be better challenged through the mechanism of an Ammonia Reduction Plan submitted to the Agency, e.g. incorrect grid references, pig place numbers, sizes of slurry stores, inappropriate setting of Environmental Standards for the affected parts of the Habitat in question.  If the plan cannot be agreed, then an appeal can be lodged at this stage.

Plea from RVC
Those who received a questionnaire from the Royal Veterinary College as part of the PMWS project only have until next week to get it filled in and returned.  Though it is another 30 minutes of work in an already busy schedule, it really will provide anvaluable information for this study for the benefit of future PMWS control.  Anybody who is going to have difficulty meeting the deadline should contact Pablo Alarcon at the RVC on 01707 666024.

Marketing News

Full Steam Ahead for QSM
The consultation on the potential for a single quality mark does not mean the pig industry’s Quality Standard Mark has been consigned to the bin.

Whatever happens, it will be business as usual for at least the next year said BPEX Consumer Marketing Manager Chris Lamb.

His comments came in the wake of the publication of the AHDB consultation on quality schemes and branding which is looking at whether levy funds should be used to support a single cross-sector quality mark.
Chris said: “The QSM has been, and will continue to be, vital in differentiating British pork and putting across the higher welfare message to consumers.

“At the moment the industry is still going through difficult times so it is even more important for the work we are doing to continue and be expanded.

“There is a great deal of marketing work in the pipeline for the coming year pulling together the QSM and at the same time supporting the Pigsareworthit campaign.”

MP in Farm Visit
On Monday, September 29, MP Janet Dean will be visiting Martin Barker in Needwood House Farm, Burton on Trent.

Butchers Roadshow
The first of the 7 events took place this week at the East of England Showground, Peterborough.  Product categories included; bacon, gammon, sausages, hot or cold pies, ready meals, meatballs & faggots.

Results: Mike Maloney County Butchers & Bakers of Newark, received the prestigious title of Overall Regional Finalist with their Ham & Chicken Pie with Stuffing and Cranberry Topping.  Twelve butchers entered 75 products of which 29 achieved a gold award.  There were eleven exhibitors ranging from suppliers of spice ingredients to packaging and wholesale meat suppliers.

Chance to Enter Roadshow
Any independent retailer or farm shop wishing to enter their pork products for evaluation at any of the remaining six events: Exeter, Harrogate, Newark, Malvern, Bolton & Haywards Heath, can do so by downloading an entry form by calling 01908 844107 to get one sent or faxed to you or to download one  click here.

Asda Backs Bangers
Asda are promoting the fact that they Love Local with huge outdoor banners, which for the next four weeks featuring sausages.

McDonalds On Air
McDonalds are currently on air with a radio ad featuring their breakfasts. They specifically say that they use British Pork in their sausage patties

Raymond Blanc Boosts Pork
On Wednesday’s show, the contestants on the TV programme The Restaurant, with Raymond Blanc, were given half a pig.  During this programme called ‘No Waste No Loss’, Raymond challenged them to use as much of the pig as possible in the most creative way with as little waste as possible.  It makes interesting viewing, on how they achieved (or not) this challenge, to view the show click here

National News:

Avoid Performance Drop
Performance of the 2nd parity sow can be very disappointing and negatively influence the breeding herd performance average. After a good gilt litter performance, a drop in numbers born alive is commonly seen in the 2nd parity.
Moreover, reproductive performance often lets the 2nd parity sow down, leading to high return rates and subsequently early culling of young sows.

This will affect the profitability of a herd with a decrease in output and an increase in gilt expenses as well as influencing the general staff morale.

BPEX is this autumn running a series of open workshops aimed at producers and stock people focusing on management of the 1st and 2nd parity sow with the team from ABN/ Primary Diets presenting the latest information on feeding strategies.  All meetings are PIPR registered.

Those attending are asked to arrive at: 5.30pm for 6pm prompt start with an 8.30pm finish.

Tuesday 18th November 2008, The Crown Hotel, Horsefair, Boroughbridge, North Yorkshire, YO51 9LB

Wednesday 19th November 2008 The Feathers Hotel., 56 Market Place, Pocklington East Riding Of Yorkshire, YO42 2AH

Tueday 25th November The Croft Hotel, Croft On Tees, Darlington, North Yorkshire, DL2 2ST.

Refreshments will be provided. To register contact Lis Ravn: phone: 0789 165 6784; Email: lisbeth.ravn@bpex.org.uk

Export Report
For the latest BPEX export report, click here

International News:

German Pig Sector Buoyant
Germany expects its pig-keepers to have produced half a pig per sow more during 2008. If this is the case, it will partially offset the five percent fall in the national breeding herd in the first half of the year.

An average price of circa 133p is being talked about for next year, with some pundits predicting the price reaching circa 158p.
However, as in Britain, earlier forecasts of a bonanza year are being tempered by recent developments in the financial world and there are fears retailer and consumer resistance will prevent the pig price reaching its full potential.
Despite the five percent fall in the sow herd, slaughterings are currently running at a higher level than last year, mostly as a result of increasing numbers of Danish producers sending their pigs to Germany. Home production now accounts for only 80 percent of Germany's total kill.

Again as in Britain, consumption in Germany is down due to higher retail prices, coupled with a weaker economy.

However Germany's pig sector remains healthy, with exports up 30 percent in the first half of the year and expected to be up by 15-20 percent for the whole year.

With continued high levels of piglets from Denmark and Holland in 2009, it is likely slaughterings will stay higher than might otherwise be expected. At an average 133p next year, and with lower feed costs, Germany's producers can expect a profitable year.

Pig Production to Fall Says Brussels
The European Commission is forecasting a 4.7 percent fall in pig production across the European Union in the final quarter of this year, reports NPA general manager Barney Kay, on his return from a meeting of the COPA (Committee of Professional Agricultural Organisations) pigmeat working group.
European pigmeat imports are running at around 2,000 tonnes a month more than last year but exports of pigmeat are up 48 percent, comparing July 2007 with July this year.

Most countries expect better prices this autumn as supplies tighten but they see the biggest impact being felt in the first half of next year. All agree the price rises seen so far have not been sufficient to return producers to profit.

Weaner prices have started to improve on the continent, but are not yet near the levels of 2006. However weaner producers are getting closer to profit following two extremely difficult years.

International Prices
Click here for the latest international prices