Knowledge Transfer
Tip of the Week – Lag Behind?
As we move into autumn, check pipes are lagged, ventilation systems are working, that ACNV curtains are operational, flaps are in the correct position and that there are no draughts – PMWS can increase with chilling/temperature fluctuations and respiratory disease with reduced airflows.

Funding Up For Grabs
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 31st October and will be announced in the week commencing 22nd December. Talk to the BPEX Knowledge Transfer Team or see the BPEX website for details.

Young NPA Dinner
Following two successful similar events the NPA are running another in East Anglia at The Scole Inn, Diss on Tuesday 7th October. Guest speaker Rick Sanderson (PIC) will be giving a talk about carcase balance, meat quality and consumer buying preferences. After the talk there will be dinner and the chance for some good discussions and networking. There are rooms reserved for those who need to stay overnight. To book places contact Zoe Davies (NPA): 07790 117091.

Cornish Training Group
The workshop on October 7 in Bodmin will focus on the steps from weaning to mid pregnancy, looking at the changes to the sow during her first few weeks of pregnancy.

Service house design, AI and the serve will also be covered, with further information on regular and irregular returns. The content will be based on the Certificates of Competence. A hot buffet will be available after the workshop. If you would like further details contact Helen Thoday: 07973 701202 or Helen.thoday@bpex.org.uk

Training Funds On Offer
There is cash on the table for pig farmers to learn new skills and/or develop existing ones.
BPEX now has access to part of the £3 million available through LandSkills Yorkshire and Humber, part of the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE). 

The money can be used to raise your own skill levels or to develop others on your farm and is available for farm businesses, producer groups and allied businesses. LandSkills is managed by Lantra on behalf of Yorkshire Forward.  If you are interested in taking advantage of the LandSkills offer please call Lis Ravn on 07891656784 or Martin Grantley-Smith on 01809844133.

Cost of Production Latest
Despite much welcome pig price increases in recent months and some reductions in feed ingredients prices in the last few weeks, the table above illustrates the stark facts that producers are still not covering their cost of production as measured by the difference between the DAPP and the monthly BPEX estimate of average COP. For a ‘typical’ 300 sow farrow to finish family business the net margins translate into a loss since June 07 of over £135,000  for the UK industry the loss is now over £200 million.

Marketing News
QSM on Grocer Front
Tomorrow (Oct 4) the Grocer front page and flap will be re-iterating the 70% claim and how important it is to stock QSM pork. This hard hitting front cover statement will not be easily missed.  To see a copy click here.

Latest MP Visit
On Monday (Sep 29) MP Janet Dean visited Martin Barker in Needwood House Farm, Burton on Trent. Click here for more info.

Prima Magazine
The October issue has a Christmas Chequebook attached to it, in which Lovepork is advertising its latest recipe book – The Taste of Tradition. The chequebook, is a book of vouchers which consumers redeem or use as described by each advertiser. 

Asda Recipe Card
This features the recipe ‘Baked pork steaks with pepper & olive Sauce’ plus the Love QSM pork logo and lovepork.co.uk web address.  It is to be in all stores from mid Oct.

Tesco On Pack QSM Stickers
Tesco have confirmed that they are to continue until Christmas applying the large on-pack QSM stickers which feature very prominently on their English Fresh Pork range.  This will mean that in total 7million stickers will have been used by Tesco.

Tesco Discount Range
In response to the credit crunch, Tesco has launched a discount range of 350 grocery products.  They are not necessarily as low in price as their value range but the deal is that they are the same price if not slightly cheaper than the equivalent in any neighbouring discount store. With regard to pork products there are pork loin steaks, bacon, sausages and ham. 

They are branded products, which are produced especially for Tesco and are likely to be using imported pork.

Tesco Relaunch Bacon Range
The Butchers Choice bacon range is no longer available and the bacon used in this range is now part of their Finest range.

Somerfield QSM Stickers
Somerfield is also prominently featuring large QSM stickers on packs of fresh pork.

Delicious Magazine
The November issue – which is on sale now, features a recipe advertorial at the end of the Bonfire section.  Delicious is a prestigious foodie magazine which again will drive visitors to the website.

Asda Backs Bangers
In the run up to British Sausage Week ASDA is promoting the ‘Buy Local’ campaign with large outdoor banners featuring images of sausages.

National News:
Thanks a Million
The vaccine voucher scheme being run by BPEX has now hit the million mark in less than six months. Since its launch in April, enough vouchers have been redeemed to treat the equivalent of 1.25 million pigs and BPEX has invested some £650,000 in the programme.

The £1.5 million reserve funds that BPEX committed to the project are far from depleted. Although anecdotal evidence is dangerous and we must not rely on it, every indication from producers, vets, marketing groups and slaughter numbers is driving home the message that the PCV2 vaccines are working! The results of the study will be announced on the second day of the PVS autumn meeting which is being held jointly with BPEX and the NPA on November 14.

Don’t Discount Aldi and Lidl
Claims that the credit crunch is making people turn their attention to the hard discounters seem to be borne out in the latest issue of Meat Demand Trends. The publication from AHDB Meat Services Economics shows Aldi and Lidl outperformed all other retailers in terms of increased spending on fresh meat in the 12 weeks ending 10 August 2008 although the discounters’ combined share of the fresh meat market is still only two per cent.  The report on growth in the discounters’ fresh meat sales is part of the September 2008 edition of Meat Demand Trends. It is available by ringing Jo Stanton on 01908 844396 or email jo.stanton@ahdbms.org.uk.

Avoid Performance Drop
Performance of the 2nd parity sow can be disappointing and badly affect the breeding herd performance average. This can lead 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. Workshops start at 6pm and finish at 8.30pm.

• 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

NADIS Latest
Rectal prolapse in the sow has been highlighted as a serious problem on some farms by NADIS reporting vets. Whilst it can occur at any stage of the cycle, the farrowing period creates the highest risk. With many sows housed on straw during pregnancy, the move to farrowing rooms is associated with withdrawal of this 'gut -filling' agent at the same time as feed is changed (from dry sow to lactator ration) and reduced in quantity. The result is reduced gut fill, constipation and straining which can trigger a prolapse. This can happen before, during or just after farrowing.

To reduce the risk, the old fashioned idea of administering bran to sows on entry to the farrowing accommodation (0.5 - 1kg/sow/day up to the day of farrowing) can be highly successful.

Cull Sow Prices
Cull sow values appear to have peaked.  In week ended 27 September the average GB export specification price was just under 131p per kg, down 2p on the week but still 96 per cent of the DAPP.  For more information on this and many other vital facts and figures about the industry, go to the Market Intelligence section of the BPEX website, click here for more.

International News:
Listeriosis Death Toll Rises
The number of deaths due to an outbreak of listeriosis linked to a Maple Leaf Foods deli meat plant in Toronto continues to rise. The Public Health Agency of Canada confirmed another death, which raises the number of deaths to 20. There are currently 52 confirmed cases and six deaths are still under investigation.

International Prices
Click here for the latest international prices

Death of Renowned Pig Vet
Members of the Pig Veterinary Society, friends and colleagues world-wide were saddened to learn of the unexpected death of Tom Alexander, a past President and an Honorary Member of the Society, on October 1, 2008. Tom, aged 77 and a retired member of Faculty at the University of Cambridge Veterinary School, will be sadly missed by many across the world. Tom was known internationally for his research on porcine infectious diseases and for the development of disease control methods in pigs.