It includes nitrates and phosphates that leach into drainage and surface runoff waters as well as phosphates attached to eroded soil, silt or organic matter. A key to reducing diffuse pollution is to control soil erosion. Consider what is happening in simple terms.

Think of the cartoon snowball - as it rolls downhill it picks up more snow and gains speed. Water is much the same at moderate speeds - it picks up soil particles and whatever nutrients are attached to them. These are then deposited at slow speeds.

Reducing and slowing down the flow of drainage and surface water at the outset, for example through infiltration and/or rough surfaces such as cultivated soil or ground cover, will help prevent soil erosion and diffuse pollution.

Controlling soil erosion is important but another fundamental step is to reduce nutrients leaving the pig in non-meat forms (i.e. muck - See Figure 1).

The industry is well positioned to do this and reap benefits through improved genetics, management, buildings and careful attention to diets.

Production efficiency IS environmental sustainability. BPEX and MLC continue to support and participate in work geared towards securing further improvements in the Finishing Pigs Systems Research and the Sustainable Management of the Weaner Pig programmes.

See www.Stotfoldpigs.co.uk and www.bpex.org.co.uk for more information and results.

Figure 1: