Slap-Dash Slap-Marking
UK - ACMC says it still sees numerous farm reports where slap-markings are recorded by the abattoir or by BPHS (British Pig Health Scheme) vets as illegible.

AI – Take Care of Semen in Cold Weather
UK - Semen for AI on pig farms should be stored at 17°C in temperature-controlled cabinets. AI suppliers take care to ensure that semen is in good condition on delivery.

Testing Females to Improve Accuracy
UK - Over 1,000 female pigs annually are currently individually tested at nucleus level for feed intake, feed conversion and growth rate by the Yorkshire-based international pig-breeding company, ACMC...

Barbecued Rats Fetch More Than UK Pork
THAILAND - While on a recent trip to Thailand, Stephen Curtis, chairman of international pig breeding company ACMC, spotted rat carcases hung up for sale at the roadside, fetching more in price than British...

Silver Success for Yorkshire Pig Farmer
UK - Yorkshire pig farmer, Ian Broumpton, gained an armful of trophies at this year’s Hull Market Christmas Fatstock Show, according to ACMC.

Dangers of Fluctuating Winter Temperatures
UK - As we move into winter, fluctuating temperatures can be a major stressor and precursor to pneumonia in pigs, warns says Paul Thompson, veterinary consultant to pig-breeding company, ACMC Ltd.

Benefits of Recording Feed Conversion
UK - "Efficient feed conversion is the most important economic trait in pig production yet, as an industry, we are quite poor at measuring it," Ed Sutcliffe, geneticist and technical director of pig-breeding...

ACMC Tip: Keeping the Milk-Bar Flowing
UK - For a sow’s mammary gland to work efficiently it should have been suckled in the previous lactation, says Paul Thompson, veterinary consultant to pig-breeding company, ACMC Ltd.

Supermarkets Could Trigger Pork Shortage
UK - A massive shortage of fresh pork could result from short-sighted policies of major supermarkets, predicts Matthew Curtis, managing director of Yorkshire-based pig-breeding company, ACMC Ltd.

ACMC Tip: Lighten Up for Breeding Sows
UK - The significance of light for maintaining pregnancy is well recognised, says Paul Thompson, veterinary consultant to pig-breeding company ACMC Ltd.

ACMC Tip: Combating Seasonal Infertility
UK - Many farms will experience reduced fertility over the next few months due to summer and autumn infertility, warns Paul Thompson, veterinary consultant to pig-breeding company ACMC Ltd.

Third World Pig Prices Higher than UK’s
UK - Poor ‘Third World’ countries are prepared to pay more for their pork than British retailers. In Cambodia – where Yorkshire-based pig-breeding company, ACMC Ltd, is doing business – the farm-gate...

New ACMC Multiplier Herd Established in Spain
SPAIN - A new 440-sow multiplier herd has been established in Spain to meet the growing demand for AC1 gilts, the prolific hybrid developed by British-based international pig-breeding company, ACMC Lt...

ACMC Tip: Give Sows an Annual Worm Check
UK - For pig herds using Vetscore monitoring the presence or absence of 'milk-spot' livers gives very useful information as to the prevalence of ascarid worms on the farm, says Paul Thompson, veterinary...

Pig Welfare Remains a Big Issue
UK - Welfare will continue to be a big issue in the pig industry and genetic selection for improved efficiency and ethics are not necessarily antagonistic to ethical production.

Focus on Feed Conversion
UK - Pig producers intent on surviving the current pig crisis could save themselves thousands of pounds by utilising a little knowledge, according to Matthew Curtis, managing director of ACMC.

ACMC Tip: Weigh Before Dosing
UK - Antibiotic therapy is generally only effective if the correct dose is administered. The commonest problems arise from under-estimating the weight of pig to be treated, says Paul Thompson, veterinary...

Productivity Fillip for Maltese Pig Industry
MALTA - ACMC says that a switch of genetics and a new approach to health and management has revitalised pig production on the tiny Mediterranean island of Malta.

UK Meat Firms Cash in on High Demand
THAILAND - Two UK-based companies in the livestock and feed industries are eyeing increased sales in Thailand, seeing the potential for economic growth to stimulate demand for meat, according to ACMC.

ACMC Tip: Go Check the Flow
UK - The long cold spell has loosened rust and scale from inside water pipes on many pig units. It is therefore important to check all water drinkers are giving the correct flow for the class of stock...

ACMC Tip: Successful Semen Storage
UK - Successful AI is an essential part of profitable pig farm performance. AI studs take great care over processing and handling semen to send out a product that is capable of giving results at levels...

ACMC Reports Gains in Spain
SPAIN - Two major awards for pig performance have been achieved by British breeding stock in Spain.

ACMC Tip: Monitor Temperature During Cold Snaps
UK - The recent cold snap is a reminder that winter is coming! Already, our practice is seeing upsurges in coughs and respiratory disease in pigs, probably triggered by fluctuations in temperature, says...

Make the Most of Christmas Marketing
UK - Pig finishers should now be thinking about their marketing strategy over Christmas. With high feed costs and lower pig prices, it is important to optimise returns by planning ahead, advises Matthew...

Placid Sow Answer to European Stall Ban at EuroTier
GERMANY - Many European farmers could face problems when sow stalls are banned by the EU on 1 January 2013, says Matthew Curtis, managing director of pig-breeding company ACMC.

ACMC Tip: Watch Out for Aujeszky’s Disease
UK - The recent discovery of Aujeszky’s Disease in pigs in the Pyrenees Atlantic region of France reminds us that we cannot take the absence of notifiable diseases for granted.

ACMC Tip: Light Up for Fertility
UK - As day length shortens, many producers notice a fall in sow productivity, with increased returns to service.

ACMC: Virtual Boar Winner
UK - Winner of ACMC’s ‘virtual boar’ competition at the British Pig and Poultry Fair is H F Hart Ltd, Homeleaze Farm, Gloucestershire. They win £1,000 worth of semen for their 450-sow breeding...

ACMC Tip: Creep Mat Temperature Control is Crucial
UK - Many pig producers have replaced creep lamps with heat mats.

ACMC Tip: Recording Finishing Pig Performance
UK - While many producers at least have some form of recording system for their breeding herds, many still do not record the performance of their feeding enterprises.