AI standard launched next month

National Pig Association THE VOICE OF THE UK PIG INDUSTRY NPA is active on members' behalf in Brussels & Whitehall, and with processors, supermarkets & caterers - fighting for the growth and pros-perity of the UK pig industry.

The written standard, which is subject to annual independent audit, extends the concept of assurance back from the farm to the supplied genetics.

It is designed to underpin a challenge from BPEX to all English producers to increase numbers born alive by an extra pig a litter, to help increase the national pigs-per-sow-per-year average to 20.1.

The intention is to reduce variability of semen quality and to educate pig producers in AI techniques. Work on the programme started a year ago, following infertility problems on some units. All the main genetics companies have signed up.

There are four elements to the industry’s new AI programme: advice for producers; a national reference laboratory; on-farm recording to monitor progress; and the BPEX quality standard for semen.

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