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Surge in Pig-breeding Stock Exports to Spain
UK - Yorkshire-based international pig-breeding company ACMC reports a surge in exports to Spain, since the foot-and-mouth disease restrictions were lifted.
Since January this year the company has been making regular monthly shipments of breeding stock - Meidam GPs, Vantage Ultra boars and AC1 gilts - amounting to 800 animals worth over £180,000.
These have been used to meet increased sales from a 7,300-sow operation in the Aranda de Duero region of northern Spain, owned by Marcial Chico, which also has its own nucleus unit.
A new 640-sow commercial unit near Segovia has recently been constructed and built to EU 2013 standards in terms of welfare. Sows are group-housed on straw, a novelty in Spain.
"Spanish commercial pig farmers have been impressed with their temperament, hardiness and prolificacy under this system and the fact that performance figures are being maintained," commented Matthew Curtis, managing director of ACMC.
Mothering ability has also been a feature. Overall, the Spanish company has been averaging more than 25 pigs sold per sow per year - an impressive figure from 7000+ sows. Since switching to ACMC stock using Vantage Ultra boars, feed conversion rate on commercial finishers has improved by 0.2, he reports.
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