Waitrose Introduces Greener British Pork
UK - In a bid to cut carbon emissions and create a more sustainable pork supply chain, Waitrose has announced a grain sourcing initiative for its pig farmers. The multi million pound deal, the first of...

ACMC Tip: Mycotoxin Dilemma
UK - Mycotoxins are frequently implicated in cases of poor reproductive performance in pig herds, though it can be difficult to prove their involvement in individual cases, says Paul Thompson, veterinary...

FAWC Publishes Landmark Report on Welfare
UK - Eating meat and using animal products requires hard moral choices to be made, according to Professor Christopher Wathes, the chairman of the Farm Animal Welfare Council.

ACMC Tip: Autumn Airflow
UK - Temperatures are already dropping sharply at night so pig producers should make sure all flaps and fans in their buildings are working properly and that doors are closed at night.

Warning from MEPs Regarding EU Transport Rules
SCOTLAND, UK - An NFU Scotland delegation visiting Brussels has received warning that damaging EU proposals to introduce new restrictions on animal transport could be put back on the European agenda within...

New On-Farm Guide to Vaccination and Pig Medicines
UK - A new booklet entitled The correct use and storage of veterinary medicines on the pig farm has just been published by Intervet / Schering-Plough Animal Health in the UK.

Higher Risk of Abnormal Gait in Intensive Systems
UK - In a study of commercial farms, researchers found fewer cases of abnormal gait in finishing pigs than sows or gilts. Pigs kept outdoors or on solid floors with straw had fewer mobility problems than...

Scottish SPCA Approves Launch of Pioneering Brand
SCOTLAND, UK - Pig farms throughout Scotland are being visited by inspectors from the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) as part of a ground-breaking initiative welcomed by...

Animal Transport Proposals Off the Table... for Now
SCOTLAND, UK - NFU Scotland yesterday welcomed the news that proposals to introduce controversial new animal transport laws have been withdrawn from internal European Commission consultation.

NPA Calls for Rethink on Vitamin A
UK - To protect consumers, the European Food Standards Agency has proposed new maximum levels of vitamin A in animal feed.

ACMC Tip: Avoid Greedy Pigman's Disease
UK - With high pig prices there is a temptation to push production as hard as possible. The advent of circovirus vaccines has allowed some producers to cut corners on stocking density, downtimes for cleaning...

Possible Cures for Tail-Biting Found
UK - The results of recently published research suggest that Stockholm tar and Dippel's oil may be effective in reducing tail biting.

ACMC Tip: Dealing with Deadstock
UK - Unit bio-security is critical to maintaining health on a pig unit. One route of disease transmission which must be controlled is the disposal of dead stock. Ideally, this should be through on-farm...

RSPCA's Supermarket Animal Welfare Competition
UK - The Royal Society for Protection of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) is calling on the British public to vote for their favourite animal-friendly supermarket.

Merial: Performance Data Drives Improvement
UK - A willingness to try new techniques is integral to Kevin Gilbert’s approach to improving pig production at Womblehill, Aberdeenshire. A recent visit to the unit demonstrated Kevin’s willingness to...

Calls for Rethink on Farm Veterinary Service
UK - The veterinary profession needs to rethink its relationship with farmers and with the government, and play a more positive and central role in ensuring food safety, according to an independent report...

£100M Boost for Animal Health Research
UK - The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and the Institute for Animal Health (IAH) today welcomed the announcement by the Government of over £100 million investment by the...

Help Sought on EU GM Zero Tolerance Policy
SCOTLAND, UK - NFU Scotland has written to the Scottish and UK Governments seeking their assistance in addressing the damage being done to its livestock sector by Europe’s zero tolerance policy for as...

Compassion in World Farming Opposes Trade
UK - Compassion in World Farming says it welcomes the National Pig Association’s campaign to prevent a trade in imported piglets which threatens to bring diseases such as MRSA from Belgium and Holland...

Removing Boar Taint Roulette May Mean Higher Sales
UK - In a survey of attendees at a recent Pig Veterinary Society meeting, 70 per cent claimed they could detect boar taint and 68 per cent agreed with the statement "Boar taint has a negative impact on...

ROYAL SHOW - UKECP Boosting Livestock and Meat Exports
UK - A livestock and meat export initiative launched at the Royal Show last year has now seen health certificates granted for products and animals to be traded around the world.

New Research Looks at Farrowing Crate Alternatives
UK - The practical stage of a major new research project looking at welfare-friendly alternatives to the farrowing crate has just got under way with the building and evaluation of prototype designs.

Pig Assurance Scheme Endorsed by Welfare Charity
SCOTLAND, UK - Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) has endorsed the Scottish Pig Assurance Scheme.

SPCA in Endorsement of Pig Assurance Scheme
SCOTLAND, UK - History will be made within the Scottish meat industry this year with the launch of the UK’s first ever farm assurance and food labelling scheme independently approved by a national animal...

BPEX Campaign Scoops Cannes Lions Award
UK - The prestigious Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival has announced the winners of its inaugural awards for public relations work.