Vision for Future of the UK Pig Industry
UK - BPEX has just produced a new health and welfare strategy with support from across the industry and launched by Chief Veterinary Officer at a press conference in London yesterday, 24 August.

NPA: Superiority of British Higher Welfare Pork
UK - Armed with a special lightweight banner proclaiming the superiority of British higher welfare pork, two Cambridge climbers have scaled Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest mountain.

Review: The Pig Journal, Volume 65 (2011)
UK - The latest edition of the Pig Journal, published by the UK Pig Veterinary Society is now available.

Govt Welfare Committee Seeks New Expertise
UK - Applications are invited for members of the Farm Animal Welfare Committee (FAWC) with expertise in animal slaughter, fish farming, pig and deer farming.

Encouragement to Share Story of Food Production
CANADA - The Farm Animal Council of Saskatchewan says, with the public increasingly disconnected from the farm, it's critical for those involved in agriculture to be involved in telling the story of what...

Research Community Helps Kickstart New Pork CRC
AUSTRALIA - Applications for the 2011-2012 inaugural funding round for research projects with the CRC for High Integrity Australian Pork are in and early indications are that the research community and...

New Rules on Slatted Floors from 2013
DENMARK - With fully slatted floors banned from July 2015, interim measures will be introduced in January 2013, when producers who want to continue with their existing fully slatted floors will need to...

Iowa Leads Project to Reduce Pig Lameness
US - Understanding and solving lameness in pigs, especially in sows, could save producers $23 million a year.

Campaign Starts Against 'Cruel & Inhumane' Ritual
TAIWAN - Animal welfare campaigners are calling for an end to the ritual of rearing so-called 'divine pigs'.

EFSA Consults on GM Effects on Health & Welfare
EU - EFSA has launched a public consultation on draft guidance for the risk assessment of food and feed derived from genetically modified (GM) animals and related animal health and welfare aspects.

Chair of Health & Welfare Board Appointed
ENGLAND - Michael Seals has been appointed as the Chair of the new Animal Health and Welfare Board for England (AHWBE).

New Sessions for Animal Care & Handling Conference
US - The Animal Care and Handling Conference organised by the American Meat Institute (AMI) in October will feature new sessions on sustainability and the impact of the media.

Slaughterman's Licence in Abuse Case Revoked
UK - The Food Standards Agency has revoked the licence of a slaughterman following the publication of footage allegedly taken by Animal Aid at Cheale Meats in Essex.

High-Welfare Pork Sales up Again
UK - Shoppers are having a positive effect on pig welfare.

Secret Film Claims Cruelty to Pigs in Abattoir
UK - Animal rights group, Animal Aid has released film footage it claims was shot secretly a pig slaughterhouse in Essex and that the group says shows severe animal cruelty.

Consumers Say Animal Welfare Labelling Important
US - A study shows mandatory labelling of animal welfare practices is important to more than 60 per cent of consumers.

Enhancing Welfare Explored by Industry Leaders
US - Enhancing welfare in livestock production was explored by industry leaders at the second Annual Novus University Day.

Animal Welfare Concerns, Doubt About Regulations
NEBRASKA, US - Nearly 70 per cent of rural Nebraskans define animal welfare in terms similar to those promoted by advocacy groups, but most don't think increased regulation of the state's livestock practices...

Welfare Groups Want Modern Farming Banned
INDIA - Humane Society International and the Animal Welfare Board of India have asked the Commerce Minister to prohibit foreign direct investment that introduces intensive farming systems.

Ministers Meet with Farming Unions
NORTHERN IRELAND, UK - Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Michelle O’Neill last night hosted a meeting with her southern counterpart and the north’s two farming unions.

Pork Imports Must Meet EU Standards
NORTHERN IRELAND, UK - An influential report on the pig sector in Europe, published last week by RaboBank has highlighted the challenges which must be overcome to allow the sector to prosper in Northern...

Accurate Info on Food Production in Demand
CANADA - The executive director of the Farm Animal Council of Saskatchewan says, as the public becomes increasing interested in issues related how the food they buy is raised, it becomes more important...

Good Welfare Costs Less than a Box of Chocolates
UK - Consumers believe better farm animal welfare would cost them too much, according to a recent survey but Freedom Foods says the additional cost is the same as just one treat in the shopping basket...

Implementation of Animal Welfare Directives
EU - Several European Animal Welfare Directives for the protection of broilers, laying hens and pigs are reaching their final implementation dates in 2010, 2012 and 2013, respectively.

Contract Research Programme Reinvigorated
CANADA - The president and CEO of the Saskatoon based Prairie Swine Centre reports improved profitability in the swine industry is allowing the centre to reinvigorate its contract research programme, Bruce...

Market Preview: Sow Stall Decisions Being Haunted?
US - In this week's "Market Preview" from National Hog Farmer magazine, Steve Meyer discusses the latest announcement by the United Egg Producers (UEP) and the Humane Society of the United States...

Alternatives to Surgical Castration of Pigs
EU - Eurogroup welcomes the news that during the last meeting of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health (SCoFCAH), Member States unanimously voted in favour of the financing decision...

International Conference on Welfare Assessment
CANADA - The 5th International Conference on the Assessment of Animal Welfare at Farm and Group Level will be held at the University of Guelph on 8 to 11 August 2011.

Organic Farming Welfare Claims Judged Misleading
UK - A magazine advertisement that maintained that organically farmed animals were reared in better welfare conditions than non-organically reared animals has been ruled misleading by the Advertising Standards...

VION Receives CIWF Pig Welfare Award
UK - Leading European meat processing company VION receives has been awarded a leadership award in pig welfare from Compassion in World Farming.