NFUS Wary of Creation of Independent Defra Body
UK - NFU Scotland, in its response to a Defra consultation on the creation of an Independent Body for Animal Health in England, has urged policymakers to take the impact on Scottish livestock farmers into...

Getting Gilt Integration Right
UK - With good returns on finished pigs, attractive cull sow prices and a contracting EU pig herd, many producers are building up their breeding herds again, some of which have been run at below optimum...

To Dry or Not to Dry: That is the Question
UK - The June issue of Target Farm Action from BPEX explains the benefits and best procedures for drying off gilts right after their first farrowing.

MSP Report Welcomed Depending on Price to Survive
SCOTLAND, UK - NFU Scotland has welcomed the Scottish Parliament’s Rural Affairs and the Environment Committee’s report into the Scottish pig industry. However, even if the Scottish Government and producers...

Severe Outbreak of Glasser's Disease in VLA Report
UK - The Monthly Scanning Surveillance Report for May 2009 from the Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA) highlights a case of swine dysentery of unknown origin, parasitic pneumonia, and a severe outbreak...

FSA Backtracks on Meat Hygiene Charges
SCOTLAND, UK - The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has announced that that a proposed four per cent increase in meat hygiene charges in abattoirs will not go ahead this autumn.

Weekly Outlook: Corn Acreage Jumps, Large Stocks
US - Estimates in the USDA's June 1 Grain Stocks and Acreage reports were generally very negative for corn price prospects as those estimates exceeded expectations, writes Darrel Good. Acreage...

BPEX Seeks Ideas and Entrepreneurial Spirit
UK - Rekindling the entrepreneurial spirit in UK pig producers and helping them put new ideas into practice. That is the aim of the BPEX Innovation Fund.

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.

Aristocrat Speaks out on Intensive Farming on TV
UK - A TV programme scheduled for tomorrow night (30 June) is billed as an aristocrat taking on the world's biggest pork producer. The Marchioness of Worcester is reported to have spent five years making...

Fighting for British Pork Label
UK - Pig farmer, television personality and British pig industry champion Jimmy Doherty is planning to expose retailers who connive with processors to mislead shoppers.

Some Spot Buyers Went into Reverse
UK - The market tended to move in two directions at once today with the DAPP continuing to improve and now standing at 154.33p, whereas some spot buyers went into reverse and others stood on, writes Peter...

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...

Meat Quality Prediction in Scotland
SCOTLAND, UK - Plans for a project that will see Scotland leading the rest of the world in predicting the eating quality of cuts of meat were announced today.

Mike Varley to Join BPEX
UK - Dr Mike Varley is to join BPEX as Head of Knowledge Transfer, Research and Development.

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.

East Anglia Winning War Against Swine Dysentery
UK - The majority of East Anglia pigs are now in the region’s producer-run Swine Dysentery Eradication (Control) Scheme. And no breeding units in the scheme are positive for the disease, writes Digby ...

GB Animal Feed Statistical Notice - February to April 2009
UK - The latest national statistics on Great Britain's output of animal feed for the months of February, March and April 2009 have been published by Defra.

Mark Wilson Moves on from BPEX
UK - Mark Wilson, who created the Knowledge Transfer team at BPEX, is making a career move to a leading meat company.

Relentless Rise of DAPP Sets the Tone
UK - Very firm prices (but no fireworks) in all sectors today with DAPP continuing its relentless ascent and now standing at 153.36p compared with 130.85p at the start of the year, writes Peter Cricht...

New Boar Quality Assurance Scheme
UK - Although AI now accounts for 75-80 per cent of pig services nationally, the boar is still a very important animal on most farms and is used extensively to provide cover for sows both naturally and...

Iron-Clad Case for Red Meat
UK - A new report highlights the importance of red meat as a source of iron in the human diet.

A Stand Against Defra's Animal Health Organisation
UK - The National Beef Association has joined with the Tenant Farmers Association, Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers, British Egg Industry Council, British Poultry Council, Livestock Auctioneers...

UK Slaughter Statistics - June 2009
UK - Defra's (Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) latest Monthly UK Slaughter Statistics report figures reveal that the country's total pigmeat production dropped slightly in M...

New Minister will Walk the English Pigmeat Chain
UK - He has only been at Defra for a few days, but new farms minister Jim Fitzpatrick has already accepted NPA chairman Stewart Houston’s invitation to walk the pig industry chain.