Higher Standards in UK Industry
UK - The majority of pigs in the UK, including those in Scotland, are kept to a higher welfare standard than elsewhere in the EU and other countries, these are the conclusions of a report by the Farm Animal Welfare Council.

Ways to Avoid Rising Feed Costs
UK - The pig industry is hard-hit by rising feed and fuel cost challenges and the ever-increasing red tape burdens. Lately, a lot of producers have been reported as stepping out of the industry as a result of the many challenges that it hauls their w...

Pig Slurry of Value to Pig Farmers
UK - According to BPEX experts, rather than just the livestock itself, it is also what the animals produce that is of immense value to pig farmers.

The Health Benefits of Eating Pork
SCOTLAND - Pork is becoming increasingly popular with Scottish consumers. It is no longer perceived as "boring and uninspiring", but is replaced by a more positive outlook, according to a new report.

Sainsbury's Scotch Counter Receives Award
SCOTLAND - A Scotch branded Sainsbury’s counter has won a major award for best supermarket serve over counter at a major trade award.

DEFRA: 21^st Century Challenges for Food Set in the UK
UK - The Cabinet Office today publishes the results of a ten-month Strategy Unit project looking at food policy across Government – and concludes that rising demand, climate change, and trade and productivity restrictions must all be addressed.

Pork Newly Perceived as "Good for You"
SCOTLAND - People’s perception of pork is improving and the new view of it as an easy, versatile and healthy meat is attracting new groups of consumers.

Animal Centre's Beloved Mabel Dies
UK - Mabel the pot-bellied pig, who lived at the RSPCA Mount Noddy Animal Centre in Eartham, near Chichester, West Sussex, for more than 15 years, died on Sunday.

Cost Sharing Discussions With DEFRA are 'Exhausted'
UK - The Ulster Farmers’ Union says it has ‘exhausted’ negotiations with DEFRA on animal health cost sharing proposals.

REVIEW: The Pig Journal, Volume 61 (2008)
UK - The latest edition of the Pig Journal, published by the UK Pig Veterinary Society is available in the new fully refereed and A4 book format.

NFUS: Defra Debate on Cost Share is a Waste of Time
SCOTLAND - NFU Scotland has said that any talks with Defra on sharing the cost and responsibility for animal health issues are a complete waste of time for Scotland. The comments come following a final meeting of a UK consultative forum which NFUS believes...

NEW: The Pig Journal Index Volumes 1-60
UK - The updated index of the Pig Journal volumes 1-60 (1976-2007), which has been kindly brought together by Stan Done and Sarah Brown of the VLA, is quite unique.

'It's about how good you want to be.'
UK - The new man at the helm of the Pig Veterinary Society is Derek Armstrong. Derek, 48, took over from Jill Thomson, at the Spring Meeting of the PVS, in Edinburgh.

New president for Pig Veterinary Society
UK - Mr Derek Armstrong (right) was elected as the new president of the Pig Veterinary Society (PVS) at its spring meeting in Edinburgh at the end of May.

Report: Ensuring Fresh Blood for the Industry
SCOTLAND - A new publication from Quality Meat Scotland has highlighted the challenges in meeting future skills needs for the Scottish meat industry.

Happy Staff = Good Productivity
UK - You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear - in other words, you can have the best pig unit on the planet, but unless you've got the right staff to run it it's worthless.

NADIS Pig Veterinary Report and Forecast - June 2008
UK - The National Animal Disease Information Service (NADIS) is a veterinary based clinical reporting and surveillance system based upon veterinary surgeons on farm visits. As well as recording anecdotal remarks on health issues (summarised in the monthly...

Pig Industry View of the World
UK - Confidence levels in the British pig industry have, unsurprisingly, fallen according to the results of the latest survey by BPEX Ltd.

GM Food Benefits? Consumers Wont Swallow it
UK - Food industry leaders, alongside politicians, have begun to lobby for GM acceptance in Europe, which may help dying livestock industries thrive once more. However, there is a long way to go yet in changing consumer perceptions.

Conforming to Integrated Pollution Prevention And Control
UK - Are the conditions being set for Integrated Pollution Prevention And Control (IPPC) permits way off kilter? That's certainly the view of many pig producers who are bewildered by the inconsistent advice they are receiving from the Environment Agency...

QMS Offers Farmers Direct Support
SCOTLAND - Farmers who are branching out into setting up farm shops to sell their meat directly to the public are set to benefit from a new tailor made sales pack created by Quality Meat Scotland, the red meat promotion and development body.

Cookstown Still an Integral Part of VION
UK - The Cookstown pig processing plant is to remain a key part of VION, the Dutch-based food operation.

Red Meat Sector Crucial Part of Scottish Food Policy
SCOTLAND - Quality Meat Scotland has welcomed the Scottish Government’s commitment to boosting Scotland’s food industry as it formulates its National Food and Drink Policy.

PCV2 Vaccine Voucher Scheme Takes Off
UK - The BPEX PCV2 vaccine project has been a runaway success with applications for the scheme covering more than 250,000 sows.

Brown Says GM Animal Feeds are Key to Food Crisis
UK - Gordon Brown, the Prime Minister of Britain, has called upon the European Union to relax rules on imports of genetically modified animal feed in order to prevent a world food crisis.