Pigs

Jeremy Clarkson has opened up about his experience of becoming a pig farmer, ahead of the new season of Clarkson’s Farm, set to air in May.

Pig industry representatives have voiced their concerns following Defra’s plans for changes to food labelling regulations. According to the National Pig Association, the proposal may have “significant implications” for the pork supply chain.

The National Pig Association (NPA) is calling on the main political parties to protect the borders from diseases such as African swine fever (ASF), as more than 65 tonnes of illegal meat have been seized at the port of Dover since September 2022.

The EU-spec SPP increased by 0.11p to 211.47p/kg after 16 consecutive weeks in decline.

Levy rate increases proposed by the AHDB for the Beef and Lamb, Cereals and Oilseeds, Dairy and Pork sectors have received approval from ministers at Defra and the Devolved Administrations.

A bill to ban live exports for slaughter and fattening has been included in the government’s programme for the new parliamentary session.

Following reports of African Swine Fever (ASF) being detected in Sweden for the first time, industry groups are urging farmers to ramp up biosecurity and called for stricter border control measures to prevent the devastating disease from reaching UK shores.

The latest figures from Defra have revealed total pig numbers in England have fallen by half a million this year, hitting the lowest levels seen since 2011 at 3.63 million head.

A new 50.2m tall animal feed mill will be built in Suffolk, after district councillors approved a planning application from British Sugar Plc and AB Agri Ltd.

As of July, primary pork products including steaks, roasting joints and mince, have been knocked off the best-performing red meat spot as consumers opt for more affordable proteins in an attempt to save money.

A series of advanced workshops for pig workers is set to return this October for the first time in four years to address the growing challenges and responsibilities in the pork industry.

Farmers who import live pigs or semen to the UK are being warned of the risks and reminded to follow protocols around PRRS.