BPEX Head of Knowledge Transfer Mike Varley said: “It was great to welcome so many people to the event. The pig industry now has a lot to be proud and positive about, with PCV2 now under control, a better pig price and more options than ever before for training.

“All the speakers provided solid advice and ideas on how we can drive our pig businesses forward for a successful future.”

Presentations

The future of the final product:

John Howard, Marketing Director, Danish Bacon and Meat Council

John highlighted the current consumer trends in favour of pork, with bacon and sausage very popular as people turn towards comfort foods. He congratulated British bacon marketing efforts for successfully positioning bacon in the premium market and suggested that the industry now also needed to target the middle section of the bacon market. He hoped that both Danish and British industries could work towards a common cause where high standards are properly remunerated. Download the details here.

Vivi Moustsen, Senior Project Manager, Pig Research Centre, Danish Agriculture and Food Council

Vivi Moustsen joined colleague John Howard to discuss the focus of her research trials across 100 Danish production herds. Danish producers are having a tough time but there is a huge long-term commitment and passion for pigs. Welfare, environment and productivity are key areas for the industry and Vivi emphasised that any welfare-related changes must also have a positive impact on productivity and environment. Click here for more on the centre’s research including options for loose housing of farrowing sows and ammonia, phosphorus and nitrogen management.

The future of staffing:

Richard Hooper, Farm Manager, Harper Adams University College and Nuffield Scholar

Richard reminded everyone that staff are the single most important asset to a pig business and believes that every UK pig unit is well-placed to become an employer of choice. Batch farrowing helps provide varied work from week to week and a great number of school-leavers are interested in animals and animal care. To see Richard’s advice on how to recruit and retain good staff click here. For his Nuffield Scholarship Richard is investigating: ‘The Recruitment, Training and Retention of Quality Staff in the Pig Industry’.

Using future technologies on farm today:


Mark Hawe, Pig Technologist, Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI), Northern Ireland

Mark spoke of the young and vibrant pig industry in Northern Ireland. Producers are in it for the long haul and recognise the need for efficiency to have a successful future. Mark reported an increase of 1.5 pigs sold per sow per year in just the last three years in the Northern Irish industry, which Mark attributes to improved genetics, the PCV2 vaccination and greater efficiency through using new technologies.  Click here.

Andrew McCrea, Northern Irish pig farmer

Andrew has worked closely with Mark to maximise the benefits of technology for his family pig business. WinPig benchmarking, handheld computers for all staff, centrally-controlled ventilation and an ultrasonic pregnancy scanner are just some of the technologies Andrew now uses to great effect on his unit. Download Mark and Andrew’s presentation here to see typical performance figures for Northern Irish units and more about the technologies on Andrew’s unit.

Preparing for future health challenges:


Nigel Woolfenden BVSc MRCVS, Bishopton Vet Group

Nigel began with a sobering reminder that new diseases keep being added to the list while old diseases don’t really go away. He stressed that the UK is currently in an invaluable position with its good pig health status and the industry must defend it. All farms have potential for major breeches, but help is at hand. Click here for more from Nigel’s presentation on what the UK pig industry can do to maintain and improve its defence and biosecurity – including trailer drying technology and new regional health programmes where producers are taking their own intiative.

Future gilt management policies:


Paul Hughes, South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI)

Paul concluded the day by shaking up some commonly-held beliefs on aspects of gilt management. His fundamental but important point was that the sow has changed dramatically, so even knowledge and research that is only 10 years old should be treated with care! He suggested ways to overcome the problem that many gilts don’t stay productive long enough to make a profit. He gave thought-provoking advice on: 

•  Gilt condition – protein/weight is more important than fat
  
•  Stimulating puberty – start at 25 to 28 weeks old and provide full physical boar contact 
  
•  Culling policy – cull any unmated gilts at 34 weeks, as they will cost more in poor productivity if they’re kept. Click here for more
  

Click on the links below to download the speaker presentations.

• BPEX KT Conference by John Howard
  
• The Future by Vivi Aarestrup Moustsen
  
• The Future of Staffing by Richard Hooper
  
• Technology in Practice by Mark Hawe and Andrew McCrea
  
• Preparing For Future Health Challenges by Nigel Woolfenden
  
• Future Gilt Management Policies by Professor Paul Hughes

"What Producers Said"

• “Excellent event, informative and fun”
• “Good meeting as usual, well done”
• “Very good event, well done”