It's New

Free Rainbow test for PWD
Pig producers are being encouraged to contact their vets about free diagnostics if they are concerned about post-weaning diarrhoea (PWD) on farm. Elanco strategic account manager, Gillian Bryson says Elanco is funding veterinary testing for the F4 and F18 strains of E.coli which have shown to be present on 78% of farms and are a common causes of PWD. Historically, zinc oxide has kept PWD at bay, but since its ban, Ms Bryson stresses the importance of understanding the root of the problem, as the use of zinc has masked a multitude of potential issues. Producers can access fully funded diagnostic tests, such as rainbow kits and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, free of charge through their vet. “Rainbow test kits give an instant result and will confirm whether the herd is suffering from E. coli,” she says.

Pigs at forefront of emission reduction
Testing has begun as part of a project aiming to reduce the environmental impact of livestock emissions after ammonia-harvesting technology was put in place on a pig farm. The PigProGrAm scheme is demonstrating a solution for the harvesting of green ammonia from pig waste that could also lead to the creation of hydrogen, a valuable tool in the fight against climate change. The research project team consists of a consortium including the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), Beta Technology, the University of Leeds, Duynie Feed, a commercial pig unit in North Yorkshire, and water treatment specialist Membracon. https://ahdb.org.uk/news/testing-begins-in-bid-to-reduce-environmental-impact-of-ammonia-emissions-from-livestock.

AHBD forecasts little growth
AHDB has forecast that pig meat production in 2024 will grow marginally by 0.6% year on year to around 933,000 tonnes. This will be driven by a 0.8% increase in clean pig kill, totalling somewhere near 10.14 million head for the year. This forecast is based on average carcase weights of 89 kg, remaining in line with 2023.

Mycotoxins
For guidance on reducing the risk of stock being poison by mycotoxins, written in conjunction with ABN, Primary Diets and Premier Nutrition, visit https://ahdb.org.uk/knowledge-library/mycotoxins-in-pig-feed

Love Pork
AHDB’s Feed Your Family for Less campaign is back – backed by a new look Love Pork website. Visit: https://ahdb.org.uk/feed-your-family-for-less-2023





Jet safe
The Water Jetting Association is offering farmers free training to ensure they and their operatives have the skills needed to work safely. The association says that most operatives working in the agricultural sector do not undergo training before using powerful equipment - a situation the WJA wants to counter. The move comes as the WJA is planning to launch a new code of practice for pressure washing. Farmers who want to consider taking up the WJA's offer should contact the WJA office team. Telephone: 020 8320 1090. Email: info@waterjetting.org.uk. https://water-jetting.org.uk

New way
A new service for livestock market prices is claimed to offer enhanced benefits to the industry. The Livestock Auctioneers’ Association has announced a change to the current system of providing sales prices, with the data moving from an AHDB to an LAA hosted platform.

BPA moves
The British Pig Association no longer has an office base at Trumpington Mews, Cambridge.
Contacts are:
Pedigree enquiries: 01223 845096
Diane Stanford pedigree@britishpigs.org
01223 845096 (Voicemail only in the afternoon)
Show enquiries:
shows@britishpigs.org
Accounts enquiries:
accounts@britishpigs.org
Export enquiries:
Chris Jackson exports@uktag.co.uk
Email: bpa@britishpigs.org
Web: www.britishpigs.org

Designed to make life easier
Big Dutchman is the global leader in developing innovative solutions aiming to meet the demands of modern livestock farming. As the sole mainland UK supplier of Big Dutchman technology, Newquip's team of experts is able to advise on the latest animal friendly pig equipment designed to make farmers’ lives easier. Big Dutchman supplies automatic feeders for piglet rearing and pig finishing. The feeders can stand in the pen or be installed into the pen partition to easily dispense pellets, crumbles or meal. A 360deg pivoted dosing mechanism ensures the feed flows freely and can be operated by the pigs independently.
Big Dutchman's newly developed roughage feeder for straw or pellets means you can store feed in a practicable way while automating roughage provision. The stainless steel dispenser comes with a mixing blade, a discharging auger, and a transfer unit to the pipe conveyor, effortlessly transporting the roughage into the barn to be distributed to your pigs.
A novel group housing systems for three to ten lactating sows, the Agilo concept (pictured below) combines a separation option for the sow, farrowing pen with group area for sows and piglets, and individual farrowing in the farrowing frame to encourage bonding. Group movement promotes agility, higher feed intake, and increased milk production, while piglet hierarchy is defined before weaning, resulting in a smoother transition to piglet rearing.
If you would like any further information on Big Dutchman's innovative pig production solutions, please contact Newquip on 01677 428600
or visit Web: http://www.newquip.co.uk





Environment a priority
Research by AHDB has revealed that consumer trust in British agriculture remains strong and the environment is also seen as important to 51% of consumers when choosing food. However, consumers are balancing household finances due to the high cost of living, so while interest in the environment is strong, it sits alongside cost and quality as priorities. Select Consumer Insight at: https://ahdb.org.uk-news/

Fund aid for smaller abattoirs
A fund has been launched to provide grants to smaller red meat and poultry abattoirs in England. Organisers say this sends a positive message to Government to recognise small abattoirs as an important part of the food supply chain and is a crucial step in securing the future of the sector. The £4 million fund will provide grants for FSA approved red meat and poultry abattoirs, including mobile abattoirs, that slaughter up to 10,000 livestock units a year for red meat abattoirs or up to 500,000 poultry birds (based on 2022 throughput data). https://www.gov.uk/government/news/applications-open-for-new-4-million-fund-to-support-smaller-abattoirs /