European Pig Producers Congress 2008 is in Norwich on June 5-8. This year's host is the English branch of EPP, which has chosen for its theme "How to live with the world's most sophisticated retailers".

This will be a once-in-a-lifetime event. In addition to some excellent papers there will be a full social diary for delegates. All pig industry people are urged to attend, to forge links with our opposite numbers across Europe. Both members and non-members may attend, but it costs more for non-members. Securing hotel rooms is organiser Ian Campbell's big issue at present, so if you are proposing to attend please ring him immediately on 01359 259452 or 07771 923354.

For prices and registration details click here. For further details about the timetable, click here.

Key papers will be structure of pig production in Great Britain by Mick Sloyan, Structure of supply chain by Richard Lowe; the retailer - Tesco explains what drives its business and what it looks for from its supply chain; the processor - meeting retailer expectations as a strong supplier or as a partner in the chain by Tulip International and Tonnies; the producer - an equal partner in the supply chain?

Marketing News

Pigs Are Worth It

Stand by Your Ham – Get Texting!

This Sunday (4^th May) is the day we want as many people as possible to text requests for Stand by Your Ham to radio stations across the UK to raise awareness of the pigsareworthit campaign.  

We want to get across the message that if farmers don’t get a fair price soon the traditional Sunday pork roast may become a thing of the past.

We have emailed all 18,000 people who signed our petition to ask them to support the campaign but we need your help too. We are focusing on the six stations below. So please text these if you live in the area or are a listener

Yorkshire Galaxy Yorkshire (105.1, 105.6 and 105.8 MHz) – Text your message to 82200; Norfolk - Radio Broadland Norfolk (102.4 MHz FM) – Text Broadland then your message to 82122; Suffolk - SGR FM Suffolk (96.4 FM) – Text SGRFM then your message to 82122; East Yorkshire - 96.9 Viking FM – Text Viking then your message to 82189; Lincolnshire - Lincs FM (102.2 FM) – Text lincsfm then your message to 07748 270270; National - Virgin Radio (1215 AM/MW) – Text your message 81215

Please start texting from 10 am on 4^th May and ask your children, grandchildren, friends and family to text too. Below are two suggested short text messages but please use your own if you prefer.

Please play Stand by your Ham to support British pig farmers. If farmers don’t get a fair price Sunday roast pork could soon be a thing of the past

Pork, First and Foremost

This is a new campaign designed to promote the forequarter joints to chefs and caterers.  While many chefs already include some of these cuts there are many more who do not so a new guide for the modern menu has been produced to help inspire increased usage of the forequarter.

Along with a swatch of 50 menu ideas and simple to follow cutting guides, these are available from 01908 844114 or email foodservice@bpex.org.uk.

Live Tips on Pork Cooking

Want to know how to cook the perfect joint or how to get the best crackling?  Then log on and listen to BPEX Home Economist Clare Greenstreet live from the Love Pork website.  Taken from a radio interview she explains the tricks of the trade in cooking pork perfectly.  Click here to log on. 

Pork Watch Latest

See the latest Pork Watch figures showing the amount of QSM facings on retail fixtures on the new Market Intelligence section of the BPEX website. Click here for more. 

Knowledge Transfer

Tip of the Week - Oestrus Plan

Carry out an oestrus plan to check when sows come into oestrus post-weaning and for how long they ‘stand’ – know your sows.

BPEX Online Diary

The BPEX website now has an interactive online diary of events. Keep up to date with the latest activity and don’t miss out on a workshop or meeting! You can also submit your event to be included in the diary by following the on-screen instructions.

Sow Workshop

This interactive workshop, held with vet Gemma Morton from Garth Partnership, will focus on health and common issues regarding the reproductive sow. The workshop will go through problem solving exercises focusing on solutions and good management to improve reproductive performance. To book your place contact Lis Ravn (07891 656 784 lisbeth.ravn@bpex.org.uk) Wednesday 7^th May 17:30 - 20:00, The Ship Inn, York Road (A1079), Shiptonthorpe, East Yorkshire, YO43 3PG.

Cross Compliance Farm Walk

The Momenta Cross Compliance Advisory programme will once again be hosting a series of Farm walks across the country to bring farmers up-to-date with the requirements of compliance.

This year has seen the introduction of new sheep and goat identification requirements and the Nitrate Vulnerable Zones regulations are currently being reviewed.

Advisors will lead the walks and will be available to answer your questions. Topics on which you may require clarification may include the rules relating to the Soil Protection Review, the 2 meter protection zones and GAEC 12 – Land Not in Agricultural Production.

Farm walks will be taking place at a number of venues during May - July. Places are limited so book now to avoid disappointment: 0845 345 1302. More information click here.

BPEX at Pig Fair

BPEX has a major presence at the Stoneleigh Pig and Poultry Fair on May 13 and 14.

The stand, No 47, is divided into four sections covering Knowledge Transfer, the Environment and  Marketing while the final section features Ladies in Pigs preparing tastings throughout the show.  Three of the sections will have display boards highlighting messages on the theme of that zone. 

The members of the Knowledge Transfer Team will be attending to answer questions visitors may have, along with many other BPEX specialists who will also be available to talk to producers.

There will be a large number of leaflets all with practical information on the stand and there will be a number of menus each with a comprehensive list of what is available. In the Knowledge Transfer area there will be three interactive displays of equipment and techniques the team has being using with pig businesses. Stands nearby include NPA, Pig World and HGCA and there is an industry meeting area for more private discussions than will be possible on the BPEX stand.

 NADIS Latest – Circovirus Vaccination

Research work has highlighted that Circovirus has the ability to both infect and destroy both early pig embryos and late foetuses, potentially producing returns to service, reduced litter size, abortions, mummifications and stillbirths.  It is therefore reasonable to assume that control of the virus in the sow may reduce such problems. Reports from Germany highlight over several hundred herds, that sow production following vaccination may improve.

This will only happen if PCV2 is actually causing reproductive losses; vaccination will not increase sow production if the virus is not active in the sows.  Unfortunately, diagnosis of PCV2 reproductive failure is not easy to achieve and as such any improvements following vaccination should be viewed as a bonus rather than as a target.

National News:

Pig Market Trends Published

The April 2008 issue of Pig Market Trends is available from Economics. As well as the regular monthly analysis of latest pig price movements, production and trade flows, it contains AHDB Meat Services' forecasts of UK pig meat supplies in 2008 and 2009.  The further contraction in the breeding herd anticipated this year is forecast to result in clean pig slaughterings falling to 8.75 million head in 2009, an annual decline of five per cent.  Pig Market Trends also includes Agrosoft Ltd Pigplan physical and financial performance results for the six months ending December 2007.

Export News

The latest bulletin from the BPEX Export department is now available on the website. Click here for more.

DAPP on Tap

The DAPP, Deadweight Average Pig Price, can now be received as a text message on your mobile phone.  It costs only 50p per weekly report. Text "dwpig" to 83070.

 International News:

US Pig Price Rise

In the US live pig prices have risen by almost 20% in the last couple of weeks, surpassing even the normal seasonal price climb. The move has left analysts to guess that strong domestic demand is the driver. Purdue Extension Economist Chris Hurt said Western corn belt live hog prices over the past five years have averaged $56.86 per hundredweight during the first week of April and have climbed to an average of $71.72 by the third week in May - about a $15 climb.

This year, hog prices in the third week of March dipped to $49.72, but by April 28 had already hit $73.20 - a $23.50 climb still weeks ahead of the typical mid-May price peak.

Canadian Production Cut

Canadian pork producers have submitted applications to cover more than half of the 10 percent target set by the Cull Breeding Swine Program, the Canadian Pork Council has announced

The initiative, funded by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, aims to remove 150,000 sows from Canada's breeding herd and reduce annual production by about 3 million pigs. More than 75,000 animals were committed to the program in the first two weeks, CPC said.

Danish Census

Denmark's statistical bureau has published the results of the pig census made on 1st April 2008, based on spot tests at 3,500 farms.

The results show a dramatic reduction in the pig herds compared with last year. The total herd has been reduced by 10.4 per cent, and if the group slaughter pigs >50 kilos is disregarded, there is a drop of 12.4 per cent. In the breeding herd, there is a reduction in the number of sows in pig of 10.3 per cent while there are slightly more modest reductions in the herd of first parity sows and gilts of 2.8 and 4.7 per cent respectively.

The previous count in January also showed a reduction in the number of pigs, but the reduction in numbers has considerably accelerated.

There is no doubt the catastrophically bad economy for pig production since the summer of 2007 has been the reason for the cuts. Besides an enormous structural development whereby many pig producers have decided to leave the industry, there is, however some re-developments which temporarily may have influenced the pig herd. The continuous more stable development in the first time pregnant and gilts points anyway in the direction that there are pig producers investing in future production.

On the basis of the results of the census a new forecast will shortly be made on the production of pigs in Denmark for the coming quarter as well as the following two quarters.

International Prices

Click here for the latest international prices.

TestTube Chicken

PETA, the radical animal rights group, is offering $1m for anybody who can produce chicken in commercial quantities without the need to slaughter. To be eligible, researchers must produce chicken meat with the correct sate and texture by June 2012.