EPP Congress 2008

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?

Stacks of Info on Website

The new Market Intelligence data area of the BPEX website (www.bpex.org.uk/MarketIntelligence) holds a wealth of insightful pig market indicators from weekly clean pig supply situation through GB and EU slaughtering information, monthly trade data, current prices in GB and other member states, consumption trends and forecast supplies for the EU.  Users can also monitor the cereal market, both the ex-farm price and the futures price, to allow them to consider risk management of feed costs through the use of market derivatives.  As increasing feed costs have affected pig production throughout the EU, on a monthly basis users can compare the costs of production, adjusted for feed and exchange rates, in different member states.  As costs of production rose BPEX launched its “Pigs are worth it” campaign and subsequently retail prices increased.  The website allows users to check how the DAPP is performing against the average price of a retail pork basket. 

If you have any comments about this area of the BPEX website please contact Joanne Knowles at Joanne.Knowles@ahdbms.org.uk    

Marketing News

Chef Backs Pig Farmers

More than £250 raised by a chef has confirmed the popularity of pork, as well as the increasing support for the country’s pig farmers.

Alan Paton of the Sutherland House Hotel, Southwold, Suffolk, raised the sum in just five weeks by adding a £1 supplement to the menu price for each pork main course dish and sales went through the roof. The funds were presented to BPEX to help with its ‘Pigs Are Worth It!’ campaign.

BPEX foodservice trade manager Tony Goodger said: “Alan’s support for his local suppliers and the industry must be commended, while the fantastic response proves that customers are very much behind the campaign and are keen to support farmers.”

Alan said: “I’m delighted with the results so far and thrilled to be able to help farmers who produce such quality pork. Customers have been very supportive too, and our free-range pork dishes have become some of the best sellers. We use a network of local suppliers to be able to offer quality, seasonal dishes all year round. “

Texting Campaign Update

Thanks to all who took the time to text the radio stations last Sunday. Radio Lincs FM have confirmed they played the song and discussed the issue on air. We are awaiting confirmation from other stations - but if anyone heard the song being played, please do let us know, by emailing info@ahdbms.org.uk. There were some encouraging results from the email sent to more than 17,000 people who responded to the petition. The pigsareworthit site received three times as much traffic as normal. We received double the worldwide open rate for non-spam emails, at 31.7%.

SBYH was played from the site 1,103 times and the texting page within the email was visited 612 times. This provides us with a good indication that we are still managing to engage this audience.

Petition Latest

The petition now stands at 18,900 and climbing and the cost to the industry has now passed the £130m mark.

Promotional Material

Orders for the promotional material has been continuous, in fact so well that a reprint of everything has had to be ordered.  There will be stocks available at Pig Fair, so if you still haven’t got your car sticker or leaflet pop along and pick one up.

Knowledge Transfer

Tip of the Week - Pen Hygiene

Watch out for poor pen hygiene as temperatures increase (see Action for Productivity 10).  Remember the 5 stages of cleaning and disinfection: Remove organic matter, use a detergent, clean, disinfect and dry.

Cross Compliance Farm Walks

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. For more information click here.

Open Farm Sunday

There are less than four weeks until Open Farm Sunday! Local and national media activity is gathering momentum, and LEAF is working with a PR agency targeting consumer media as well as key third parties and all agricultural trade media.

Interest so far has been really good with diary dates and features expected in many publications, including The Archers.

If you would like to take part in Open Farm Sunday on 1st June 2008 its not too late - please register your event on www.farmsunday.org  or if you would like to know more first, please telephone LEAF on 024 76 41 3911.

There are many organisations that can provide you and your visitors with a wide range of free resources for your Open Farm Sunday event. Very shortly sponsors Frontier will be sending hosts an Open Farm Sunday car sticker as well as goody bags for your visitors from Claas. 

Cash for Staff Development

BPEX has been working with Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) across the country to secure funding under the banner of vocational training/staff development.

The key attribute to this project is recognising, utilising and building on the existing skills and knowledge within the industry, which will ultimately help towards improving the competitiveness and efficiency of businesses within the English pig industry.

There is a wide range of opportunities for this money to be used across the industry and BPEX would urge anybody who organises events for producers/members of the supply chain to get in touch.

Under this scheme, various methods of staff development such as discussion groups, producer clubs, information days or specific training events can attract up to 70% funding. 

If you have a project or idea you would like to be considered for this funding please contact Tess Howe on 07779 32107 or visit the BPEX stand at the pig fair (stand no 47 in Exhibition Hall 2).

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 which the team has been 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 – Fertility

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 Yearbook 2008

Cut costs, increase output and maximise value with the new Pig Yearbook 2008!  The publication analyses GB and European costs of pig production up to farmgate level, costs of primary competitors in the international market and financial/technical performance data for various production systems.  Email Economics for details  jayne.dines@ahdbms.org.uk.    Price £18 for BPEX levy payers.

International News:

Tough Times in Finland

FINLAND - Finland's pig meat industry has had a difficult start to the year, largely due to high feed prices and difficult market conditions.

Pig market analysts say the problems are heightened in Finland by cheaper products form Denmark and Germany hitting the market.

And they say it will be hard for the Finnish industry to pass on higher prices to consumers.

The two leading pig meat companies, HK Scan and Atria have both reported drops in profits, despite increasing sales.

HK Scan saw sales for the first three months of the year come in at €510.1 million compared to €498.6 million last year.

However, EBIT for Finland dropped to €4.1 million compared to €7.3 million last year in Finland. In the Baltic region it was down to €1.4 million from €2.5 million last year. The company said that the performance was eroded by losses in the red meat business

Call to End Russian Meat Ban

The European Union's executive arm has said a ban by Russia on imported meat from large companies in seven EU countries was disproportionate and should be removed.

"The (European) Commission maintains that EU meat does not pose a risk to the consumer and that the measures taken by Russia are disproportionate," a spokeswoman for EU Health Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou said in a statement.

"Therefore, the Commission has requested Russia to review its measures," the statement said.

Russia, a major consumer of western European meat, has introduced a series of company-specific bans on pork, beef and poultry imports in the last few weeks after determining that antibiotic levels in meat shipments exceeded safe limits.

The ban by Moscow has so far affected meat firms in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Denmark, Belgium and Hungary, while imports from companies in the United States, Canada, Brazil and Argentina have also been banned indefinitely.