Manipulable materials: new assurance scheme rules - 12th April 2010
TB in pigs, manipulable materials and a virtual walk around local pig units all featured at the third annual dinner for Young NPA members at Jury’s Inn, Exeter.
Zoe Davies gave an update on TB in pigs because of the locality and the need for all units to keep informed.
Next up was a discussion of changes in the Red Tractor assurance scheme requirements for manipulable materials and environmental enrichment, which not everyone was aware of. Click here for advice from BPEX on this.
Then two of the unit managers presented videos of their sites and the group ‘walked the production chain’.
One unit
had two sites with more traditional building but has recently invested in
Portapig Weaning and refurbished all the farrowing crates. The other unit is
Freedom Foods accredited, farrowing in a Portapig and moving to Solari type
pens, taking pigs to 35kg.
A total of
12 attendees enjoyed the event representing seven units and 1800 sows between
them, covering indoor, outdoor and Freedom Foods systems.