This website aims to:
- Reconnect the producers of pork and pork products to local consumers. Simply type in your postcode above to see a map of your area with icons representing local farmers, butchers and other related outlets.
- Help pork producers sell direct and get a better price. If you are a pork producer and want to sell locally please register here.
- Provide a database of delicious recipes to make the best of your locally produced pork.
- Include information on how to cure pork to make bacon, ham and sausages.
- Keep those interested in local food up to date on local food news and special offers in our monthly newsletter with BigBarn. To receive this simply register
- Link to other pork related websites as well as good mail order websites via our shop.
- Invite visitors to this site to feedback and constantly improve our service.
Latest News
Knowledge Transfer Information
Tip of the week - Light Way to Improve Production
When thinking about installing lighting to aid production, remember the light levels are for the sows. Ask the electrician to provide the correct lux levels taking the sows' height into consideration. Around 300 lux at sow eye level for 16 hours per day is the correct level for optimum production. In addition, consider the light cases - cases are available with reflective material inside and clearer end casing - this will improve the levels.
Talk through the options with your electrician. It is also useful to put one set of lighting up and measure the level before going ahead with a whole row! Take into consideration all areas - light needs to be provided in feeding, lying and dunging areas. Check your timers and light case cleanliness on a regular basis to ensure electricity is not being wasted.
Control of Porcine Circovirus Diseases
The consortium undertaking the EC-funded Framework 6 research project on Porcine Circovirus Diseases (PCVD 513928; www.pcvd.org) highlights the need for vigilance and good laboratory diagnosis if further epizootics of notifiable diseases in pigs are to be identified as early as possible and controlled effectively.
The PCVD project has published its 2007 newsletter which can be downloaded from the news section of the website www.pcvd.org/news.php. Reports on the progress of the project can be accessed in the results section of the website http://www.pcvd.org/results.php?all. If you have any comments or questions on the project or unrelated issues why not join the discussion forum through the link from the main menu.
Sudden Deaths in Finishers
The Cornish Health Group, facilitated by Annie Davis from the George Vet Group has decided to use the DEFRA funds from the Farm Health Planning Scheme to resolve sudden deaths in finishers. This sudden death in late stage finishers has a large economic impact and it is an excellent idea to group this post mortem (PM) information together to try and understand more about its causes.
Each unit has the funding to send 4 x 70 kg+ pigs to the VLA at Truro for a full PM and further tests. The vet collates the information, sees what trends appear and gives advice accordingly. It is an excellent time of year to get this started, with heat stress (when summer arrives!) a potential problem just around the corner. They have also designed wall planners for all late stage deaths to be recorded on, including the 4 chosen to send to the VLA. This is an excellent way of tracking issues for this project. If you think your unit would also gain from this type of scheme please contact Helen Thoday, BPEX KT Manager, (07973701202 or kt@bpex.org.uk).
Stotfold Pig Unit Closes
The British pig industry owes a huge debt of gratitude to its centre of research and development at Stotfold.
The UK pig industries Development Unit, just outside Stotfold in Bedfordshire was opened in November 1984. Over the years it has undergone many changes but has always been at the forefront of research firmly aimed at delivery of practical opportunities, work which could be quickly disseminated and implemented on working pig farms.
At its peak the unit employed 10 staff and had 300 sows farrow to finish. However major changes in the industry and a fundamental shift in the strategy of the British Pig Executive (BPEX) meant it was no longer needed and over the last six months has been gradually wound down.
Over the years, the work at Stotfold has included:
- Introduction of soya bean meal to pig diets
- Copper sulphate as a growth promoter
- Evaluation of commercial genotypes for sow productivity, growth performance and carcase and meat quality (Stotfold First Trial)
- Development of ultrasound technology for carcase composition
- Blueprint for pig meat eating quality
- Stotfold sow lactation feeding strategy
- Phase-feeding - protein requirements of commercial genotypes
- Established speed of growth and pork tenderness were positively correlated
- Liquid feeding offers savings of 14p/kg dead weight
- Liquid feeding halves the percentage of pigs testing positive for Salmonella at slaughter BPEX has been exploring the redevelopment of the site and planning permission is being applied for. The two final members of staff have been made redundant - Lisa Taylor (manager) and Malcolm Day (stockman).
Agricultural Waste Regulations
As of 15 June 07 nearly 80,000 separate farm premises have registered exemptions, on average each farm has applied for seven exemptions.
A rush of applications was received as anticipated near to the closing date of 15 May, the resultant backlog should have been cleared this week. Registrants will have, or will receive a letter confirming those exemptions applied for and granted.
If you have not registered, you can still do so, it is important however that you do this BEFORE carrying out the activity, there is no charge for applying or holding an exemption. It is an offence to carry out any activity for which an exemption is required without holding the correct exemption.
Marketing Information
Trojan Pig Visits Westminster
Matilda the Trojan pig visited the Westminster BBQ on Wednesday while snuffling about in the gardens encouraged eleven MPs to sign her to show their support for clearer labelling on packets of pork, ham, sausages and bacon. They included notably, Baroness Gillian Shephard, Lembit Opik and Ben Bradshaw. This is to help strengthen the case when she visits Brussels to lobby for a change in legislation to support more clearer on-pack labelling.
Happy 10th Birthday to British Sausage Week
Join us in marking the 10th annual British Sausage Week! To recognise 10 wonderful years of British Sausage week, we are looking for any business which is celebrating a 10 year anniversary of its own! Perhaps this is your 10th year in the industry.... or you are a 10th generation butcher...or you have a sausage which has been selling for 10yrs...or one that has 10 ingredients? In fact, if you have any '10' connection you feel is worthy of our attention, please do get in touch. Email Amy Richards on arichards@goodrelations.co.uk and provide your name, contact number and a brief description of your story. Alternatively you can call her on 0207 861 3216. Amy or one of the British Sausage Week team will come straight back to you to learn more and discuss potential opportunities with local media.
Industry News - National
Half Price Training!
Pig farmers are being alerted to funding that is available to producers in the South Yorkshire Region. If the money isn't claimed by December - it will be lost! Any farmer who pays council tax to either Sheffield, Rotherham, Barnsley or Doncaster (full or part time) can apply for 50% of the costs of any training which will have a positive impact on your business. Help will be given with the application, so please register your interest and check if you are eligible now. Further details from Tess_howe@bpex.org.uk.
Pork Pie Jobs Go
Hundreds of workers at Pork Farms look set to lose their jobs amid plans by the food manufacturer to move production to Nottingham to save its right to the Melton Mowbray name.
The firm announced proposals that would see production at its Trowbridge factory in Wiltshire end in 2008, with the potential loss of 400 jobs.
Union representatives described the move as a "devastating blow" caused by EU laws that limit the use of the Melton Mowbray brand to goods made within 40 miles of the East Midlands town.
The proposal to transfer operations to its plant in Nottingham follows a six-month strategic review of the cold pie sector, Pork Farms said. It identified the need for a single manufacturing site to be invested in.
Nottingham was selected as the chosen plant due to its location within the area proposed to be protected under EU law for the manufacturing of Melton Mowbray Pork Pies.
Royal Show Site For Sale
The Royal Agricultural Society of England is looking for a buyer for its 250 acre showground. It says it has been forced to put the showground on the market because negotiations with the Stoneleigh Abbey trustees, from whom the site was bought in 1988, over conditions preventing the development of part of the showground as a "Centre of Rural Excellence" were going nowhere.
The NFU has a 250 acre lease on its head office on the showground so is not directly affected by the announcement..
Industry News - International
Avian Flu Latest
Following the report last week on suspected outbreaks of Avian flu, the suspected outbreak in Austria (Gmunden) signalled last week has been found to be negative, according to the Austrian State Laboratories. Restriction zones have now been eased.
US Welfare Changes - 1
The United States fast-food chain Wendy's International says it plans to get 20 percent of its pork from farms that don't use gestation stalls. The company also plans to give purchasing preference to poultry farms that use gas to knock out chickens before they are processed. It said vendors that don't follow its guidelines are eliminated as preferred suppliers.
Source: NPA
US Welfare Changes - 2
US food suppliers would be required to put country-of-origin labels on cuts of red meat beginning September 30, 2008, under a bill approved by a House Appropriations subcommittee on Thursday.
The bill lays out a timeline, beginning in January, to implement the requirement on the first possible day after two postponements of the 2002 law. Labelling is voluntary now for red meat but mandatory for seafood. The law does not cover poultry and meat served in restaurants.
Fruity Zesty Warm Pork Salad
As the weather is so changeable why not try a Warm Pork Salad, easy to prepare and whether you are in or out the pork can be griddled or BBQ'd.
Using pork fillet, and taking about 10 mins to cook plus 20 mins marinating time this is an all in one meal that can easily satisfy a hungry family!
From the Lovepork range of recipes go to www.lovepork.co.uk/recipes.asp.
Tailpiece - Cocaine? No, marbling!
How do you disguise some 400 kilos of cocaine? Well, two Chicago-area men attempted to pass it off as marbled meat, but police officers didn't bite. The Will County sheriff's police found the cocaine earlier this week hidden in boxes labeled with the name of a meat company, the Chicago Tribune reported. It was in plastic packages with red lines running across the white surface that were intended to make the drug look like fat on marbled meat. "I think it gives new meaning to 'where's the beef,'" said State's Atty. James Glasgow, according to the Tribune.
Older news can be found at the British Pig Executive website
