BPEX forges ahead with pig industry challenges

The BPEX Annual Technical Report 2009-10, just published, shows what has been achieved over the past year and sets the scene for what is to come.

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Head of Knowledge Transfer, Research and Development Dr Mike Varley said: “We have forged ahead with the groundwork for regional pig health programmes and, last autumn, we began to measure and further reduce the pig industry’s environmental impact with the launch of the Life Cycle Assessment.

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“This links in with the major new Two-Tonne Sow (2TS) project, which aims to raise pig performance and achieve an English industry average of 2,000kg of pig meat per sow per year in the next two years. All of this is designed to reduce the cost of production and improve long-term profits and stability.

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“The report is valued throughout the industry as a single compilation of BPEX’s knowledge transfer and research and development programmes. All our customers can thumb through it and find relevant information to help their businesses meet the industry challenges. Plus it gives them chance to see what they think BPEX can do more of and help us improve the service we deliver.

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“The Knowledge Transfer in Action section is full of examples of practical problems on farm that the BPEX team has solved. It provides ideas and advice for other producers who are experiencing the same things, along with details of local workshops and training activities.

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“Likewise, university departments and commercial companies can see at a glance all the areas of research and development currently underway and spot potential opportunities to work with BPEX and contribute further knowledge to benefit the English pig industry.”

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Copies of the report are available from local Knowledge Transfer Managers or by calling 0247 647 8793 or emailing kt@bpex.org.uk with a postal address to send it to. It is also available to download chapter by chapter from the BPEX website.

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