The importance of pig handling - AHDB podcast featuring NPA's Zoe Davies

AHDB's latest podcast, featuring NPA chief executive Zoe Davies, focuses on the important issue of good pig handling. 

In the podcast Mandy Nevel, head of animal welfare at AHDB, speaks to Zoe, Georgina Crayford, Red Tractor's technical manager for pigs, and Morrisons' head of agriculture Sophie Throup on the subject.

You can listen the podcast HERE

AHDB has recently launched a moving and handling web page.

Zoe urged members to listen to the podcast on an issue that is of huge importance to all pig production businesses. 

Red Tractor said maintaining high standards of welfare when handling and moving livestock is important not only for animal welfare, carcase quality and profitability but it is also vital for preserving the public’s trust in the UK pig sector.

"It has never been more important that we demonstrate our commitment to meeting consumer expectations at a time of ever-increasing scrutiny," it said.

Led by AHDB, the industry is also developing an online training module on pig handling to address some of the training needs of farmers and stock people working closely with pigs. The ambition is that it will be available by the end of this year.

Red Tractor told its members that examples of poor animal handling and practice is a 'key area that continues to damage the reputation of the pig sector and British Farming' and urged producers to review AHDB's pages on the subject 'to ensure that pigs are being handled with care and consideration on your farm'.

"This is an area of concern that we want to strengthen in our standards, changes to which we will soon be consulting on. We will be in touch later in the year with details of the consultation," Red Tractor said.