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Flu vaccine advice
A swine influenza expert has advised that it is a good idea for those working with pigs to have the flu vaccine.
It will obviously protect producers and their workforce but can also reduce the chance of reverse-zoonosis, where humans can infect pigs with human influenza. If pigs become infected with human influenza there is a potential risk for virus reassortment and generating novel viruses.
The flu virus H3N2 has not been detected in GB pigs since 1997, so pigs are essentially immunologically naïve to this strain, whereas H3N2 circulates in the UK human population.
<insert name>MP
House of Commons
Westminster
London
SW1A 0AA
Dear Mr/Mrs XXXX MP,
Impact of COVID-19 on pig welfare
I am a pig farmer in your constituency and I am writing to make you aware of an increasingly critical problem we are facing as a result of COVID-19’s impact on the meat processing industry.
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the meat processing industry in the UK has been hit hard by outbreaks of the virus causing a loss of production capacity due to severe staff shortages. The cold, wet and enclosed conditions at processing plants has resulted in many more cases in comparison to other workplace environments, where the virus is less likely to thrive. This in turn has had a very significant impact on pig farms like mine and many others across the country.
Staff shortages at processing plants have resulted in either complete shutdowns or significantly reduced throughput. This has caused a supply chain problem as pigs are left behind on farms because the processors cannot take them. As you will be aware, more pigs are born every week so this is quickly leading to issues with a lack of space, which will become a critical animal welfare problem if not resolved soon. Whilst we have contingency plans in place to deal with short term disruption, this will only hold for a few weeks and we have now been affected for [INSERT TIMEFRAME].
We do have some light at the end of the tunnel however in the form of the new COVID-19 vaccine, and it is this that I am writing to you, to ask for your assistance with. Once the most vulnerable people and those working on the front line of our health services and care homes have received the COVID-19 vaccine, it would be hugely beneficial for Britain’s food supply and animal welfare if the meat processing workforce were prioritised in the next tranche.
Further outbreaks at any of the larger processing plants would be devastating for pig farmers who are already at breaking point with the backlog of livestock waiting to enter the supply chain. This increasing backlog will inevitably lead to significant animal welfare compromises. The sooner a vaccine can be given to food processing staff to prevent further outbreaks and shutdowns, the quicker the industry can return to full capacity and reverse the issues that I and many other pig farmers are facing.
I would be enormously grateful if you could raise this matter with the Defra Secretary of State, George Eustice, and ask him to press the case with the Minister for COVID-19 Vaccine Deployment, Nadhim Zahawi, and the Department for Health and Social Care.
I thank you in advance for your support and I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours sincerely,
<insert name>MP
House of Commons
Westminster
London
SW1A 0AA
Dear Mr/Mrs XXXX MP,
Impact of COVID-19 on pig welfare
I am a pig farmer in your constituency and I am writing to make you aware of an increasingly critical problem we are facing as a result of COVID-19’s impact on the meat processing industry.
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the meat processing industry in the UK has been hit hard by outbreaks of the virus causing a loss of production capacity due to severe staff shortages. The cold, wet and enclosed conditions at processing plants has resulted in many more cases in comparison to other workplace environments, where the virus is less likely to thrive. This in turn has had a very significant impact on pig farms like mine and many others across the country.
Staff shortages at processing plants have resulted in either complete shutdowns or significantly reduced throughput. This has caused a supply chain problem as pigs are left behind on farms because the processors cannot take them. As you will be aware, more pigs are born every week so this is quickly leading to issues with a lack of space, which will become a critical animal welfare problem if not resolved soon. Whilst we have contingency plans in place to deal with short term disruption, this will only hold for a few weeks and we have now been affected for [INSERT TIMEFRAME].
We do have some light at the end of the tunnel however in the form of the new COVID-19 vaccine, and it is this that I am writing to you, to ask for your assistance with. Once the most vulnerable people and those working on the front line of our health services and care homes have received the COVID-19 vaccine, it would be hugely beneficial for Britain’s food supply and animal welfare if the meat processing workforce were prioritised in the next tranche.
Further outbreaks at any of the larger processing plants would be devastating for pig farmers who are already at breaking point with the backlog of livestock waiting to enter the supply chain. This increasing backlog will inevitably lead to significant animal welfare compromises. The sooner a vaccine can be given to food processing staff to prevent further outbreaks and shutdowns, the quicker the industry can return to full capacity and reverse the issues that I and many other pig farmers are facing.
I would be enormously grateful if you could raise this matter with the Defra Secretary of State, George Eustice, and ask him to press the case with the Minister for COVID-19 Vaccine Deployment, Nadhim Zahawi, and the Department for Health and Social Care.
I thank you in advance for your support and I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours sincerely,
Why all pig producers should be mindful of new tactics deployed animal rights activists
Although the pig sector had been enjoying a much-needed respite from animal rights attention, they have definitely been more active again of late, and have been deploying more new tactics in their fight against animal production.
The use of covert cameras has become increasingly common, predominantly because they can capture prolonged periods of time to increase the likelihood of filming bad behaviour. It means footage is far more indicative of the on-farm culture and is more interesting than just a few stills that only portray a snapshot.
We’ve only ever seen covert cameras used in or around buildings, or in people’s pockets previously - however, the most recent expose used a covert camera on a livestock wagon, hidden potentially in the light just above the tailgate. We’re aware of trackers being fitted to livestock wagons before, but this is a first.
This tactic means that activists can capture footage and the location of lots of different units, as well as, potentially, an abattoir. Everyone who’s ever loaded pigs, particularly big finisher pigs, on a dark morning, perhaps without a loading ramp knows just how difficult and stressful (for all involved) this task can be, especially when you’re under pressure for time and/or labour.
It’s definitely a vulnerability, so producers and their staff should ensure the environment and loading facilities are as optimal as possible, and that they have the necessary equipment, such as boards to hand, to help facilitate ease of loading.
Producers who run their own haulage fleet need to be particularly aware of the risk and be as vigilant as possible, checking their wagons on a regular basis. We’d also ask that you encourage staff to report any examples of bad behaviour and poor handling on farm, even if it’s someone external.
If they’re not comfortable in addressing it at the time, they can always flag it with you afterwards. This will help to stop any abuse and provide demonstrable evidence that you and your business are not complicit, should someone else be watching.
I’ve been concerned for some time that the ‘higher welfare’ supply chains could be the next target; to me, it makes sense to aim for the pinnacle of best practice to try to prove it’s anything. As we’re all already aware, outdoor breeding units and indoor naturally-lit and ventilated straw-based units can’t always be as secure.
NGO pressure
Yes, consumers are reverting back to pandemic like buying behaviour based predominantly on price and where key ethical concerns, such as environmental impact and animal welfare aren’t priorities but, the pressure from NGO’s and the general noise around not eating meat is building again.
Activists don’t confine themselves to one cause anymore; those with specific skill sets are in demand and arch across both animal rights and environmental activism. One week they may be protesting with Animal Rebellion and another protesting with Just Stop Oil, but as always, absolutely anyone can employ their own brand of direct action, and there’s plenty of willing animal rights organisations out there who are eager to push it out to the media as well as the assurance body implicated, APHA and Trading Standards.
In the most recent instance, as is very often the case, I knew the supply chain and the subsequent impact on the business was going to be the most difficult aspect to manage. This should never be underestimated by those fortunate enough to never have experienced an expose.
We do the very best we can for a producer in that situation, working with all the parties involved to get pigs moving again, whether they’re assured or not, as quickly as possible, but we can’t always guarantee ‘business as usual’. And of course, this all takes its toll on mental health, and after the dire two years, I worry that many just wouldn’t be able to cope.
I appreciate I (yet again) sound like the prophet of doom, but some of these exposes are entirely preventable. Things go wrong on farm, and you can never be sure of exactly what is happening within your business 100% of the time, but you can put protocols and management plans in place to provide guidance and to demonstrate responsibility.
We’ve spent a long time gathering the information you need to help you defend your farm and your business against activists in the NPA Security Pack, so please use this document.
We ask you to ensure your farm is as secure as it can be and that your staff are trained, have access to the necessary equipment and know what they should and shouldn’t be doing, including by leading by example.
Why all pig producers should be mindful of new tactics deployed animal rights activists
By Lizzie Wilson
Although the pig sector had been enjoying a much-needed respite from animal rights attention, they have definitely been more active again of late, and have been deploying more new tactics in their fight against animal production.
The use of covert cameras has become increasingly common, predominantly because they can capture prolonged periods of time to increase the likelihood of filming bad behaviour. It means footage is far more indicative of the on-farm culture and is more interesting than just a few stills that only portray a snapshot.
We’ve only ever seen covert cameras used in or around buildings, or in people’s pockets previously - however, the most recent expose used a covert camera on a livestock wagon, hidden potentially in the light just above the tailgate. We’re aware of trackers being fitted to livestock wagons before, but this is a first.
This tactic means that activists can capture footage and the location of lots of different units, as well as, potentially, an abattoir. Everyone who’s ever loaded pigs, particularly big finisher pigs, on a dark morning, perhaps without a loading ramp knows just how difficult and stressful (for all involved) this task can be, especially when you’re under pressure for time and/or labour.
It’s definitely a vulnerability, so producers and their staff should ensure the environment and loading facilities are as optimal as possible, and that they have the necessary equipment, such as boards to hand, to help facilitate ease of loading.
Producers who run their own haulage fleet need to be particularly aware of the risk and be as vigilant as possible, checking their wagons on a regular basis. We’d also ask that you encourage staff to report any examples of bad behaviour and poor handling on farm, even if it’s someone external.
If they’re not comfortable in addressing it at the time, they can always flag it with you afterwards. This will help to stop any abuse and provide demonstrable evidence that you and your business are not complicit, should someone else be watching.
I’ve been concerned for some time that the ‘higher welfare’ supply chains could be the next target; to me, it makes sense to aim for the pinnacle of best practice to try to prove it’s anything. As we’re all already aware, outdoor breeding units and indoor naturally-lit and ventilated straw-based units can’t always be as secure.
NGO pressure
Yes, consumers are reverting back to pandemic like buying behaviour based predominantly on price and where key ethical concerns, such as environmental impact and animal welfare aren’t priorities but, the pressure from NGO’s and the general noise around not eating meat is building again.
Activists don’t confine themselves to one cause anymore; those with specific skill sets are in demand and arch across both animal rights and environmental activism. One week they may be protesting with Animal Rebellion and another protesting with Just Stop Oil, but as always, absolutely anyone can employ their own brand of direct action, and there’s plenty of willing animal rights organisations out there who are eager to push it out to the media as well as the assurance body implicated, APHA and Trading Standards.
In the most recent instance, as is very often the case, I knew the supply chain and the subsequent impact on the business was going to be the most difficult aspect to manage. This should never be underestimated by those fortunate enough to never have experienced an expose.
We do the very best we can for a producer in that situation, working with all the parties involved to get pigs moving again, whether they’re assured or not, as quickly as possible, but we can’t always guarantee ‘business as usual’. And of course, this all takes its toll on mental health, and after the dire two years, I worry that many just wouldn’t be able to cope.
I appreciate I (yet again) sound like the prophet of doom, but some of these exposes are entirely preventable. Things go wrong on farm, and you can never be sure of exactly what is happening within your business 100% of the time, but you can put protocols and management plans in place to provide guidance and to demonstrate responsibility.
We’ve spent a long time gathering the information you need to help you defend your farm and your business against activists in the NPA Security Pack, so please use this document.
We ask you to ensure your farm is as secure as it can be and that your staff are trained, have access to the necessary equipment and know what they should and shouldn’t be doing, including by leading by example.