December 12, 2024
46% of UK indoor pig producers may leave business due to required transition to flexible farrowing crates, survey found
A survey of members of the United Kingdom's National Pig Association (NPA) has found that nearly half of UK indoor pig producers who took part would be forced to quit the industry if a transition to flexible farrowing crates was pushed through in the next five to 10 years.
As part of its work on farrowing systems, NPA recently conducted a survey of producers to find out what the industry is planning with regards to farrowing systems. Key findings included:
- 46% of producers surveyed would exit the industry if they were only given five to 10 years to make the transition from traditional crates to flexible farrowing systems;
- Of those who would exit the industry, half of respondents believe 10-15 years to be a reasonable timescale, but a third said they would need more than 20 years;
- The primary concern over the transition by a distance was the capital cost of the transition. The second biggest concern was the lack of guidance on the specification of the new systems;
- The two biggest drivers for change would be the provision of government financial support to make the transition and legislation forcing producers to move away from conventional crates towards flexible farrowing systems.
There is growing pressure on the sector to move away from conventional farrowing systems and towards flexible systems, in which the sow can be confined for a few days post-farrowing and for short periods through the lactation period for handling purposes but is otherwise free to move around its pen with its piglets, according to NPA.
Consequently, the organisation's survey focused on that transition, what the drivers and barriers are and how long is needed. The survey ran for several weeks throughout October and November 2024 and asked producers to answer several multiple-choice questions related to their current farrowing places and thoughts on a transition to flexible farrowing.
- NPA
