National Pig Association THE VOICE OF THE UK PIG INDUSTRY NPA is active on members' behalf in Brussels & Whitehall, and with processors, supermarkets & caterers - fighting for the growth and pros-perity of the UK pig industry.

They will learn how it generates useful income, helps keep labour occupied, provides a ready market for straw, and produces manure to provide a cushion against high fertiliser prices and – according to many users – a repeatable half-a-tonne-an-acre yield benefit.

For many arable farms, contract finishing pigs could be the key to enabling a son or daughter to pursue their intended career in farming. For the British pig industry it could be the way of widening a bottleneck that is currently preventing the industry meeting demand for its premium product in an under-supplied market.

To help arable farmers take the plunge, the British Pig Executive has produced an A-to-Z guide for successful pig finishing. This covers the planning, building and management of new buildings - this is of equal value to those wishing to modify existing accommodation.

"A number of established producers are now specialising in the breeding and production of pigs but are sending their finishing pigs to clean sites in batches.

This allows them to maximise performance through improved health and allows them to concentrate on producing a good quality product," said BPEX director of pig industry development Mark Wilson.

A range of finishing contracts is available but with most the owner of the pigs provides the key inputs, including feed, whilst the contract finisher provides the buildings and labour.

A site taking batches of 1000 pigs can expect to generate some £25,000 a year before costs, or around £28,000 when the fertiliser value of the manure is included.

The seminar at Cereals will be at 10am in the NFU area on day one, and possibly 2.30pm (to be confirmed) on day two. Cereals 2006 is on June 14 and 15 at Nocton, Lincolnshire.

Source: National Pig Association - 27th May 2006