UK aims for 2-ton sow

Britain’s pig industry has set itself a new aim for 2010 – that of achieving what is being called the “two-ton sow.” A spokesperson for the British Pig Executive (BPEX) told Pig International that the term has been coined to describe plans to increase the average carcase weight produced per sow per year up to 2000 kilograms by the end of this year. Speaking to producers in the east of England, Andrew Knowles of BPEX insisted that this was the level of output which British pig producers must achieve in order to stay competitive with the rest of Europe. “We are confident that the UK industry can achieve this target,” he added. “It will be achieved through improvements in breeding, accommodation, nutrition, finishing and health status that will add up to increases in the number of pigs per sow per year and carcase weight of slaughter pigs. We can do it, but we will need the whole industry to pull together.”