UK virtual pig farm course aims to improve stockmen skills

Stockman Plus is a new "virtual pig farming" course, held through the British Pig Executive and starting across the English regions, that aims to provide the next challenge for trainees to build on the skills and knowledge gained through previous practical experience and/or the previously attended BPEX Stockman Development course.
“The more advanced Stockman Plus course will include problem-solving exercises which will be applied to a virtual farm to allow the group to see the outcome of decisions they make," said Samantha Bowsher, BPEX assistant skills manager.
In addition, the organization's Stockman Development and Institute of Leadership and Management courses are both back for a third year. The Stockman Development course combines training in practical pig husbandry with visits to feed mills and abattoirs. The Institute of Leadership and Management course helps supervisors and managers improve their people management and build their confidence when leading others, according to BPEX. Specially selected modules enable trainees to learn different management techniques and work together to decide on the best ways to handle various situations.
All three courses are flexible — participants can choose particular sessions to attend, subject to availability, or sign up for the whole course. 

Scottish pig industry highlights stockmanship training

A Scottish Pig Academy to encourage stockmanship training in the Scottish pig industry was officially launched on June 21 at the Royal Highland Show in Edinburgh, Scotland.
The initial cohort of 10 Scottish Pig Academy trainees is currently being recruited with training due to start in August. The Academy has been developed by Barony College with input from Quality Meat Scotland, VION and Scottish Agricultural College. Funding for course development has been provided by the supermarket group ASDA/Walmart, Quality Meat Scotland, the European Union and Skills Development Scotland.
The inspiration for the Academy came from pig producers, unit managers and staff taking part in the Pig Business Network run by Quality Meat Scotland, who voiced concern about the lack of a structured training program for the industry. “The objective of the Scottish Pig Academy is to implement a recognized vocational training program for basic and advanced pig stockmanship in Scotland," said a spokesman for Quality Meat Scotland. "Crucially, the program can be delivered locally and at low cost to farmers."
There are currently around 500 people employed on Scottish pig farms and the aim is to develop the technical knowledge and skills required to maximize productivity and efficiency on pig farms. Among the areas to be covered by the course are herd performance, herd health and machinery use and maintenance, along with personal performance. Training will be delivered online on the farms where the apprentices work, making it easy to access from any location and to work in a flexible way to fit round work schedules. A network of experienced mentors will provide support to individual learners working through the modules.
“We’ve been working hard to support the Scottish pig industry over the past few years and this initiative is another great example of collaboration in the supply chain," said Dr. Chris Brown, ASDA’s head of ethical and sustainable sourcing.

Pfizer chooses poultry, pig Trainee of the Year recipients

Pfizer announced its Poultry and Pig Trainee of the Year awards at a House of Commons ceremony on Nov. 1.


Benjamin Pollard (third from left) receiving the Pfizer Poultry Trainee of the Year award.

Benjamin Pollard, who works for Aviagen in East Lothian, became the first to win the Poultry award representing Scotland. Kate Munro-Ashman, who manages a 900-sow outdoor unit in Berkshire, is the second female winner in a row of the Pig award.

Kate Munro-Ashman (third from left) receiving the Pfizer Pig Trainee of the Year award.

Each winner was awarded a £2500 training grant. "If it hadn't been for the training to improve my understanding of pigs and the people who look after them, I know that we would not still have been in pigs today," said Munro-Ashman.
The awards are currently in their fourth year.