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Welfare event seeks pig industry workers

Posted 10 December

Researchers working to boost welfare in the pig industry are calling on farmers and others working with the animals to attend a free workshop next month.

The Farming Futures: A Good Life for Pigs event has been organised by Dr Holly Vickery and Dr Laura Palczynski  and is open to everyone involved in the industry, whether they are a farm manager, owner, or worker, or play a wider role in the industry such as a pig veterinarian, nutrition advisor or industry representative.

Dr Palczynski said: “The day will centre around active conversations and discussion with, and between participants, as we want to hear their views, but will also include talks about current farm animal welfare objectives in the UK - The Farm Animal Welfare Council's idea of a 'Good Life' - and how innovations may help to fulfil these.

“Our resident pig specialist Alan Stewart will be sharing the kinds of strategies the Harper Pig Unit currently uses - and may use in the future.

“We will also be touring the Harper Adams Future Farm to consider the tech and innovations used on the dairy and how some of these could transfer to the pig industry. We've even thrown in a free lunch for all involved!”

While the day will include an opportunity to see the Future Farm, the team also want to hear more about how those in industry think research from institutions such as Harper Adams can be practically applied elsewhere.

Dr Vickery added: “In order for research to be useful and have impact, it needs to be aligned to industry needs - and to do that we need to fully understand what obstacles and opportunities may exist.

“Thats why we want to hear from those directly involved in the industry, and in particular farmers themselves, so that we can understand how best to plan and prioritise future research. 

 “We can propose lots of strategies to improve pig welfare, but what we really need to consider is how these will practically work.

“We want to look for the win-wins: opportunities to improve pig welfare alongside benefits for staff whether that’s time saving, making tasks easier, streamlining admin, as well as being financially viable and cost-effective.

“If we can show that strategies make good business sense - and we embed that aim from the start – they are more likely to be used.”

The event will be held on Friday, January 10 and those interested in attending can register here.

Dr Palczynski added: “To boost pig welfare, strategies need to be put into action.

“This is your chance to let us know what does - or does not - have potential to be widely used in the real world, and what support you may need to help you use this research!”