Sector challenges in the spotlight at Pig and Poultry event

Final preparations are being made for next month’s British Pig & Poultry Fair, which takes place on 10-11 May at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire.

Held in partnership with ABN, the two-day event is being billed as a long-awaited chance for pig, poultry and egg producers to get together and discuss challenges and opportunities following the Covid pandemic.

“It’s important for people to attend, because we haven’t seen each other in person or been together as an industry for so long,” said ABN general manager Danny Johnson. “Coming together is always important, but this year even more so.”

Fresh thinking

The fair seeks to address key difficulties across the sectors and encourage fresh thinking and inspiring discussion. It includes talks with top industry speakers over both days.

In the pig forum, speakers will be examining labour shortages and rising costs as well as the impact of having more pigs than planned on farm. The poultry sector has seen difficulties too – including repeated outbreaks of avian influenza.

Mr Johnson said: “This has been an incredibly difficult year. Attending the forums and understanding what learnings can be taken from the past 12 months might help us to plan our way back to a sustainable supply chain for the future.”

For many producers, the current challenges facing the industry have only exacerbated feelings of isolation caused by Covid, said National Pig Association chairman Rob Mutimer, who farms 750 outdoor sows in Norfolk.

“Mental health is a key issue for farming and recently it has become even more isolating. Being stuck at the end of a farm drive is a lonely place to be. The fair is a chance to see people and talk to them – I think it is really important everyone attends.”

Egg producers

Demand for eggs soared during Covid, which boosted prices. But it has since waned, leaving producers facing a double whammy of low prices and an oversupplied market, according to the the British Free Range Egg Producers Association.

But there is some positive news. BFREPA chief executive Robert Gooch said: “The number of members with feed tracker or fixed price contracts has grown from 0% to 30% and we want to see that rise further – it’s a solution we’re working on.”

NFU chief poultry adviser Aimee Mahony said: “We are facing some big challenges like avian influenza and labour shortages. Being able to exchange ideas and listen to viewpoints from people representing different parts of the supply chain is important.”

In the broiler sector, consumer demand for chicken remains strong but it is changing.  Chicken remains the nation’s number one choice of meat but customers increasingly want higher welfare, slower grown birds  reared at lower stocking rates

“That is a challenge, but businesses are looking at ways to offer consumers a choice, rather than a full switch for the whole sector,” said Ms Mahony. 

 Many producers are continue to look to maximise efficiency and productivity in a changing environment. Seminars will also focus on driving sustainable performance as the industry works towards net zero targets.

For full details avbout the event, visit www.pigandpoultry.org.uk.