Pig farmers warned over straw shortage

Pig producers in Yorkshire have been warned of shortages of bedding materials for later in the year after one of the driest springs on record.

Farmers are being advised to consider their options for bedding material while arable producers have been told to bale all available straw to assist livestock producers who are facing a serious shortage later in the year.

The National Pig Association said arable farmers should even look to bale rape straw.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Pig farmers rely heavily on straw and use more than 350,000 tonnes a year due to the high standards of animal welfare they practice.

On the continent most pigs are finished on slats but in the UK the majority of animals are finished in straw yards, which earns producers a small welfare premium.

Richard Longthorpe, a large-scale pig farmer based near Howden, told the Yorkshire Post that British farmers’ adherence to high standards were once again potentially going to place them at a competitive disadvantage

“This is going to be a problem later in the year,” he said.

“Elsewhere in Europe they use much less straw and as a result won’t be as affected.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“So there are two elements, one will be a shortage of straw and the other will be that it will be very expensive.”

Mr Longthorpe said that if the dry conditions persisted than the harvesting process was likely to be more damaging to straw, potentially exacerbating the shortage.

He also backed the NPA’s call for arable farmers to assist with producing as much straw as possible, saying it was in all farmers’ interests to do so.

Meanwhile, the British Pig Executive (BPEX) said pig producers should look to protect any stored straw from the elements, ensure drainage is good, keep a close eye on feeders and drinkers to minimise spoilage and to minimise any dunging areas as the sector prepares for a very challenging few months.