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The latest Defra census is showing encouraging signs that
the British pig
industry is turning the corner says British Pig xecutive (BPEX) Chairman
Stewart Houston.
The June 2006 figures show a one per cent increase in
the pig breeding herd,
returning it to just above the June 2005 level. This is the first upturn
for
four years and follows six years of overall decline.
The total number of pigs in the UK has also risen to just
under five million, a 1.8 per cent rise in the last year.
Houston said: "In-pig gilts and maiden gilts
are showing an increase and so
far this year the number of cull sows has been down. Coupled with the
productivity gains we are seeing, this bodes well for the future
availability of slaughter pigs.
"It is good to see farmers are investing in
replacement breeding stock which
indicates a measure of confidence in the future.
"These are provisional figures and could be
amended later in the autumn but
what we have seen so far is very encouraging."
[9 Sept 06]
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