PIG PRODUCERS could struggle with a lack of good quality bedding this season, as many arable farmers are chopping straw due to the late harvest.

During August the UK received over 50% more rainfall than normal, and many farmers have still to combine large areas of cereals in the northern and eastern key pig production areas.

Welfare friendly indoor and outdoor pig production systems in the UK require a lot of good quality straw.

A typical 400 sow outdoor breeding unit will use between 0.5t and 1t of straw per sow each year, with higher usage during extended periods of wet weather.

Most indoor rearing and finishing systems in the UK are also straw based and poor quality straw made in damp conditions can lead to greater respiratory problems amongst livestock and farm staff.

Ex-farm prices for big bales of wheat and barley straw are already hitting the £30/t mark. 

And although loose straw behind the combine has generally traded at about £10/acre, a lot of the remaining cereals to be cut will be unsuitable for livestock use and will have to be chopped.

Graham Lawman, president of the British Hay and Straw Merchants‘ Association, said contractors were struggling to find much available straw to bale.

“Arable farmers could benefit financially by leaving straw to be baled in fields that are not required for immediate cultivation,” he said.

“This action would help livestock farmers by reducing the potential shortage of straw.”

The only benefit to pig producers from the wettest August for years will be large quantities of milling wheat falling into the feed category.

Current spot feed wheat prices are in the £61-£63/t range ex-farm, compared with £80-£83/t a year ago.

Grain traders claim that providing the remaining wheat crop can still be harvested, pig producers will have access to ample feed wheat supplies in the year ahead.