Farmers snub pig slaughter scheme

31 August 2000



Farmers snub pig slaughter scheme

By Alistair Driver

FARMERS hit by swine fever are refusing to send pigs into a government slaughter scheme because of fears that they will not receive any compensation.

The welfare scheme being run by the Intervention Board opened on Wednesday (30 Aug) amid hopes that thousands of pigs would be slaughtered.

But by the same afternoon Intervention Board officials had received just 15 calls from farmers interested in taking up the offer, said a board spokesman.

Under the scheme, the government will pay in full hauliers, slaughterers and renderers to dispose of pigs at the top end of their age and weight ranges.

However, a letter sent to farmers earlier this week, said: “You must note that no compensation is available in respect of animals entered into the scheme.”

The refusal to join the scheme comes despite claims by some farmers that they will shoot pigs on overcrowded farms.

Paul Day, a farmer from near Diss, Norfolk, said he would cram the 600 pigs that have been prevented from leaving his farm in a specially converted building.

Mr Day said he was desperate to hear about compensation soon, although he admitted he would be forced to enter the slaughter scheme if he ran out of space.

The National Pig Association estimates that 40,000 pigs a week are building up on hundreds of units around five East Anglian farms infected with the disease.

Ian Campbell, NPA regional manager, said: “The universal message from farmers in the zones is that they will fill up every corner of their farms with pigs.

Farmers are not being mercenary, he said, but feel that they cannot risk getting rid of assets for which they may not receive a single penny, he added.