MLC to appeal to MPs over pig crisis

04 September 1998

MLC to appeal to MPs over pig crisis

By FW Staff

THE Meat and Livestock Commission is to enlist the support of 200 MPs to help pig farmers and raise awareness of the pig industry crisis among their constituents.

Farm minister Nick Brown has agreed to be involved in the campaign, which will ask MPs to influence retailers and caterers to promote pork, ham, bacon, pork pies and sausage sales.

But the money, along with that to be spent on export restitutions, would be far better spent on compensation to cut sow numbers, according to specialist pig producer Cliff Jones from Cornwall. “The big feed companies involved in contract pigs who are losing huge sums every week now would be better off to destroy some of them.”

The only publicity worth considering would be on the need for accurate labeling of country of origin of pigmeat, detailing production systems in different countries, and a sustained exposure of the hypocrisy and double standards over welfare and feeding standards.