NPA looks for accommodation
NPA looks for accommodation
A SCHEME set up by the National Pig Association hopes to find accommodation for surplus stock, in response to overstocking, where weaned pigs cannot be moved to outdoor finishing locations.
Richard Longthorp, a pig producer and NPA board member has 7000-8000 weaned pigs stacked up in Notts and Derbys which would normally go outdoors on sites in Lincs and East Yorks. "We are producing more than 1000 pigs a week with nowhere to go."
He has advertised on local radio and put details on the NPA dating agency in the hope of finding accomodation, but to date has received no enquiries.
"We have now secured a quarry which will provide a measure of security with 60ft sides. We will put straw down and hope this will be sufficient," says Mr Longthorp.
"There is a perception that it is all getting better, but it could get worse. When areas become clear and try to resume trading, this regionalisation could make it even more difficult to move pigs to their outdoor finishing areas." *