Richard Longthorp
Richard Longthorp
Richard Longthorp farms
720ha (1800 acres)
near Howden, East Yorks.
As well as arable, the
farm has 2500 outdoor
breeding sows with progeny
taken through to bacon. He
is also chairman of the
National Pig Association
SEVERAL people managed to pick up the deliberate error in last months report when I stated the spread of weights in our slaughter pigs was far greater pre-PMWS than post-PMWS.
Actually, it is quite the reverse, with weights showing significantly more variance post-PMWS and bringing the resultant compromises on carcass quality and uniformity.
We have now taken the decision on which genetics company to employ for the duration of our slaughter pig supply contract, opting for JSR. The final decision was based on many factors, but ultimately the ability of the company to be able to respond to and reflect our future approach. This is a total interdependence of all those we supply and who supply us. Grand intentions I am sure, but if we cannot achieve that then I fear our future in pig production will not be a long one.
Having made the decision on the breeding stock we are going to use, other equally important decisions must be made, such as whether to batch farrow. The more we think about it, the more potential advantages there seem to be. These include teams clearly focused on one key operation a week, even batches going through finishing yards and the ability to rest our AI service tent during non-serving weeks.
But the main reason favouring change, is that batch farrowing would assist in controlling PMWS. Most management decisions on the units will have to have PMWS as priority number one for the foreseeable future.
The recent revelation in the Press that crime is increasing will come as no surprise to those of us who operate in rural Britain. In a period of two weeks, we were broken into on the arable farm five times. Thankfully the security system we installed more than five years ago proved its worth with nothing being stolen.
But we were less fortunate on one of the outdoor breeding units where we had a 110HP Case Maxxum tractor stolen. A few days later, a straw stack was set alight by some kids. The fire was potentially the most concerning, with the possibility of personal injury or it spreading into rapidly ripening barley crops and dead grass in the pig paddocks. *