Eight pig producers from across Europe have been awarded the title of EU PiG Ambassador, to recognise their innovation in pig production.
Biosecurity measures to control African swine fever (ASF), how to promote pork to consumers and strategies for dealing with piglets from hyper prolific sows were among the winning best practices of the 2020 EU PiG Innovation Group Grand Prix.
The Grand Prix – which is an annually run competition – aims to identify and share innovative practices in pig production throughout the European network of pig producers and beyond.
The EU PiG project is part-funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme.
Interestingly, two of the winning best practices for 2020 hailed from across the Irish Sea. The challenges tackled in each of these were: ‘Use of slaughter data to improve health outcomes’ and ‘Reducing costs’.
The winning best practices from the 2020 EU PiG Grand Prix
EU PiG coordinator Ben Williams, of AHDB in the UK, said: “Congratulations to the 2020 EU PiG Ambassadors.”
“Fundamentally, this competition is about connecting pig producers, creating a European network where new information and experience can be shared directly. This aims to ensure an ever more efficient and competitive industry.
Using the EU PiG platform, producers are able to learn about the ideas and techniques used effectively across Europe to help improve the efficiency and sustainability of their own farm.
“This year’s winning best practices should act as aspirational examples of innovative techniques used on pig farms to tackle each of the eight challenges.”
