The National Pig Association (NPA) is seeking sponsorship for its run of regional spring meetings.

The meetings will return next month with new venues and dates.

The association said it is looking for sponsorship from its members to help it stage these meetings and provide food. 

The Eastern meeting will kick things off on Tuesday, April 16, at brand new venue Wymondham RFC.

The Northern meeting will follow a week later on Tuesday, April 23, also at a new location – Driffield RUFC. 

The South Central and South West meetings will be merged into one, and are moving to Salisbury RFC on Wednesday, May 1.

The meetings will include detailed updates from NPA staff on topical issues, including the NPA’s priorities as the General Election approaches and an Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) market update. 

All meetings will start at 6:00p.m with presentations beginning at 6:30p.m.

Farming equipment fund

The National Pig Association (NPA) has said a range of useful pig equipment is available under the first round of the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF) 2024.

The scheme provides grants of between £1,000 and £25,000 towards the cost of a long list of equipment or technology to help improve animal health and welfare.

In addition, grants of between £1,000 and 50,000 are available to help boost productivity and manage slurry.

The application window for health and welfare grants opened earlier this month and closes on May 1.

There are over 130 specified items on the FETF 24 list, including 29 new additions.

Some of the items listed for pig animal health and welfare grants include:

  • Fixed handling system;
  • Electronic pig weighing and sorting facility/other weighing equipment;
  • Enclosed piglet creep with heat pad;
  • Slatted floor inserts and rubber covers for slatted floors;
  • Automatic curtain system for pig housing;
  • Hanging enrichment toys;
  • Individual ad lib farrowing feeder;
  • Electronic sow feeder;
  • Robot pen cleaner;
  • EID equipment;
  • Feed bin weighing system;
  • Cameras and pig monitoring systems;
  • Ammonia, dust, CO2, temperature and humidity sensors;
  • Insulated farrowing ark;
  • Automatic vaccination gun;
  • Evaporative cooling mist line system;
  • LED lighting;
  • Loading bay tunnel and portable loading ramp.
NPA PIGS