Although swine flu is widespread in pig farming, often affecting an estimated 50% of UK production pigs, human cases remain rare. However, the 2009 pandemic proved that swine-origin flu viruses can cross into human populations with devastating effects.

Additionally, humans can transmit flu to pigs, introducing new strains and complicating control efforts. Therefore, the need for vigilance and preparedness is critical, RVC explained.

The collaborative study – which is one of the most comprehensive antigenic studies of European swine flu viruses to date – examined swine flu virus data collected across Europe between 2010 and 2020. The study also involved testing the immune responses of human populations to a range of swine flu variants.

Working alongside European partners, teams in the USA and Taiwan, and the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the RVC led the data analysis to better understand the risks these viruses pose.

The team studied available genetic data from repositories to analyse the diversity of viruses circulating in pigs. Certain viruses were then tested against strains used in pig vaccines and candidate vaccine viruses available for pandemic preparedness to see how closely each of the viruses were related antigenically.

Select viruses were also tested against human serum from different international cohorts to determine how well populations would recognise these different swine flus and therefore understand how effective population immunity would be, should one of these variants emerge.

‘Protecting human health begins with investing in animal health’

Key findings from the data revealed extensive variation in circulating swine influenza viruses, with implications for vaccine updates in both pigs and pandemic preparedness. The team also found that evolving strains could reduce the effectiveness of existing vaccines, necessitating ongoing antigenic characterisation and monitoring.

Additionally, variable human immunity to swine flu variants was shown, indicating that some strains could pose serious pandemic threats and potentially severe consequences if transmitted to humans. In the instance a variant were to spread from pigs to humans, early knowledge of its characteristics would be key in helping to develop faster responses with targeted vaccines.

The researchers explained that these results underscore a significant emphasis on continually updating pig vaccines and pandemic preparedness plans and collaborating internationally across borders to better monitor and mitigate against disease evolution and spread. This includes reinforcing the vital role of biosecurity and surveillance.

Amelia Coggon, PhD student at the RVC, said: “Our study has high relevance to pandemic preparedness and swine flu vaccination. By better monitoring how these viruses evolve, we can ensure vaccines used in pigs remain effective, reducing production losses as well as reducing the risk of human infection.

“It also highlights the critical role of international collaboration and ongoing surveillance for zoonotic diseases. Just because we stop looking, it doesn’t mean these viruses disappear. Protecting human health begins with investing in animal health, and that means sustained, cross-sector funding – especially for diseases with pandemic potential.”

Katy Shaw Saliba, co-author of the paper and formerly of the JHCEIRS project, added: “Here, the diversity of the influenza virus in European swine and its serological cross-protection with human antisera was quantified, allowing for an understanding of which viruses could pose greater risk for animal and human health. The findings from this paper highlight the value of international research collaborations in identifying influenza virus risk.”

READ MORE: Industry doubts England’s ability to deal with animal disease outbreaks

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The US Food and Drug Administration has approved the technology by animal genetics company Genus.

The infection, which causes fever, respiratory distress, and premature births, costs the industry approximately $2.5 billion (£1.75bn) each year in lost revenue in the US and Europe alone.

The approval follows years of close collaboration with the FDA and is a significant step on the pathway to commercialisation of gene-edited pigs in the US and other international markets, the company said.

Researchers at the University of Edinburgh’s Roslin Institute focused their efforts on the CD163 gene in pigs. This gene produces a receptor on the surface of cells, which the PRRS virus uses to cause infection.

Experts removed a small section of this gene, focusing on the section of the receptor that the virus attaches to, leaving the rest of the molecule intact.

Supported by Edinburgh Innovations (EI), the University of Edinburgh’s commercialisation service, the team collaborated with Genus, who also licensed novel technologies from other institutions, to produce pigs with the specific DNA change.

The resulting pigs do not become infected with the virus, and the animals show no signs that the change in their DNA has had any other impact on their health or wellbeing.

‘Milestone in use of gene editing’

Professor Bruce Whitelaw of the Roslin Institute said: “We are delighted to see the PRRS-resistant pig gene edit approved for use – this is a milestone in the use of gene editing in livestock and a landmark moment for the livestock industry towards managing a global disease that causes devastating losses.”

Jorgen Kokke, CEO of Genus, added that the FDA approval is a “fantastic” achievement for the company and represents a major step towards US commercialisation.

Dr Susan Bodie, EI’s head of business development at the University of Edinburgh’s College of Medicine and Vet Medicine, concluded: “This is a very exciting development in translating cutting-edge research into a major solution for the food production industry.

“Gene editing – making targeted changes to DNA in a lab – allows scientists to rapidly introduce beneficial traits in plants and animals, which can take decades to achieve through traditional breeding programmes.

“EI is proud to support Roslin Institute researchers to work with industry on pioneering world-changing animal bioscience like this.”

Read more livestock news.

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Red Tractor is consulting on a modular approach to welfare standards for the pig sector – similar to the tiered model introduced for the poultry sector in 2020.  

The proposed system includes two new voluntary tiers, each with its own dedicated logo:  

• Enhanced Welfare: Pork from outdoor-bred or outdoor-reared pigs finished indoors, with more space and a solid, bedded lying area.  

• Free Range: Pork from pigs with continuous outdoor access.  

Some adjustments to the existing standards will be included in the consultation.  

Red Tractor said that these are required to ensure the equivalence with other assurance schemes that will deliver the reduced cost and complexity, and to ensure core standards reflect best practice.  

‘Clear, trusted guide for shoppers’

While the Red Tractor Pigs Technical Advisory Committee believes that many outdoor and indoor producers already operate at the proposed standards, the consultation is designed to establish precise views.   

The organisation explained that expanding the use of these tiers from poultry to pork aims to provide a clear, trusted guide for shoppers, reassuring them that Red Tractor-certified pork meets a range of high standards for welfare and distinguishing those that go beyond Red Tractor’s core standards of animal welfare.  

Stewart Houston, Red Tractor pigs chairman, commented:  “For pig producers, their commitment to animal welfare is at the heart of everything they do. The Red Tractor Pigs Sector Board believes the proposed labelling system would provide a clearer, simpler way for our members to communicate and differentiate their welfare standards.  

“It could also enhance consumers’ ability to make informed purchasing decisions by uniting existing tiers within the pork category under a suite of Red Tractor logos.  

“The development of the voluntary Enhanced Welfare and Free Range tiers for pork also demonstrates Red Tractor’s swift delivery against the Farm Assurance Review. The proposed system could remove the need for producers to juggle multiple assurance schemes, reducing audit burden and associated costs. Processors could also benefit from lower licence fees and simplified packaging by using a unified Red Tractor logo system.” 

Mr Houston added that Red Tractor is committed to engaging with as many pig members, processors, retailers, vets, and other stakeholders as possible to ensure Red Tractor assurance continues to deliver for them.  

“The Pigs Sector Board will only introduce the changes if there is majority support from the UK pig industry. I encourage everyone to share their views and help shape the future of UK pig farming,” he continued.  

Supporting industry’s transition

The Red Tractor team added that there is “growing momentum” within the UK pig sector towards flexible farrowing, with reduced confinement of sows compared to conventional farrowing crates.  

The sector is keen for this to be industry-led rather than legislated by government.  

Red Tractor is considering a new ‘Certified Standards Plus’ tier, with flexible farrowing as the key criteria. It is seeking views from the pig sector on whether such a tier would help support an industry-led transition to flexible farrowing to avoid conflicting retailer requirements and reduce business uncertainty.  

Mr Houston added: “This approach could demonstrate proactive welfare improvements and potentially reduce the need for heavy-handed legislation, while supporting producers in meeting evolving expectations.  

“While this tier is still under development and not expected to launch in the near future without further consideration, Red Tractor is looking for early input from producers to help shape the long-term development of this potential additional voluntary tier.”  

Red Tractor explained that its tiered labelling is grounded in extensive UK and international consumer research.  

A recent study involving over 3,000 UK shoppers demonstrated strong recognition and understanding of the proposed tiered logos, supported by Red Tractor’s position as the most trusted food assurance mark in the UK.  

The proposed logos ensure consistency of labelling across the pork and poultry protein categories, helping consumers navigate choices confidently and reducing confusion caused by overlapping farm assurance claims, the Red Tractor team concluded.

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According to the Mirror, the first-ever UK case of ‘reverse zoonosis’ was found on a pig farm in Northern Ireland. 

The finding was buried within government surveillance documents, the media outlet reported. 

Farmers Guide has reached out to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs of Northern Ireland to confirm the news. 

Our team was asked to contact the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) for further information. 

‘This detection is not unexpected’

A spokesperson for AFBI said that the detection of swine influenza in pigs is not unusual.  

They explained: “These viruses circulate dynamically between pigs but also have both a zoonotic (animals to humans) and a reverse zoonotic (humans to animals) element to their epidemiology.  

“Certainly, this detection is not unexpected but underlines the importance of undertaking surveillance and genetic characterisation of swine influenza viruses in pigs.  

“Furthermore, linking through One Health channels is necessary to understand where viruses are circulating in the human population that are either partially, or of complete, swine origin from a genetic perspective.  

“Both the Agri-Food & Bioscience Institute (AFBI) in Northern Ireland and the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) in Great Britain undertake horizon scanning surveillance for swine influenza and link closely with public health bodies where detections are of relevance across disciplines.” 

Read more livestock news. 

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Proposals from Cranswick to redevelop its existing pig site and redundant poultry sheds have been rejected by the local council. 

With the UK importing 50% of the pork and 70% of the chicken we consume, the business said it aimed to improve animal welfare and boost British meat production.

The site, where livestock has been reared since the 1960s, is currently permitted by the Environment Agency to house 29,000 pigs. The proposal reduced this to 14,000 pigs, reared to RSPCA Assured standards.

Cranswick also wanted to build 20 state-of-the-art poultry sheds, each housing 35,700 chickens reared to standards exceeding current Red Tractor accreditation.

There was an additional request for access through a new private road and access points for an average of nine lorry movements a day.

Farms are located 1.5km away from Methwold and 1.7km away from Feltwell in Norfolk. 

Application denied 

However, the planning application process has been beset by delays and challenges, and King’s Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council moved to reject the proposals yesterday (3^rd April). 

There were a reported 15,000 complaints about the proposals – though Cranswick says the majority were not from the local area and it was unable to verify many of them.

Most of the local complaints related to traffic, waste and odour, which Cranswick’s Barry Lock said have been addressed with Highways Agency and EA, who are not objecting to the development. 

Commenting on the delays, Nick Allen, CEO of the BMPA said: 

“Regardless of the eventual outcome [of this site], the process should not, by any reasonable measure, be taking this long. Businesses that want to make new investments in British industry should not have to commit such a disproportionate amount of resource and time just to get a decision. 

“Apart from the disincentive to invest it clearly poses, this broken system is proving a huge barrier to realising the Labour Government’s goals of growth and food security.”

A Cranswick spokesperson said of the news: “We are incredibly disappointed by today’s decision. This is a bad day for the sustainable production of British meat. We’ll now take time to review the decision and consider the options available to us.”

Response from MPs and councillors

On the council’s decision, Labour MP for South West Norfolk, Terry Jermy, who spoke out against the proposals, as well as all similar ones in the UK, is quoted by BBC Norfolk Breakfast as saying: 

“Very pleased, obviously. I think it was crucial today that we put a line in the sand. If this had have been approved we would have seen more applications like this not just in Norfolk but around the country. It gives us the opportunity to have a conversation about the sort of farming that we want.”

Councillor for Methwold Tom Ryves said: “From a SW Norfolk point of view, we support the smaller farms whose values align with ours and support the inevitable trend away from factory raised livestock, and recognise the interdependence of rural communities and farmers.

“Indeed, a very recent application for a smaller local producer to upgrade capacity from 120,000 to 330,000 chickens was successful and was not opposed by the community.”

Cllr Ryves claimed: “Cranswick would have brought no benefits whatsoever to our local economy and given the very high concentration of large industrial mega farms in the East of England we are grateful to a planning regime which requires a balanced view […].”

“Proposals would have allowed for higher welfare” 

Cranswick says the proposals for the poultry farm would allow for higher welfare chickens by reducing stocking density, providing higher welfare chicken called for by consumers, campaigners and retailers. 

This would allow 20% more space compared to Red Tractor standards – bringing it to 30kg sq/m compared to the industry standard of 38kg sq/m. 

Cranswick adds that it’s the only UK poultry producer to invest in the ‘NestBorn’ system.

100% of its chickens are born in the barn, rather than at a hatchery, which means they are not transported as live birds. They are born with instant access to feed, water, space and natural light.

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The poultry farm would be Red Tractor assured and all pigs at the farm would be reared to RSPCA Assured Standards, beginning their lives outside, before moving into the new straw-based barns.

The briefing document says: “At a time of rising prices, trade wars and escalating international tensions, now is the time Britain needs to produce more food at home, using modern, efficient and sustainable forms of farming. 

“Not doing so will have a detrimental impact on UK economic growth, on food prices for consumers locally and nationally and on direct and indirect employment opportunities, within Norfolk and across the wider UK.”

The news comes as President Trump announced at least a 10% tariff on all imports to the US from 5^th April. 

There has also been rising concerns that a trade deal with the US could see the market flooded with cheap imports, produced to a lower standard than would be permitted in the UK. 

Concerns over errors in the council’s report

Cranswick says it is concerned that the council’s report on the application was “littered with basic factual errors”. 

These include:

• In one key area the text had been copied and pasted across from the chicken application to the pig application
• The site is described as “a series of redundant agricultural sheds” but many of the buildings currently house pigs and it is a working farm
• There is reference to “a total of 7,500 pigs at Feltwell and Methwold Farms” but Cranswick says there are none at Methwold – this should read Airfield instead
• Six responses on sustainability that were provided within the Planning Statement are not included in the report
• Incorrect statements referencing the Finch ruling and that a climate change assessment is required. Finch requires indirect emissions that are inevitable and quantifiable to be considered
• The council did not visit the site until Wednesday morning, and the ecologists who advised on the HRA didn’t visit
• There was commentary during the committee meeting that those making a decision didn’t understand the details of what they were voting on and there was unhappiness with how the process had been managed. There was a vote to defer the application for six months that went 5-4 against, but the fact that four councillors voted to defer shows that despite the rejection it isn’t that clear cut, Cranswick comments.

Cranswick says it is also concerned that the majority of the 12,000 (or 15,000) reported objections were from people who live many miles from the local area – including from overseas, including Rome, Lisbon, California and Calgary.

Cranswick says it has not been able to verify the full 12,604 objections stated by the Council’s report, or the 15,000 referred to in significant amounts of commentary around the applications. 

Of those objections identified, around 800 postcodes were unable to be verified at all.

The food business will now reflect on the ruling and consider its options going forward.

Read more livestock news.

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During a discussion on ASF, the NPA’s Pig Industry Group (PIG) was told the UK is much better prepared for an outbreak than it was a year ago, following discussions led by NPA and AHDB.

However, NPA senior policy adviser Katie Jarvis and AHDB senior animal health and welfare scientist Miranda Poulson stressed that an outbreak could have a huge impact on individual businesses and the wider industry.

Contingency planning

They explained how, over the last year or so, three supply chain workshops, which have included Defra, APHA and the Food Standards Agency (FSA), have been held.

The first was a pre-farmgate table-top simulation exercise looking broadly at what would happen on a farm when ASF was suspected and then confirmed.

A second focused on what would happen post-farmgate, particularly at the abattoir. A few weeks ago, a third covered transport, feed and haulage and issues like deadstock and rendering.

Ms Poulson said that there had been a healthy two-way information exchange with Defra and its agencies. “Over the last nine to 12 months, we’ve built up really good relationships with individuals. It has been a major step forward.

“They have all been really productive, but they tend to open more cans of worms than they close, so we are continuing to look for answers to the new questions that keep emerging,” she continued.

There were also two producer-facing workshops last year, aimed at encouraging producers to start putting together a contingency plan for their farm.

Ms Poulson added: “We tried to get across is the broad brush of what will happen, but also the idea that there is no fixed battle plan and there never will be, because everything is so case by case and risk-based.

“It depends on what animal it is detected in first, domestic or feral pig, where it is, how long it might have been in the country, where it might have gone. The scale of the restrictions imposed will always depend on those factors. There is not a concrete sequence of events, necessarily.”

Contingency plan documents

Ms Jarvis stressed that while APHA will largely manage any infected premises, producers need contingency plans to cover the eventuality of being in a control zone, where potentially stringent restrictions will apply, including pig standstills and limited access.

She highlighted the template contingency plan documents drawn up jointly by AHDB and NPA, which are available from both organisations. These are continually updated and can be altered to suit individual farms.

“If you are caught up in a zone, you could use that document to understand most of what would happen. We really want people to start thinking now about a contingency plan, if you haven’t already,” she said.

Cleansing and disinfection

Affected units would initially be subject to cleansing and disinfection (C&D) by APHA and would then be required to undertake and pay for secondary C&D themselves before they could restock.

Ms Jarvis explained that there is not yet a full explanation of what that would look like for a pig unit, but a group is now looking at developing secondary C&D protocols for ASF and classical swine fever for indoor and outdoor units.

While this process in Europe is fairly well-trodden for indoor units, the rest of Europe has relatively few commercial outdoor pig units, which makes this aspect much more complicated, on top of the existing challenges of tackling the virus outdoors.

For example, ASF virus can live in the soil for a long time, and it could take 18 months to two years to restock on land on which pigs have been slaughtered and where blood has got into the soil. It remains unclear how that land should be treated. In addition, wooden equipment and fences cannot be cleaned by C&D, so producers would incur extra costs here.

Some of these questions are being addressed with ongoing research by APHA and the Pirbright Institute, as well as learnings from Europe.

“The process will be longer and harder for outdoor units, which is another reason why biosecurity is so important,” Ms Jarvis added.

Protocols for the use of sentinel pigs to prove disease-free status after the secondary C&D, a requirement for restocking, also remain unclear.

There was a wider discussion on other aspects of pig production that would be affected by an outbreak, such as pig movements and keeping semen supplies going in the face of restrictions.

Key messages

The group agreed that, in light of these sobering discussions, renewed efforts need to be taken to urge all pig producers to steadfastly adhere to strict biosecurity procedures at all times.

After the meeting, Ms Jarvis summarised five key messages for producers to help them prevent and prepare for ASF:

• It is far more likely that you will be in a control zone than be an infected premises, so you need to be prepared for a long standstill.

• Write and regularly review a contingency plan with your vet and make sure all your staff are familiar with the plan.

• Whether you are an infected premises, caught in a control zone or a contact premises, the better your movement records and the more information you can provide APHA, the quicker restrictions can be lifted.

• We are preparing, but many decisions will be risk assessed and made on a case-by-case basis, so it is impossible to account for all scenarios.

• Secondary C&D will be complicated and costly to producers, so prevent the disease from getting onto your farm in the first place – good biosecurity does work.

Read more livestock news.

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Incomes for cereal farms in England are set to fall by nearly a third in 2024/25 due to a combination of challenging weather conditions and lower output prices, according to the latest Farm Business Income forecast.

Average farm business income (FBI) is predicted to fall to £27,000, with wheat hit particularly hard.

Wet autumn drilling conditions and a cool, wet harvest impacted both yields and planted areas. 

For wheat, output is forecast to be around 25% lower than in 2023/24 – smaller crop areas and yields were compounded by lower prices due to plentiful global supplies. 

Output from OSR also fell despite prices remaining firm, due to reduced yield and area. 

Offset by other crops

For general cropping farms, however, lower output from cereals enterprises is expected to be partially offset by increases from other crops, such as sugar beet and potatoes.

Despite weather challenges, firm prices and slightly increased planted areas for both these crops are expected to result in higher output.

This, together with lower input costs, will result in a 13% rise in FBI to £108,000, the report predicts.

Several other sectors, however, are set for growth. 

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Dairy: Milk price to boost incomes

Average FBI on dairy farms is expected to more than double compared to 2023/24, to £176,000. This is primarily down to the recovery in the farmgate milk price.

At UK level, the average farmgate milk price rose by around 12% from March 2024 to January 2025, compared to the previous year, Defra statistics show.

However, there is wide variation, with some farmers receiving considerably more or less than the average.

Output from other cattle enterprises is also expected to be higher.

Grazing livestock farms

Meanwhile, for grazing livestock farms – both lowland and in Less Favoured Areas (LFAs) – higher output from sheep enterprises and reduced feed costs are among the drivers increasing FBI to £28,000. 

For lowland farms, higher incomes from agri-environment activities are another key factor, according to the report.

Additionally, lamb prices, both fat and store, are consistently up on the year, including some record highs.

However, these higher prices will be tempered to some extent by a smaller lamb crop in 2024, due to challenging weather conditions at lambing and a contraction of the breeding flock. 

Output from beef cattle enterprises is expected to rise by 1%. 

For LFA grazing livestock farms, FBI is forecast to be 18% higher, due to record lamb prices, and higher average prices for breeding ewes and hoggs. This offsets a 4% fall in output from cattle enterprises. 

Pig farms benefit from lower feed prices

Specialist pig farms are also predicted to see an increase in FBI, to £155,000, due to lower costs, particularly feed, which is expected to drop 5% (reflecting the lower value of feed wheat and barley).

Higher output from pig enterprises (4%) will reflect reasonably steady prices for finished pigs, stores and weaners. Both throughput and average carcase weights are also forecast to be slightly higher.

Mixed farms

Finally for mixed farms, FBI is expected to be just over a third higher than 2023/24 at £30,000.

No income forecasts have been made for specialist poultry or horticulture farms – as these would be subject to considerable uncertainty due to the structure of the sector and the relatively small sample of these farms in the survey. 

The 2024 delinked Basic Payment will fall by a quarter at the all farm level, while the all farm level income from agri-environment payments is expected to rise by over three quarters to £23,000 – though this varies widely between sectors.

Read more business news.

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The latest AHDB analysis predicts steady pork production, limited growth in breeding herd numbers and continued pressure on export markets due to geopolitical tensions.

However, a thriving foodservice sector and evolving consumer demand for convenient, affordable cuts of pork provide opportunities for the industry to navigate challenges in the year ahead.

Freya Shuttleworth, AHDB senior analyst (livestock), said: “While the pork market faces challenges such as fluctuating export demand and rising geopolitical uncertainties, we are seeing signs of resilience. 

“The continued growth of the foodservice sector and increasing consumer interest in value-driven cuts of pork offer potential areas for optimism. 

“The industry’s focus must remain on meeting the evolving needs of consumers while maintaining high standards of welfare and sustainability.”

Small changes 

UK pork production is anticipated to remain stable in 2025, with clean pig slaughter volumes reaching approximately 10.32 million head, a slight decrease of 0.1% compared to 2024. 

Average carcase weights are expected to remain at around 90kg, in line with performance from previous years. 

While the size of the UK breeding herd is forecast to rise by 1% to 330,000 head by June 2025, long-term growth remains limited, with the herd expected to return to 2023 levels by 2027.

Despite these relatively small changes, productivity improvements have been a driving force in the sector. 

READ MORE: Retailer support for British pigmeat is steady, new figures show

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AHDB’s quarterly estimated cost of production has seen a slight decrease over the course of 2024, contributing to positive industry sentiment and net margins of £15 per head. 

However, ongoing uncertainty, including economic challenges and fluctuating costs, continues to impact producer confidence, especially as some producers exit the industry.

The outlook for trade in 2025 is mixed, with geopolitical tensions and market volatility continuing to affect UK exports. 

The EU remains the UK’s most significant trading partner, with over 99% of UK pig meat imports and over 42% of exports coming from the region. 

However, demand from the EU is expected to decrease as EU consumption weakens.

Brighter prospects 

Despite these challenges, there are brighter prospects in markets like Southeast Asia, where African Swine Fever (ASF) has impacted local production. 

The relisting of two UK processing sites for China and the potential for stronger trade ties with countries like South Korea could help offset weaker demand from traditional markets.

Retail demand for pig meat is likely to remain under pressure in 2025 due to economic challenges and fluctuating consumer perceptions around the health credentials of pork. 

However, the continued growth of the foodservice sector, particularly in dining out and on-the-go meal occasions, presents a valuable opportunity. 

Consumers are seeking affordable, convenient meals, with pork well-suited to quick, tasty options such as sandwiches and savoury pastries.

Consumer interest 

Vanessa Adamson, AHDB retail & consumer insight manager, said: “As we continue to face economic pressures, promoting the nutritional benefits and versatility of pork will be key in encouraging consumers to incorporate more pork into their meals. 

“With increased interest in affordable meal options and a growing foodservice sector, there are significant opportunities to expand pork consumption, particularly through convenient products like sausages, burgers, and pre-prepared cuts.”

To enhance the outlook for pork consumption in 2025, industry players are urged to focus on communicating the health benefits of pork, such as its rich vitamin and protein content. 

Additionally, promoting versatile recipes, batch cooking ideas, and affordable meal options will help capture consumers’ interest. 

Premium cuts of pork should also be marketed as indulgent, treat-worthy options to appeal to those seeking high-quality, cost-effective dining experiences.

In response to these challenges and opportunities, AHDB is launching its ‘Love Pork’ campaign and other marketing activities throughout 2025 to encourage increased consumer engagement with pork.

Find out more in AHDB’s Pork Market Outlook. 

Agri-Market Outlooks for Cereals, Oilseeds and Farm inputs (feed, fertiliser and straw) will be released over the coming weeks.

Read more livestock news.

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Park rangers in the Cairngorms are attempting to locate a group of feral pigs which they believe may have been illegally released.

The pigs were spotted near Uath Lochans in Cairngorms National Park.

According to Cairngorms National Park Authority the animals appear to be relatively domesticated and are likely to have been illegally released.

This follows the recent illegal release of four lynx in the area.

Greater effort needed to prosecute

Responding to the news NFU Scotland welcomed the prompt response of the Park Authority, NatureScot and Forestry and Land Scotland.

However, it called for increased efforts to identify and prosecute those responsible.

NFUS Pigs Committee chair Jamie Wyllie said: “Such reckless and illegal releases are incredibly irresponsible with negative implications for the environment, the individual animals, and the potential damage they might cause to rural businesses. 

“This latest incident, near to where four lynx were dumped only last month, is hugely concerning for land managers. Unsanctioned releases must not become common place or deemed in any way acceptable.”

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Risk of ASF and FMD

The release, Mr Wyllie added, compounds a growing feral pig problem in some parts of Scotland, which is causing significant damage to crops, land and property.

These pigs also pose a huge risk of harbouring and spreading serious diseases to other livestock and wildlife, he added.

“At a time when foot and mouth disease and African swine fever are present in mainland Europe, a feral pig population is a threat to those who keep cattle, sheep and pigs,” he added. 

“The presence of feral pigs makes the ability to control or eradicate disease, were it to arrive in the UK, significantly more difficult.”

Read more livestock news.

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Scottish Pig Producers (SPP), Scotlean Pigs and Thames Valley Cambac (TVC) have created the United Pig Cooperative. The organisation will be farmer-led, with nine producer directors representing all UK production regions.

Phil Woodall, formerly of TVC, and Andy McGowan, from SPP, will be the co-general managers initially, with recruitment for a single long-term general manager starting later this year. The offices will be in Yorkshire and Oxfordshire.

The new organisation will aim to enhance market effectiveness, operational efficiency and member support, ensuring a sustainable future for independent producers across the UK, the official announcement stated.

The intention is that streamlining operations will boost productivity and reduce costs with savings for members, while resource sharing will allow for investment in knowledge sharing, innovation and sustainability initiatives to better meet member and customer needs.

‘A bold step forward for UK pig farming industry’

Roderic Bruce, chair of SPP, said: “With the rapid rationalisation we are seeing across the whole supply chain, the need for this merger is clear. By taking the best of all three groups, we will create an organisation that can best serve its customers and members for the future.”

TVC chair Robert Beckett said: “I am delighted that we have been able to bring these three businesses together which will further increase our ability to add value to not only the members but also our processor customers as well.”

Richard Butterworth, chair of Scotlean Pigs, added that this move will provide a better service for all members and customers.

“United Pig Cooperative represents a bold step forward for the UK pig farming industry, ensuring that independent farms can thrive in an increasingly integrated market,” he concluded.

Read more livestock news.

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