Pig health is the key to a sustainable and profitable future and to help producers to improve and maintain, the British Pig Executive (BPEX) is organising a series of autumn workshops. They will be looking at all aspects of health using contributions from experts and working pig farmers.

The workshops are another aspect of the BPEX strategy Road to Recovery 2006-09 which has highlighted the importance of making sure the latest knowledge and information reaches working pig farmers in a useable form. BPEX Director of Pig Industry Development Mark Wilson said: “The key is to identify the problems then take action to improve the position and that is exactly where these seminars are aimed.”

The workshops will include:

• Interpreting and using British Pig Health Scheme (BPHS) reports – by a Specialist Pig Vet /Assessor
  
  
• Improving health status through de-stock/re-stock and herd health strategies - the pitfalls, planning, performance and benefits by a producer
  
  
• Integrating replacement gilts – a Danish Perspective
  
  
  
• Protecting health status through Biosecurity by a Specialist Pig Vet

The free seminars will start at 3.00pm (tea/coffee will be available from 2.30pm) and will finish at about 7pm, with a light snack. Members of the press are more than welcome to attend any of the seminars and contact details can be found below.

The seminars are:

Tuesday 10 October, The Golden Lion, Northallerton
Wednesday 11 October, Bishop Burton College, Nr Beverley
Tuesday 17 October, The Cedars Hotel, Stowmarket
Wednesday 18 October, The Bear Hotel, Hodnet, Nr Market Drayton
Tuesday 24 October, Donnington Valley Golf Club, Newbury
Wednesday 25 October, Exeter Racecourse, Exeter

Producers or journalists wishing to attend should contact Mrs Radha Ray, MLC Technical Division, PO Box 44, Winterhill House, Snowdon Drive, Milton Keynes, MK6 1AX. Fax: 01908 844214 Email: radha_ray@mlc.org.uk . Alternatively, an application form can be downloaded from www.bpex.org.uk.

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