The total number of pigs on commercial English farms on December 1, 2013 was a little more than 3.6 million, according to figures released by Defra. This is the highest total since 2009, when Defra removed the smallest producers from the census survey.

There's little sign of the usual turnaround in pig prices that cames at this time of year, BPEX reports in its latest Pig Market Weekly.

Aberdeenshire farmer Kevin Gilbert (pictured) now heads NFU Scotland’s pigs working groups after long-serving chairmen Philip Sleigh stood down.

Pig units are often ideally placed to not only make savings in their energy use, but to generate their own power too. It’s no surprise, therefore, that energy use and renewables will be one of the topics under discussion during the forum sessions at this year's British Pig & Poultry Fair

December pig census figures published by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development indicate a 1% year-on-year increase in total pig numbers in Northern Ireland, to 455,300 head.

The AHDB/HGCA Winter Planting Survey shows a rebound in winter cropping in England and Wales for harvest 2014, compared with harvest 2013. A total of 2.976M ha was planted to wheat, winter barley, oats and oilseed rape by December 1, 2013 – 14% more than the total area of these crops harvested in 2013.

Merchants' buying prices in £/tonne ex-farm, supplied by the British Hay & Straw Merchants' Association.

Pig producers must make sure they have biosecurity measures in place to reduce the risk of disease spread from livestock lorries.

The JSR Farming Group, one of the largest family-owned farming companies in the UK, has launched a new initiative to help farmers increase profitability and yields by using waste from pig production units.

Pig prices and slaughter data to week ending February 24, 2014.

With spring just around the corner, it is a good time for pig producers to check up on feed bin hygiene, advises ACMC veterinary consultant, Paul Thompson.

UK clean pig slaughterings in January totalled 946,700 head, almost identical to the same month in 2013, according to Defra figures reported in the latest edition of Pig Market Weekly.

Consumers bought 1% more pork during the 12 week period to February 2 compared with the same period last year, according to figures from Kantar Worldpanel.

In response to retailer and consumer demand, Red Tractor has launched a new logo to provide further assurances over the quality, traceability and provenance of the meat in products such as ready-meals.

I allowed myself a wry smile when reading about Professor Kemp's (Wageningen University) talk at the Provimi nutrition conference (Pig World, Jan 2014, p46), writes John Gadd. He discussed the perinatal exposure of neonates to flavours in their dam's diet – boffin-speak for "familiarising just-borns to the taste of their sows diet".

Finished pig prices remain 5-6% up year-on-year, despite the typical new year dip in prices post the festive season, according to the latest analysis from Quality Meat Scotland (QMS).

A fourth Canadian province, Quebec, has now confirmed the presence of the PED virus in pigs.

December pig census figures from 22 member states that between them account for around 90% of the breeding herd suggest that the number of sows across these countries was 2% lower in December 2013 than 12 months previously.

The 2014 British Association of Feed Supplement and Additive Manufacturers (BAFSAM) Feed Additive Conference will take place on April 29 at the National Motorcycle Museum, Solihull (B92 0EJ).

More pork was exported last year than any since 2000, just before the start of the last outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease.

Nick Munce has joined MSD Animal Health’s pig team as business manager. Based in the North-east, he's well known in the pig industry and has more than 20 years experience in the animal health sector.

UK pork imports increased to 31,200t in December last year, which was a 12% rise in volumes compared with the same month in 2012.

Tulip is pushing ahead with ambitious plans to build on trade links with the Chinese pig meat market.

Everyone suffers from a variation in slaughter weights to a greater or lesser extent, and one solution is to try "topping", that is removing pigs to a spare pen or on to slaughter that look 5% to 10% ahead of the rest of their companions in a pen, writes John Gadd.

An online library of facts and figures about the meat industry has been launched by EBLEX and BPEX, available free to levy payers and industry stakeholders.

Pig breeding company Rattlerow Farms and Karro Food Group have agreed a deal that will see Rattlerow extend its Scottish operations through the acquisition of Karro’s breeding herd interests. As part of the deal, Karro has also affirmed its ongoing commitment to Scottish farming with agreements for Rattlerow to supply their Brydock based farming operation.

Pig producers in the East of England are once again preparing to fight plans for a straw-powered electricity generating plant to be based at Mendlesham in Suffolk.

Scotland’s biggest pork processing plant is set to almost double in capacity after AP Jess at Brechin was awarded £2.66 million from the Scottish Government's Food Processing Marketing and Co-Operation (FPMC) Grant Scheme.

Scottish pig producer Sandy Howie has been presented with the 2014 Ed Rainy Brown Memorial Award. He received the accolade from Katy Rainy Brown at the Scottish Agricultural Organisation Society (SAOS) Annual Conference Dinner on January 30.