Pig World
  • News
      • Animal Health
      • Breeding
      • Business
      • Environment
      • EU
      • Food Safety
      • Housing
      • Marketing
      • NPA
      • National Pig Awards
      • New Products
      • Nutrition
      • People
      • Pig Fair
      • Politics
      • Training & Education
      • Welfare
  • Features
    • Animal Health
    • Breeding
    • Environment
    • Farm Visits
    • Herd Recording
    • Housing
    • Marketing
    • Nutrition
    • Products
    • Training
  • Comment
    • AHDB Pork
    • Chris Fogden
    • Dennis Bridgeford
    • Peter Crichton
    • Red Robin
    • Veterinary View
    • Zoe Davies, NPA
  • Numbers
  • Pig Prices
  • Magazines
    • June 2025
    • 2025 Innovation supplement
    • May 2025
    • April 2025
    • March 2025
    • 2025 Buildings supplement
    • February 2025
    • 2025 Nutrition Supplement
    • January 2025
    • December 2024
    • November 2024
    • 2025 National Pig Awards supplement
    • October 2024
    • September 2024
    • August 2024
    • 2024 Pig Health supplement
    • July 2024
    • June 2024
    • 2024 Innovation supplement
    • 2024 Pig & Poultry Fair Guide
    • May 2024
    • April 2024
    • 2024 Buildings Supplement
    • March 2024
    • 2024 Pig Nutrition supplement
    • February 2024
    • January 2024
    • December 2023
    • November 2023
    • 2023 National Pig Awards supplement
    • October 2023
    • September 2023
    • Health Supplement
  • Suppliers
  • Jobs
    • Browse Jobs
    • Post a Job
    • Manage Jobs
  • Classified
  • Events
    • Pigs Tomorrow
    • National Pig Awards
Podcast
Pig WorldPig World
  • News
      • Animal Health
      • Breeding
      • Business
      • Environment
      • EU
      • Food Safety
      • Housing
      • Marketing
      • NPA
      • National Pig Awards
      • New Products
      • Nutrition
      • People
      • Pig Fair
      • Politics
      • Training & Education
      • Welfare
  • Features
    • Animal Health
    • Breeding
    • Environment
    • Farm Visits
    • Herd Recording
    • Housing
    • Marketing
    • Nutrition
    • Products
    • Training
  • Comment
    • AHDB Pork
    • Chris Fogden
    • Dennis Bridgeford
    • Peter Crichton
    • Red Robin
    • Veterinary View
    • Zoe Davies, NPA
  • Numbers
  • Pig Prices
  • Magazines
    1. June 2025
    2. 2025 Innovation supplement
    3. May 2025
    4. April 2025
    5. March 2025
    6. 2025 Buildings supplement
    7. February 2025
    8. 2025 Nutrition Supplement
    9. January 2025
    10. December 2024
    11. November 2024
    12. 2025 National Pig Awards supplement
    13. October 2024
    14. September 2024
    15. August 2024
    16. 2024 Pig Health supplement
    17. July 2024
    18. June 2024
    19. 2024 Innovation supplement
    20. 2024 Pig & Poultry Fair Guide
    21. May 2024
    22. April 2024
    23. 2024 Buildings Supplement
    24. March 2024
    25. 2024 Pig Nutrition supplement
    26. February 2024
    27. January 2024
    28. December 2023
    29. November 2023
    30. 2023 National Pig Awards supplement
    31. October 2023
    32. September 2023
    33. Health Supplement
    Featured

    June 2025 issue of Pig World now available

    June 4, 2025
    Recent

    June 2025 issue of Pig World now available

    June 4, 2025

    2025 Innovation supplement now available

    June 4, 2025

    May 2025 issue of Pig World now available

    May 1, 2025
  • Suppliers
  • Jobs
    • Browse Jobs
    • Post a Job
    • Manage Jobs
  • Classified
  • Events
    • Pigs Tomorrow
    • National Pig Awards
LinkedIn X (Twitter)
Pig World
Comment

A trip to Seville and a fascinating insight into the hope and fears of our European colleagues

Guest WritersBy Guest WritersJune 7, 20233 Mins Read
LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Email

NPA chief policy adviser Rebecca Veale sets out the highlights from an interesting few days in Spain for the European Pig Producers Conference 2023.

In May, six of us headed to beautiful Seville for the European Pig Producers Conference 2023. With 585 members from 22 countries across Europe, over 150 were able to make the journey to the conference.

The room was buoyant, but it was apparent it is not just our producers that have had a pretty awful time; ASF, low prices, the pandemic and all the issues associated with that, plus soaring input costs have made business much more challenging for the majority.

The conference opened with a presentation on the Spanish production model; they are the third biggest producer in the world producing over 5m tonnes of pigmeat every year.

They imported 3.5million piglets in 2022 and exports to China have been healthy. There’s been a lot of integration with the top 10 companies producing 44% of the pigs and top 20 producing about 80%. Iberico pork is a niche part of Spanish production, at 6% volume and a value of 13% of the market, but producers of Iberico ham are able to demand a premium (it helps it is delicious!).

With specific breeding required to carry the name, the pigs also have to live outdoors for a minimum of three months a year and allowed to forage for acorns.

The brand is managed well and supported by a strong marketing strategy, so, unsurprisingly, the exports fly. Which is similar to the approach taken by the Italians with PGI products, such as Parma Ham. About 40% of animal production systems in Italy are based on PGI and PPO products, and 41 out of 44 of these are pork based, so there is great importance placed on marketing these products.

The European Food Safety Authority working group chair presented the groups’ views on welfare – whilst it was evident adaptable farrowing systems are better in terms of welfare for the sow (and piglets if managed correctly), he also stated the number of piglets born alive should not outweigh the number of teats on the sow, and pen sizes should offer sows 6.6sq.m (full pen size 7.8sq.m).

Concern in the room for some of these suggestions and potential timelines for change was evident, with strong pressure from vegan lobby groups and governments – we’re definitely not alone in this space.
ASF was a hot topic amongst those countries battling the disease and those without it. For some countries, it is endemic and the question is raised whether eradication is possible.

Spain and France are discussing regionalisation agreements with key trading partners just in case, which is something we have been pushing for in the UK – I’m hoping this may help persuade our Government.
All in all, it was a very worthwhile trip. I’d definitely urge producers to get involved with EPP – next year they’re off to France!

Share. LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Email
Previous ArticleVietnam ASF vaccine ‘close to approval’
Next Article Arla’s Ash Amirahmadi appointed as CEO of Karro parent company Sofina Foods Europe
Guest Writers

Read Similar Stories

Vet View: Importance of iron and vitamin D for pigs and for me

June 9, 2025

Vet View: Step back and look at your unit with external eyes

May 7, 2025

Comment: Pigs Tomorrow – shaping the future of the pig industry

May 5, 2025
Latest News

Pig industry veteran Hugh Crabtree awarded MBE

June 16, 2025

AHDB seeking pork sector director, as Angela Christison announces departure

June 16, 2025

Pigs Tomorrow: The sustainability challenges and trade-offs

June 13, 2025
Sponsored Content

THE GATEKEEPER OF RESPIRATORY HEALTH – MYCOPLASMA HYOPNEUMONIAE (M.HYO)

April 30, 2024

Tackle the root cause of PWD with free diagnostic tests

March 1, 2024
Current Pig Industry jobs
  • Pig Stockperson Ref 1753

    • Oxfordshire
    • Roadhogs Recruitment Ltd.
    • Full Time
  • Farrowing Manager

    • Suffolk
    • Blythburgh Pigs
    • Full Time
  • Pig Stockperson – Ref 1752 Somerset

    • Somerset
    • Roadhogs Recruitment Ltd.
    • Full Time
GETTING IN TOUCH
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Meet The Editors
  • About Us
  • Email Newsletters
  • Subscribe
  • Reuse permissions
OUR SOCIAL CHANNELS
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
PARTNER EVENTS
RELATED SITES
  • Farmers Weekly
  • Agronomist & Arable Farmer
  • Farm Contractor
  • National Pig Awards
  • Pigs Tomorrow
  • Poultry News
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookies Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
© 2024 MA Agriculture Ltd, a Mark Allen Group company

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.