Here we go again. Another election, and I can’t say I am full of enthusiasm for another dose of political rhetoric and, of course, the stuff that comes from the rear of a bull!
Unlike those south of Hadrian’s Wall, we have the added complication of a huge nationalist vote, which all but swept the country, winning 56 out of 59 seats last time around.
The Scottish Nationalist Party’s (SNP) push continued at the local elections. There is no doubt they will lose some seats this time, but to whom?
You would not say that Labour’s farming vote is expanding and, reading through their agricultural manifesto, I doubt it is going to help their cause.
For those in the blue corner, Scotland has not been a happy hunting ground in the past, but I suspect they might scramble a couple of new seats.
There was a time I used to go around hustings and give them the views of ‘Chairman Bridgeford’. I suspect I will give them a miss this time: I never thought I would say it, but I am all electioneered out!
Moving on to pigs – much more interesting – our new lactating diet has worked wonders. After the problems with low weaning weights, we now have the farrowing rooms going well. Weights are up with some pigs – it’s easy to tell as you can only lift one at a time!
Our vet, Grace, made her quarterly visit, and noticed a huge difference, both on birthweight and weaning weight.
Due to changes within the Scottish pig industry, we are now supplying 60% of our pigs to a plant 70 miles away, killing-out percentage has improved and there’s a shorter haul.
“There was a time I used to go around hustings and give them the views of ‘Chairman Bridgeford’. I suspect I will give them a miss this time: I never thought I would say it, but I am all electioneered out”
They are delighted with the progeny of the 900 boar, and the fact the pigs are from an enzootic pneumonia (EP)-free herd has the advantage of next to no offal waste.
It’s all very positive, a bit like the price at the moment. If only these plant operators had listened to those who have been involved in the pig industry for years and given a little when we were blowing a fortune. I did remark at the time that when the price did turn, it would be dramatic. Thankfully, my predictions have proved correct.
For a little light relief recently, we as a family attended the Harbro 40th Anniversary Ball. My father was one of their first customers all those years ago and I have never seen any reason to change that.
The secret of their success: strong leaders and employing good staff, along with never losing sight of the fact that they are dealing with people, not customer numbers! They did us proud with a great event, raising a considerable amount for dedicated charities.
I wish Harbro well for the future.
