The third NPA spring regional meeting will take place in Diss, Norfolk, today, with a strong focus on eMB-Pigs and antibiotic targets.
The meeting at Diss RFC will begin with an update from NPA staff on the big issues affecting the industry today, including Brexit, the proposed zinc oxide ban and the latest on forthcoming antibiotic targets for the pig sector.
There will be a market update from AHDB Pork’s Mick Sloyan, while Newcastle University’s Professor Sandra Edwards will discuss the latest research on tail docking and tail biting.
The first two regional meetings, at York and Newbury, featured lengthy discussions on the importance of recording antibiotoc data on the eMB-Pigs database and sought members’ views on new antibiotic usage targets, to be agreed over the summer.
The NPA, which will be represented by chairman Richard Lister in formal discussions on the new targets, is keen to consult as widely as possible among its membership before entering the negotiations.
NPA chief executive Zoe Davies said: “It is absolutely essential that we get these targets right. We need to enter the discussions with a proposal that is challenging but achievable.
“We will be using the regional meetings to gather producers’ views on these antibiotic reduction targets, so we really do urge you to come along, feed in your views and have your say. Every opinion counts.”
The Eastern regional meeting at Diss RFC, Bellrope Lane, Diss, Norfolk, IP22 5RG will start at 6pm with a hot buffet.
The final spring regional meeting in the South West will take place from 6:30pm on Tuesday, April 25, at the Gipsy Hill Hotel, Gipsy Hill Lane, Exeter, EX1 3RJ.