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
    • October 2025
    • September 2025
    • August 2025
    • 2025 Maximising Pig Health supplement
    • July 2025
    • 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
Subscribe
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. October 2025
    2. September 2025
    3. August 2025
    4. 2025 Maximising Pig Health supplement
    5. July 2025
    6. June 2025
    7. 2025 Innovation supplement
    8. May 2025
    9. April 2025
    10. March 2025
    11. 2025 Buildings supplement
    12. February 2025
    13. 2025 Nutrition Supplement
    14. January 2025
    15. December 2024
    16. November 2024
    17. 2025 National Pig Awards supplement
    18. October 2024
    19. September 2024
    20. August 2024
    21. 2024 Pig Health supplement
    22. July 2024
    23. June 2024
    24. 2024 Innovation supplement
    25. 2024 Pig & Poultry Fair Guide
    26. May 2024
    27. April 2024
    28. 2024 Buildings Supplement
    29. March 2024
    30. 2024 Pig Nutrition supplement
    31. February 2024
    32. January 2024
    33. December 2023
    34. November 2023
    35. 2023 National Pig Awards supplement
    36. October 2023
    37. September 2023
    38. Health Supplement
    Featured

    October 2025 issue of Pig World now available

    October 2, 2025
    Recent

    October 2025 issue of Pig World now available

    October 2, 2025

    September 2025 issue of Pig World now available

    September 1, 2025

    August 2025 issue of Pig World now available

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

Social distancing ‘very challenging’ as pork processors keep supplies moving

Alistair DriverBy Alistair DriverApril 2, 20204 Mins Read
LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Email

Pork processors are doing a ‘fantastic job’ of keeping supplies running during these unprecedented times, but social distancing in plants is proving to be a real challenge, according to the British Meat Processors Association (BMPA).

BMPA technical operations director David Lindars described how the swing, almost overnight, from foodservice towards retail had put a huge strain on the system, forcing some businesses that supplied the foodservice trade to close, with the slack taken up elsewhere.

“We are in uncharted territory,” he said. “There is only one place you can sell meat in the UK at the moment, although after the initial surge, the orders have quietened down a bit because the panic buying is more or less done.

“But of three species we cover, the pig processing industry have held their own and done a fantastic job. We are coming back to something nearer normality across all the species. The sheep job has really taken a hammering as the hides and skin market has collapsed. But the pig world is doing alright.”

This is reinforced by AHDB’s latest market update, which shows prices rose fractionally last week, with the SPP now at 163.4p/kg, with estimated slaughter 2.3% down on the previous week but nearly 4% up on a year ago, reflecting the surge in demand.

“Although some abattoirs are reporting reduced staff availability, as is almost every sector, killing has so far remained largely unaffected,” AHDB analyst Duncan Wyatt said.

David_LindarsDespite the restrictions in place in some parts of the world, Chinese demand and EU trade, both ways, remained strong, which is essential for balancing the carcase. The important German sow export market was still ‘wide open’, Mr Lindars said.

However, he warned that one potential barrier to this trade was the difficulty in obtaining chilled refrigerated containers, which are vital for third country exports. The industry is looking for support from Government to help address this.

Social distancing concerns

However, Mr Lindars said the two-metre social distancing guidance plants are being asked to comply with was proving to be a ‘real challenge’.

The Public Health England guidance is designed to protect plant workers, while allowing some flexibility to ensure plants can continue operating and ensuring food gets to the front line at a time of national crisis. It states that all employers are expected to apply two-metre social distancing ‘as far as is reasonably possible’.

It adds: “Where the production environment makes it difficult to do so, employers should consider what measures may be put in place to protect employees.”

Mr Lindars said the Defra had been ‘brilliant’ in supporting plants in this and other issues during the crisis. “They have been extremely supportive and feeding problems straight into Cabinet office and getting results,” he said.

The challenge, he added, has been with the Food Standards Agency (FSA), which provides the official inspectors to meat plants. “They have been late coming to the party – they could have engaged at a senior level a lot earlier,” he added.

The BMPA has had a meeting with the FSA this week to discuss the concerns around social distancing.

“We are trying to accommodate the social distancing that PHE has put on the website, but it is very difficult in abattoirs and boning and processing plants,” Mr Lindars added. “It is not like a warehouse or supermarket – workstations are not 2 metres apart and you can’t re-arrange the slaughter line.

“The guidance states that it should be done ‘as far as is reasonably possible’. It is not possible everywhere, but plants are taking steps to minimise the risks.

“We are looking for a more collaborate approach with the FSA, which includes the ensuring the agency has its own contingency plans in place.”

Share. LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Email
Previous ArticleCranswick awarded top global welfare ranking for fourth year in a row
Next Article US pig herd expansion continues
Alistair Driver

Editor Pig World, group editor Agronomist and Arable Farmer and Farm Contractor. National Pig Association webmaster. Former political editor at Farmers Guardian. Occasional media pundit. Brought up on a Leicestershire farm. Works from a shed in his Oxfordshire garden.

Read Similar Stories

Pilgrim’s Europe reports big increase in profits

October 2, 2025

20t of illegal meat seized at Dover in September, despite funding and staff cuts

October 2, 2025

Last chance to vote for NPA Allied Industry Member of the Year

October 2, 2025
Latest News

Pilgrim’s Europe reports big increase in profits

October 2, 2025

20t of illegal meat seized at Dover in September, despite funding and staff cuts

October 2, 2025

Last chance to vote for NPA Allied Industry Member of the Year

October 2, 2025
Sponsored Content

All Vaccines Are Not Equal

September 15, 2025

Enhancing Weaned Pig Health and Performance with Zinc and Iron

August 1, 2025
Current Pig Industry jobs
  • Pig Stockperson – Ref 1783 Shropshire

    • Shropshire
    • Roadhogs Recruitment Ltd.
    • Full Time
  • Pig Stock Technician – Ref 1782 Yorkshire

    • North Yorkshire
    • Roadhogs Recruitment Ltd.
    • Full Time
  • Pig Stockperson – Ref 1781 Norfolk

    • Norfolk
    • 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
  • Weekly Tribune
  • 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.