South West farmer says pig industry crisis is 'tragic' as problem deepens
Thousands of animals face being culled due to a shortage of abattoir workers
Concerns that thousands of pigs are having to be humanely culled as a result of the lack of abattoir workers 'are being listened to', believe industry bosses.
Pig industry groups have warned the Government action is needed to 'prevent a further deterioration of the already desperate situation on farms' after a crucial meeting.
Tesco boss Sir Dave Lewis, who has just been appointed by Government to address current issues across the supply chain, gave the industry a hope of 'positive change' according to National Pig Association (NPA) chief executive Zoe Davies, after a meeting this week.
Some farms have thousands of extra pigs because they are unable to go to an abattoir - which are costing more to feed as they keep growing in size - and are now too big to be processed by abattoir machinery.
Devon farmer Andrew Freemantle, part of the NPA Producer Group representing, said: "It's just so disheartening as a farmer.
"We dedicate our lives to producing nice pork to eat and we get to the abattoir where we're going to sell it and they haven't got enough butchers in the abattoir. We can't sell it, they get too big, there's overcrowding on farms.
"The only thing farmers are left to do is to shoot and destroy them. It's tragic really."
He says that while they can humanely cull animals on farms, the meat is then not permitted to enter the food chain. Mr Freemantle also says farmers can hold extra pigs on their land as shorter-term contingency, but the situation has now continued for 10 weeks.
During this week's meeting chief executive Zoe Davies called for 'access to skilled butchers from wherever in the world that they maybe'.
She added: "As part of that, we have asked the Government to lower the level of English required. That is the final blocker now - it is not wages because they are over £25,000 threshold. It is coming down now to the English level requirement and the bureaucracy of the process in terms of applying for these visas.
"I am quietly optimistic. I honestly believe that the message has finally got through to the people that need to hear it. We have had so much more Cabinet Officer involvement and obviously that is the department that will make changes if they need to be made.
"Obviously, we will keep the pressure on to make sure the process goes as quickly as it possibly can to avoid any further deterioration of the situation on farm."
A question and answer about the problems facing pig farmers can be found here
A Government and DEFRA spokesperson said: “We understand the challenges that the pig industry has faced in recent months because of the Covid-19 pandemic, labour shortages, accessing co2 supplies, and reduction in exports to the Chinese market.
“We are keeping the market situation under close review and working closely with the sector during this time.“
They added that: "The UK Government’s supply chain adviser Sir David Lewis is meeting with a range of industry representatives throughout the week.
"We are also working closely with the Home Office to ensure there is a long term strategy for the food and farming workforce beyond 2021.
"The Government is encouraging the sector to make employment more attractive to UK domestic workers through offering training, careers options, wage increases and to invest in increased automation technology.
"Responsibility for animal welfare during any emergency on the farm remains with the owner/keeper, who should have contingency plans in place to ensure the welfare of their animals.
"Contingency plans may involve movement of animals to another holding, or on-farm culling of animals that are suffering, or at imminent risk of suffering, adverse welfare impacts."