We’d like to hear what you have found works as a good alternative, and what hasn’t!
Email kt@bpex.org.uk with your experience or add your comments below.
The English pig industry is a relatively high cost producer relying on a price premium to remain competitive.
The strategic challenge, therefore, is to improve our physical performance on farm to be more cost-efficient. This is where the Knowledge Transfer team concentrates its efforts, in helping to 'close the gap' with competitors in Europe.
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I suggest looking into saw dust (not the really fine stuff, but the more coarse version) and shavings. A producer in East Yorkshire gets it from processing plants where saw dust is a waste product and they only pay the transport costs to get it to the farm i.e. the saw dust is free. They have had no problems with metal pieces in the product, as it is all checked magnetically before leaving the plant. Sometimes smaller pieces of plastic have been found, but hasn't proved a problem. Apart from being a 'cheap' bedding alternative, the pigs seem to thrive on it and the air quality in the accommodation (normally sheds) is really good as saw dust is extremely absorbent. Coarseness is key.
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