274: Pork: Choosing a sward mix for 'grazing' pigs

This week’s guests:

Andrew Palmer, Knowledge Exchange Manager, AHDB

Ed Bramham-Jones, Head of Farming and Water, Norfolk Rivers Trust

Rob McGregor, Outdoor pig farmer

Chris Gooderham, Head of Market Specialists (Dairy & Livestock), AHDB

Over the last few years, AHDB has held several meetings to bring together pig producers, landlords, arable producers and other key stakeholders to look at ways they can work more closely together to benefit each other and the environment, with a specific focus on including livestock and grass in arable rotations.

In this episode, AHDB’s Andrew Palmer speaks to Ed Bramham-Jones, Head of Farming and Water at Norfolk Rivers Trust and Rob McGregor, an outdoor pig farmer in the East of England. They discuss a grass trial which is underway on Rob’s unit using different sward mixes with varying establishment periods. Hear how forward planning and good relationships with landlords have resulted in positive impacts for the pigs, the staff and the environment.

The episode also includes a market update from Chris Gooderham in our market intelligence team.

 

Follow our guests on Twitter:

Andrew Palmer: @AMPSalisbury

Ed Bramham-Jones: @NRTEdBJ

Rob McGregor: @robonthefarm1



Useful links

Livestock and the arable rotation: Targeted at managers of arable-based systems who are thinking about livestock opportunities for the first time, our guide includes sections on leys, cover crops, forage crops, maize, outdoor pig production and manures.



Listen to our previous podcast on this topic: Pigs in the arable rotation

Norfolk Rivers Trust: https://norfolkriverstrust.org/ 

Find out more about working with producers and landlords

Sward mixtures: find out how they can be incorporated effectively into rotations

Pig prices and market news

Pork markets: https://ahdb.org.uk/pork/pork-markets

GB deadweight pig prices (EU spec): https://ahdb.org.uk/pork/gb-deadweight-pig-prices-eu-spec

 

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This episode was produced and edited by Miriam Drewett, Marcomms Manager (Pork).