40% outdoor keeping for sows in the UK - a role model for us? With the year 1998/99 in the United Kingdom tightened legal regulations on animal husbandry adopted. Here, the free-wheeling plays a dominant role. In the UK, among others approx. 40% of the sows in huts are kept in open spaces. Livestock concentrates primarily on the drier eastern regions of England . In the rainy western areas is only a large-scale entertainment possible because otherwise the surfaces silt due to the Wühlaktivitäten the animals.For the more labor-intensive form of accommodation, guest workers from Poland are mainly used because there are insufficient manpower available in these areas. With the Brexit, there will soon be a problem of inflow and outflow. Higher livestock costs have almost halved pig numbers. The performances of the animals have declined. Only recently has a stabilization of stocks become apparent.British pig farming focuses on 1,000 farms , which account for approx. 90% of UK pig farming. Of these, there are only 10 companies producing 35% of pigs. There are only 3 companies left on the slaughter and marketing side : Cranswick is a stock-based public company with a weekly slaughtering capacity of 50,000 pigs. The Karro Food Group is a private organization that has emerged from several acquisitions.The weekly slaughterings are given with about 45,000 animals. Tulip is part of Danisch Crown and kills 30,000 pigs per week. Britain is now importing approx. 60% or just under 1 million tonnes of pig meat consumed domestically. 40% are fresh meat imports, the rest is processed goods such as sausage and the like . Almost 70% of deliveries come from Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands . Denmark alone supplies 25% of imports.With the Brexit , the trade in pork is put to a new test . On the one hand, the British would have to open up new delivery routes. On the other hand, the sales problem for the supplier countries arises. There is still little information on how to solve the problem in the context of other trade volumes.In view of an African swine fever , which can not be ruled out , outdoor farming is hardly a serious option in this country. With increasing demands on costly farming methods , the concentration process in pig farming will be further accelerated. Great Britain is a striking example.
