The Farmers Mart Jun/Jul 2015 - Issue 40 | Page 15

Ian Broumpton NF UM U T U A L( D R I F F I E L D ) I SP R O U DT OBE A SSO C I A T E DWI T HTG BR O U M P T O N & SO N T ak ing t h e t ime t oo f f e r yo u at t e nt iv e , pe rso nal ,l o c alse rv ic e f o r yo ur insuranc e , pe nsio ns and inv e st me nt s. o r a quo te o r po p in C al l0 1 37 725 3 20 8f NF UO f f ic e,4 0Ge o rge St re e t ,D rif f ie l d, E astY o rk sh ireY O 256R A invested £400k on buildings alone in the last five and a half years from profits we have saved and on loan. Our idea is gradually to increase the herd size further.” SAFETY & COMFORT One of the things you notice immediately on visiting Ian’s farm is the cleanliness and comfort his pigs enjoy. He is also concerned for the safety of litters and those who look after the sows. “Our new buildings provide fully slatted farrowing houses that are much healthier than straw and offer a comfortable, warm environment. Farrowing crates have been brought in as an aide to management as pigs were getting laid on. There is a lot of talk about freedom while farrowing but in reality, the mortality rates are too high. What also concerns me is that the person who is looking after the animals should be safe too. Pig men and women need protection from sows because when they have litters they can get angry. If sows are in a crate it provides a reduced mortality rate and a safer environment for the people looking after them,” he said. Ian’s pig production rate is 2.4 litters average per sow per annum and 13 pigs per litter. He sells between 26-27 pigs per sow per year. He culls 40 per cent of his sow herd each year and is breeding his own replacements. “It’s an art form in selecting the right ones but you trust the genes will carry forward from a good sow. It is the milking quality that becomes the beall and end-all. Last year, we had to buy gilts in as we were increasing the herd and couldn’t produce enough of our own.” Ian is a great believer in promoting pork and all pig meat. “There is much more public support for UK produce today and a greater awareness that labelling can be misleading. The pendulum is also swinging relating to fat content. There was a time when lean was the only way and our contract was for 12mm of fat but that is now 14mm so there is scope for the slightly fatter pig. The greater fat content definitely adds to the flavour and I will always back our meat for taste and eating quality against any outdoor reared, organic or rare breed. O ur age nt s are appo int e d re pre se nt at iv e sf o r ge ne ralinsuranc e pro duc t s and int ro duc e r appo int e d re pre se nt at iv e sf o rl if e ,pe nsio ns and inv e st me nt so fNF U M ut ual .O ur st af fint ro duc e t oNF UM ut ualf o rl if e ,pe nsio ns and inv e st me nt s.NF UM ut ualis T h e Nat io nalF arme rs U nio nM ut ualI nsuranc e So c ie t yL imit e d ( No .1 1 1 982) .R e gist e re d in E ngl and.R e gist e re dO f f ic e :T iddingt o nR o ad,St rat f o rd upo nA v o n,Warw ic k sh ire C V 377 BJ .A ut h o rise d by t h e P rude nt ialR e gul at io n A ut h o rit y and re gul at e d by t h e F inanc ialC o nduc tA ut h o rit y and by t h e P rude nt ialR e gul at io nA ut h o rit y.Ame mbe ro ft h e A sso c iat io no fBrit ishI nsure rs. F o r se c urit y and t raining purpo se s,t e l e ph o ne c al l s may be re c o rde d and mo nit o re d. Garth Pig Practice Ltd A team dedicated to improving pig health and production Would like to wish Ian Broumpton continued success with his business enterprise. Garth Pig Practice Garth House, Straight Lane, Beeford, East Yorkshire, YO25 8BE Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone] E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.garthvet.co.uk www.farmers-mart.co.uk Jun/Jul 2015 15