News Pigs
Lower carbon footprint of UK pig farmer
British pig farmers have greatly improved their carbon footprint over the past 20 years, according to the latest report from Oxford University's Institute of Global Food Security. With this, the UK pig industry is taking a major step towards the goal of having a carbon neutral agricultural sector by 2050.
Research shows that the carbon footprint of UK pig farmers has decreased by almost 20% over the past 40 years. Reducing the environmental footprint of pig farming is one of the ways the UK government aims to achieve a carbon neutral agricultural sector by 2050. Pig farming in the United Kingdom in 2013 emitted approximately 668 million tonnes of CO2, approximately 10% of total emissions from UK livestock farming. That has now fallen to about 400 million tons.
Ration of influence
The researchers write that the ration determines the environmental footprint. This is a percentage between 75% and 80%. With the import of soy from South America and the deforestation taking place there, that percentage remains relatively high. "However, as more and more pig farmers in the UK choose to use their own crops (such as rapeseed and sunflowers) in their rations, this ecological footprint is decreasing," the study said.
The research also states that such crops, including rapeseed, in the ration have made a positive contribution to lowering the phosphorus content in the discharge of pig manure. It is a minus of more than 20%.
Other factors that contributed to the reduced environmental footprint included changes in performance resulting from breeding leaner and fast-growing pigs, an increase in the number of piglets born per sow per litter and a reduction in overall mortality.
Kimberly Baker
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