A recent farmer meeting has highlighted the impact of the Nutrients Action Programme (NAP) proposals on the pig sector in Northern Ireland (NI).
The event, held in Cookstown, was hosted by the Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) in conjunction with the Northern Ireland Grain Traded Association (NIGTA).
A number of key outcomes emanated from the meeting, including the pig sector’s commitment to seek an agreed way forward to improve water quality while still maintaining the production potential of the industry.
Significantly, it was agreed that all pig farmers should actively participate in the ongoing NAP public consultation.
NAP proposals
The focal point of the meeting was a presentation given by independent pig consultant, Dr. Violet Wylie.
She addressed both the nitrogen (N) and phosphate (P)-related proposals within the proposed NAP plan, covering the period 2026-2029.
Her starting point was to review the improvements in efficiency achieved by the pig sector in relation to on-farm management of these nutrients and the land required to safely spread the slurry generated.
According to Dr. Wylie, in the case of N, official figures up to 2006 confirm a land-spreading requirement of 39.7ha for 2,000 pigs taken from weaning though to a finishing weight of 105kg.
By 2014, this figure had dropped to 27.8ha through reduced protein in pig diets, she said.
Meanwhile, the consultant noted that no additional P is specified in finishing pig diets as the phytase enzyme is now used as standard.
Moreover, she highlighted that dietary P levels across all pig rations have been reduced by 1% since the early 2000s.
This is a highly significant achievement for Northern Ireland’s pig industry, Dr. Wylie stressed.
In practical terms it means that, for a 1,000 sow unit, P excretion levels have fallen by 6.5t per annum
According to Dr. Wylie, geography is also key to the impact of any future NAP on the pig industry, as a high proportion of pigs farms are located in Co. Tyrone within the Lough Neagh catchment area.
There are just 400 pig farms in Northern Ireland, approximately half of which are bespoke finishing units.
In her presentation, Dr. Wylie outlined how she has calculated the combined impact of the current NAP proposals on the land area required by pig farmers to meet their envisaged slurry spreading requirements up to 2029.
The results put a large question mark over the future of the entire sector. For example, a 300 sow-to-bacon unit currently requires a slurry spreading area of 360ac. Under the new NAP proposals, this figure rises to 1,850ac.
The other alternative would be to reduce pig numbers by 80%.
Significantly, the consultant’s calculations showed that all pig farming business models will require access to considerably greater areas of land if they wish to retain their current production profile under the new NAP proposals.
Dr. Wylie said; “There is some scope to increase slurry application rates on beef and sheep farms.
“But even in this context, pig producers will find themselves competing against dairy farmers who, invariably, will have greater economic capacity to get access to the land they need.”
“Reducing animal numbers will critically impact on the economic sustainability of almost every pig farm operating in Northern Ireland at the present time.”
The consultant also looked at options for removing P from slurry before it needs to be spread.
“The solution is to find technical ways of taking P out of slurry. But it will take time for these to be achieved,” she said.
“And this reality must be fully recognised in the new NAP measures.”
